ATTRACTION OF TOBACCO BUDWORM MOTHS (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) TO JAGGERY, A PALM SUGAR EXTRACT

Male tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens Fab., moths released into a field cage were recaptured in traps baited with aged 10% jaggery, a palm sugar extract. Both male and female tobacco budworm moths were attracted to aged 10% jaggery in a flight tunnel, exhibiting oriented flights ending in contact with the bait. Although the bait was initially not attractive either to females in a flight tunnel or to males in a field cage, it subsequently became attractive after one week and increased in attractiveness for up to 24 days after it was made.