Factors Affecting Catches of Male Coneworms, Dioryctria spp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), in Pheromone Traps in Southern Pine Seed Orchards

Abstract

Four variables affecting pheromone-trap catches of pine coneworms, Dioryctria spp., were studied. These variables were trap design, trap density, trap location within tree crowns, and tree clone. Pherocon lC traps were most effective for capturing male D. amatella (Hulst) moths at low population densities. Traps placed near the tops of loblolly pines, Pinus taeda L., caught twice as many Dioryctria spp. males as traps at midcrown; those at the base of the crowns had very low catches. Also, there were positive correlations between D. amatella and D. disclusa Heinrich catches and trap height, i.e., traps placed in the tops of taller trees caught more moths. Placing traps in ramets of certain clones had some effect on trap catches of D. amatella and D. disclusa . Clonal differences were apparently the result of differences in the height at which traps could be placed in the ramets of each clone. Evidence of competition among traps was found at a trap density of 8 per 0.1 ha but not at 4 per 0.1 ha or lower densities.