About
  PDF
Full Text
(210 K)

Validation of Bollworm Migration Across South-Central Texas in 1994-1996

J.K. Westbrook, J.F. Esquivel, J.D. López, Jr., G.D. Jones, W.W. Wolf and J.R. Raulston


 
ABSTRACT

Research was undertaken to validate estimates of long-distance flights of adult male bollworm, Helicoverpa zea, using a network of pheromone traps in northeastern Mexico and south-central Texas. Captured bollworm moths were examined for external contamination of citrus pollen and internal contamination of Lycopodium clavatum spores. Moths contaminated with citrus pollen were captured throughout the network of pheromone traps as far as 661 km from the nearest location of commercial citrus production in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) during February and March. Moths which consumed a feeding attractant/stimulant mixture with Lycopodium clavatum spores were captured as far as 230 km north of treated corn fields in the LRGV in June 1996. Estimated nightly insect flight trajectories from Weslaco (LRGV) and local minimum air temperatures were well correlated with capture events of citrus pollen-contaminated bollworms in February and March 1994 (c2 = 60.556; 3 df; P < 0.0001). Results show that probabilities of capture events can be estimated for specific recipient locations, and suggest that the insect flight trajectory method can be applied to other dates and source areas. These findings strongly support a need to suppress dispersal of bollworm moths that jeopardize the effectiveness of pest (and pest resistance) management on an areawide basis.



Reprinted from Proceedings of the 1997 Beltwide Cotton Conferences pp. 936 - 940
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

[Main TOC] | [TOC] | [TOC by Section] | [Search] | [Help]
Previous Page [Previous] [Next] Next Page
 
Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998