Influence of Distance on Attraction of Tobacco Horn worm and Corn Ear worm Moths to Radiations of a Blacklight Lamp1234

Abstract

Tobacco horn worm moths, Manduca sexta (Johannson), made a 48% positive response to radiation emitted by a 15-w fluorescent black light lamp when the moths were behind a black-painted wire screen, 16-mesh per 2.54 em2, within 4.6 m of the radiation source. In parallel tests, 75% of the corn ear worm moths, Heliathis zea (Boddie), made a positive response when they were 6.1 m from the lamp. In a separate test, 96% of 28 M. sexta moths made a positive response after they went to the g-round within 1.2 m of a similar lamp installed at ground level. When the black-painted screen was between the moths and the radiation source, the limit of response was at 120.0–135.0 m for M. sexta and 60.0–90.0 m for H. zea.