Comparative light trap studies in Hungary on the flight of the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis hübner) in 1999 – 2001

Abstract

The investigations were aimed at acquiring the widest possible information on the flight dynamics of the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner). I wanted to know what the trend of the flight curves in the 45 surveying places of the country was, and whether the already published flight dynamic rules proved true in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Further, I tried to find out how the abiotic elements influenced the number of individuals of the European corn borer populations caught by the light traps. It can be said that due to the mild spring and the hot rainy summer the area of the bivoltinism appearance of the European corn borer has shifted northwards in Hungary, as supported by the relevant data of the generation quotients: the average generation quotient was 3,94 for Csongrád – and 0,22 for Györ-Moson-Sopron county. The meteorological factors significantly influenced the number of individuals caught by the light traps. Significant correlations were found between the individual number of trapped corn borers on the one hand, and the maximum – (p = 99.2%; r = 0.472), minimum – (p = 99.8%; r = 0.549) and average temperature (p = 99.8%; r = 0.534), the precipitation (p = 95.7%; r = 0.327) and the air humidity (p = 97.3%; r = 0.265), respectively, on the other.