The influence of climatic factors on catches of the red bollwonn Diparopsis castanea Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in sex pheromone traps

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Abstract
Males of Diparopsis castanea Hmps. were caught in a water trap baited with sex pheromone sited 2·0 m above ground level in a cotton field in the Lower Shire Valley, Malawi. Analysis of catches for 21 nights between 8.iii.75 and 3.vi.75 showed that optimal catches of males occurred at wind speeds of 1·0−2·5 m s−1. Wind speeds in excess of 3–4 m s−1 depressed activity. Regression analysis revealed an optimal relative humidity for flight of 60−70%. Inclusion of humidity in a multiple regression analysis with wind speed and temperature failed to improve significantly the relationship with catch provided by a model that considered wind speed and temperature only. No simple relationship existed between temperature and moth abundance, and wind speed clearly exerted the greatest independent effect on catch. Male Diparopsis nevertheless exhibited a temperature-related pheromone responsiveness, with peak catches occurring earlier in scotophase during periods of cool weather. Analysis of data gathered during the 1973 and 1974 seasons indicated a slight, but significant, positive correlation between night rainfall and moth catch. However, none of the various independent and joint relationships established between moth catch and climatic factors could be reliably used for forcasting moth abundance.

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