Pink Bollworm (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae): Nightly and Seasonal Activity Patterns of Male Moths as Measured in Gossyplure-Baited Traps

The time of response of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), to gossyplure-baited traps (1:1 ratio of Z, Z and Z, E isomers of 7,11-hexadecadienyl acetate) was studied throughout the cotton growing season near Phoenix, Ariz. First capture means were 2213 hours (early season), 0108 hours (midseason), and 1726 hours (late season) (all times are given for Mountain Time). Similar relationships were observed in the time of peak and last capture means through the season except that they occurred later in the night. Temperature affected the time of capture; higher temperatures resulted in later captures and lower temperatures resulted in earlier captures. Regression models showed that the time of capture was predictable with the independent variables, time of sunset and temperature, accounting for 88 to 95% of the variation in time of capture. Maximum and minimum temperature thresholds for trap capture were 30.3 and 12.3°C