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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #85343
Title: MONITORING PICKLEWORM (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE) MOTHS WITH PHEROMONE-BAITED TRAPS

Author
item Jackson, D
item Klun, Jerome
item KHRIMIAN, A. - HOWARD UNIVERSITY
item Simmons, Alvin
item SORENSEN, K. - NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/13/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Pickleworm moths are a serious problem to the production of cucurbit crops. Growers apply pesticides on an intensive regular schedule often without knowledge of whether the moths are present. This research is designed to develop a system to detect when moths are present so that growers only apply insecticide when really needed. Male pickleworm moths were monitored using five types of traps baited with virgin female moths and several formulations of sex pheromone lures. Modified box traps and wire-cone traps were highly effective when baited with either synthetic lures or virgin females. Unitraps baited with virgin females were less effective than box or wire-cone traps, and unitraps were ineffective when baited with synthetic pheromone lures. Nylon-cone traps were much less effective than wire-cone or box traps. Pherocon 1C sticky traps did not work with any lure. These results are useful to the development of a trap monitoring system that will predict when damaging levels of pickleworms are expected in cucumbers, squash, pumpkin, and cantaloupe fields. This will allow growers to apply insecticide only when it is needed.

Technical Abstract: Populations of male pickleworm, Diaphania nitidalis (Stoll), moths were monitored using five types of traps baited with virgin female moths and several formulations of sex pheromone lures. Modified box traps and wire-cone traps were highly effective when baited with either synthetic lures or virgin females. Unitraps baited with virgin females were less effective than box or wire- cone traps, and unitraps were ineffective when baited with synthetic pheromone lures. Nylon-cone traps were much less effective than wire-cone or box traps. Pherocon 1C sticky traps did not work with any lure.