Influencing of Weather Parameters on Pheromone Trap Catches of Cotton Bollworms

Abstract

The present study revealed that the peak catches of American bollworm were observed during 37^th (34.77 moth trap/week), 43^rd (11.25 /trap/week) and 48^th meteorological weeks (MW) (11.75/trap/week). The peak activity of spotted bollworm was observed from 39^th to 45 MW where the population was in the range of 8.15 to 11.15 moth/ trap/week. Six peak catches of pink bollworm were observed during 45^th MW (156.9/trap/week), 46^th MW (186.1 trap/week), 47^th MW (390/trap/week), 48^th MW (432.5/trap/week), 49^th MW (306.2/trap /week) and 50^th MW (148.5/trap/week). The rainfall had no significant correlation with trap catches of all three bollworms, while the trap catches of Helicoverpa armigera were positively and significantly correlated with minimum temperature, evening relative humidity and wind speed of either current week or previous weeks. Whereas sunshine hours of current and previous weeks had a negative relation with trap catches of H. armigera. The current and previous week of maximum and minimum temperature were found to be positive and significant correlation with trap catches of Earias vitella while Pectinophora gossypiella had negative correlation with either current and previous weeks of morning and evening relative humidity.