Seasonal fluctuations in populations of Lepidopteran species as influenced by conventional control in tobacco stores

Abstract

Ephestia elutella (Hubner) and Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) are very important stored product pests. E. elutella cause widespread infestations by attacking stored tobacco and P interpunctella is common pest in stored products. This study was carried out to determine the distribution and seasonal fluctuations in populations of these two moth species in tobacco warehouses in the Osmangazi and Mudanya districts of Bursa province, northwestern Turkey. Pherocon II traps baited with IMM+4 (pheromone of P interpunctella) pheromone lures were used for monitoring fluctuations in adult populations. The first adults of E. elutella were observed in April-May; adult P. interpunctella first appeared in early June. E. elutella was most abundant of the two species. There were 2-3 population peaks of E. elutella in Osmangazi and 3-4 in Mudanya. R interpunctella was also present but captures were lower than those of E. elutella. At Mudanya, P. interpunctella adults showed three population peaks in 2001 and two in 2002. There was a correlation between trap location and the number of moths captured in Mudanya tobacco store. Consequently, more P interpunctella were captured in traps near openings to the outside than in the other traps.