Use of a multi-component pheromone formulation for control of cotton bollworms (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae and Noctuidae) in Pakistan

Abstract

AbstractA hand-applied ‘twist-ti’ pheromone formulation containing the combined pheromones of Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Gelechiidae), Earias vittella (Fabricius) and E. insulana (Boisduval) (Noctuidae) was used in trials conducted in Pakistan from 1986 to 1988. In plots of cotton ranging in area from 2.8 to 6.0 ha, season-long control of the bollworm complex was achieved using the pheromone formulation applied alone or together with one conventional insecticide treatment, with the conventional insecticide spray programme requring up to five applications of insecticide to achieve a similar level of control. No significant differences were found in yield estimates from plots treated with pheromones compared with plots receiving conventional insecticide treatments. Significantly higher levels of boll infestation and lower yield estimates occurred in control plots where neither pheromones nor insecticides were applied.