Seasonal variation in the european corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn. Male number captured with pheromone traps and its connection with pest population
Keywords:
European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, sex pheromone, trap, pest number recordAbstract
Results of the assays on the European corn borer sex pheromone in the vicinity of the village Botanika (Krasnodar Territory) during 2014-2018 demonstrate that the relative attractiveness of Z, E and ZE compositions changes proportionally with the fluctuations in population density: the more the density of the pest, the less the portion of males trapped with Z-pheromone and the more males trapped with E and ZE pheromones. As the population density decreases, the changes in relative attractiveness of pheromone compositions returns to the initial state. Total number of males of the overwintered or first generations trapped with Z, E and ZE pheromones significantly correlates with the larva densities of affiliated generations, i.e. first or second generations, feeding on maize plants. Reliable correlation was also revealed between the second generation larva density and number of the first generation males trapped with Z pheromone, rather than between the first generation larva density and number of overwintered generation males in traps with Z pheromone.