Capturing of Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) Male Moths by Sex- Pheromone Traps in Response to Trap Color, Direction and Height at Potato Fields

Abstract

Potato, Solanum tuberosum L., is one of the most important food crops. The potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller 1873) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a destructive pest of potato in the field, storage and during marketing. The site of the current investigation at Etay El-Baroud Agricultural Research Station (Beheira Governorate) in 2022 summer season, to test the efficiency of sex-pheromone traps in capturing the male moths of P. operculella. The impacts of sex-pheromone trap color, trap direction, and trap height on P. operculella potato moth captures were evaluated. Every trap had a pheromone capsule as abait. White pheromone traps were the most effective at capturing insects with an average number of male moths (3312.23 ± 169.78 / trap / month), than yellow ones (2216.70 ± 152.63), green traps (1301.00 ± 103.48 male moths / trap per month) or red traps. Depending on the direction of the sex-pheromone trap, there were significant variations in the number of catches. When the traps were positioned in the south (3179.25 ± 150.58 male moths / trap) or center (3109.43 ± 126.15 male moths / trap) of the PTM-infested area, more moths were caught than when they were positioned in the west, east, or north. The ground-resting traps captured more P. operculella moths collectively with an average of (3888.50 ± 169.28 individuals / month / trap) than the two other heights (50 and 100 cm above the ground). A statistical analysis of the captures indicated a noteworthy distinction between the 0 cm height (resting on the ground) and the two remaining heights. These findings should be considered while developing a monitoring system for the P. operculella trapping system in potato cultivations.