Seasonal population fluctuation of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saund.) as monitored by gossyplure

Abstract

An investigation was undertaken with an objective to study the seasonal population fluctuation of pink bollworm under field condition at the Cotton Improvement Project, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, (Maharashtra) for two years (2016-17 and 2017-18). The results indicated that the buildup of adult trap catch of pink bollworm was in the third week of October corresponding to 42nd SW (36.2 moths/trap/week), thereafter there was gradual increase in adult trap catches and a sudden increase in moth emergence was witnessed from first week of November, corresponding to 44th SW (98.5 moths/trap/week) during 2016-17. During 2017-18, trap catches began earlier reaching to its first peak in the third week of October (43rd SW) (158.35 moths/trap/week) and second peak of adult trap catch was observed in the fourth week of November (48th SW) (119.21 moths/trap/week). The pheromone trap catches in cotton had negative and non-significant relationship with maximum temperature, rainfall, and rainy days, whereas, it had negative and significant relationship with minimum temperature, morning relative humidity and evening relative humidity during both years.