Modeling of Blackheaded Fireworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Oviposition and Pheromone-Trap Catches

Abstract

Our objectives were to predict pheromone-trap catches and oviposition of blackheaded fireworm, Rhopobota naevana (Hübner), on commercial cranberry farms in Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia and to model oviposition in Wisconsin. Real time, expressed as days after male moths were caught in traps, predicted the day of 50% catch better than degree-days in both growing regions. Weibull functions were used to model the cumulative percentage of male moths caught and cumulative percentage of eggs laid over time in a Wisconsin cranberry farm not treated with insecticides and the percentage of catch of male moths on insecticide-treated farms in Wisconsin and the Pacific Coast growing region. Insecticide treatments made the patterns of flight activity less predictable. However, characteristics of flight activity common to all regions indicated oviposition may occur during a 4-wk period after first catch.