Comparison of the Numbers of Tobacco Budworms1and Bollworms1Caught in Sex Pheromone Traps vs. Blacklight Traps in Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas23

Abstract

Catches of bollworms, Heliothis zea (Boddie), and tobacco budworms H. virescens (F.), in saucer-type pheromone traps and in 15-watt blacklight traps at 3 locations in cultivated cotton in the lower Rio Grande Valley and in 3 locations in uncultivated brushy areas were compared to determine which was the more effective in detecting low populations. The pheromone traps detected low levels of H. virescens bctter than light traps, but the blacklight traps detectcd populations of H. zea better than the pheromone traps. Relatively high populations of either species seemed to reduce the overall performance of the pheromone trap, probably because of increased competition for males by native females. Most H. virescens were captured in cultivated areas by either trap type. Light traps caught more H. zea in uncultivated areas than did pheromone traps.