Reproductive Condition of Bollworm Moths Caught in Blacklight Traps in Corn, Sorghum, and Cotton123

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Abstract
The number of matings of female Heliothis zea (Boddie) caught by BL traps in corn, sorghum, and cotton fields appeared to be an index of moth age. Most female bollworms caught in corn and sorghum in June during the stage of host development most attractive for oviposition were mated 1–4 times. Females caught in mature corn and sorghum in July and in fruiting cotton in July and Aug. were generally fat young moths that were either unmated or had mated only once. The studies indicated that the BL traps could be used to detect a bollworm ovipositional phase characterized by the accumulation of mated moths in attractive corn and sorghum and a dispersal phase in July and Aug. when adults emerging in mature corn and sorghum were dispersing to cotton, the only major suitable host available during the later period.

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