Moth Species Captured with the Sex Pheromone ofStenoma catenifer(Lepidoptera: Elachistidae) in Avocado Plantations of Southern Mexico

Abstract

Moth species trapped using the sex pheromone of Stenoma catenifer (LaSalle) as a lure, were registered at 2 commercial avocado orchards (one consisting of “Hass” and other of “Criollo”) and in wild “Criollo” avocado trees in southern Mexico. Traps were maintained for 1 mo in two seasons (dry and wet) on avocado trees under these 3 production conditions, changing the baits each season. Weekly observations registered no moths in the traps placed in the commercial “Hass” avocado orchard, in contrast to the other 2 sites, where Stenoma catenifer and Antaeotricha nictitans males were captured. Stenoma catenifer adults were always observed at the commercial “Criollo” orchard and wild “Criollo” avocado trees during the dry season (fructification period), but never in the wet season (non fruiting period). Under wild conditions A. nictitans was captured during both dry and wet seasons; however, it was never captured during the dry season at the commercial “Criollo” orchard. Populations of both moth species were similar -S. catenifer: 0.3 (wild trees) to 0.7 (orchard); and A. nictitans: 0.6 (wild trees) moth/trap/wk- during the dry season, and no differences were observed per species at each locality. The total number of captures per site during the fruiting season decreased significantly -0.9 (1st wk) to 0.2(4th wk) moth/trap/wk- during the observation period. S. catenifer was found infesting dropped fruit in the commercial “Criollo” orchard and at the wild site, whereas A. nictitans larvae were not detected infesting fruit. Captured S. catenifer males were always associated with the presence of avocado fruit in the field. The host of A. nictitans remains unknown.