Monitoring of lepidopterous stem-borer population by pheromone and light traps

Abstract

Preliminary observations were made in the attraction of moths of Chilo partellus Swin., Busseola fusca Fuller, Sesamia calamistis Hmps. and Maliarpha separatella Rag. to light traps and to traps baited with virgin females of these species. The observation was conducted from January 1981 to April 1982 at Mbita Point Field Station in western Kenya. M. separatella showed the highest attraction to light traps followed in descending order by C. partellus, E. saccharina, S. calamistis and B. fusca. The mean catches/trap/night in pheromone traps was highest for M. separatella, followed by C. partellus and B. fusca. The period of atttraction of the moths during the night and effect of moonlight on trap catches were also studied. Catches from light and pheromone traps indicated that attraction of C. partellus and M. separatella was greatest between 23:00 and 03:00hr. The effect of moonlight on light trap catches was greater than on pheromone trap catches.