Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Helicoverpa zea and Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Moths in Pheromone Traps across Agricultural Landscapes in Arkansas

Abstract

Pheromone trap captures of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Heliothis virescens (F.) from 2002 - 2005 were used to examine the distribution of these species across a multiple crop environment in southeast Arkansas. The greatest number of H. virescens moths was collected during 2003, but densities were low compared with H. zea throughout the study. Overall, fewer H. virescens moths were captured next to Bt corn and Bt cotton than next to nonBt cotton and early-maturing soybean. A significant relationship was not detected between pheromone trap captures of H. virescens and the percentage of these moths that fed on cotton as larvae. More H. zea moths were captured in traps located next to Bt corn and nonBt corn during the month of June than in traps located next to cotton, sorghum, or soybean, whereas traps located adjacent to early- and late-maturing varieties of soybean, Bt cotton, nonBt cotton, and grain sorghum captured greater numbers of moths than those traps located next to corn during July. Therefore, th...