ASSESSMENT OF A SEX-ATTRACTANT TRAP FOR MONITORING THE SPOTTED TENTIFORM LEAFMINER, PHYLLONORYCTER BLANCARDELLA (FABR.) (LEPIDOPTERA: GRACILLARIIDAE): RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE EMERGENCE AND BETWEEN TRAP CATCHES AND EMERGENCE

Abstract

AbstractThe temporal relationship between male and female emergence and the relationship between attractant-baited trap catches and emergence of the spotted tentiform leafminer, Phyllonorycter blancardella (Fabr.), were studied in commercial apple orchards in Norfolk County, Ontario, during 1983 and 1984. The onset and progression of male and female emergence was highly synchronized during each of the three-yearly activity periods. The traps were a sensitive indicator of the onset of the spring-emergence period. However, peaks in the numbers of moths trapped did not occur at times of peak moth emergence and changes in the size of trap catches were not a reliable indicator of changes in the rate of moth emergence. During the spring-emergence period, peaks in trap catch were associated with relatively high daily air temperatures.