Seasonal dynamics of the cabbage armyworm (Mamestra brassicae [L.]) and the bright-line brown-eyes moth (Mamestra oleracea [L.]) in Slovenia

Abstract

The cabbage armyworm (Mamestra brassicae L.) and the bright-line brown-eyes moth (Mamestra oleracea L.) are polyphagous insect species. From 2008 to 2010, we monitored the seasonal dynamics of both pests in two locations in Slovenia, Ljubljana and the Nova Gorica region. Pheromone traps (VARL + type) were used to precisely determine the occurrence of adults, i.e., the beginning and end of generations and the peaks of the populations. This allowed us to examine the relationship between the quantity of pests, average daily air temperature and average daily precipitation. Our results established that there were two generations of Mamestra brassicae per year in both locations; however, the seasonal dynamics of Mamestra oleracea was not as clear due to low trap catch. During 2008-2010 in Ljubljana, the average temperature during the peaks of the first generation of M. brassicae ranged from 16-19°C (sum of effective temperatures (SET) from 250°C to 375°C) and 20°C (SET from 986°C to 1,290°C) during the peaks of the second generation. We found no correlation between the average number of cabbage armyworm adults during the peaks of both generations and the mean air temperature 35 and 70 days prior to the peaks.

Determination of sex pheromone traps distances in control of spiny bollworm,Earias insulanaBoisduval. (Lep.: Noctuidae) by mass trapping method in cotton fields

“…Since the larvae of E. insulana penetrate the bolls soon after hatching, and are then difficult to control, early detection of the pest is key to its effective management. Pheromone traps can be used as an effective tool for finding early adult populations (Cohnstaedt et al 2012;Devetak et al 2014) or as a warning device to detect the attack potential time (Cruz et al 2012). Pheromone traps are useful especially as a means of warning of attack potential of the larvae of the pest (Kehat et al 1981;Cork 2004).…”

Stenomesius japonicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae): a new parasitoid of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Syria

“…Tuta absoluta is originated from South America, but it was introduced to Spain in 2006 (Urbaneja et al, 2007), then spread throughout the Mediterranean Basin, Central Europe and the Middle East (Devetak et al, 2015). The subsequent invasion into the Middle East have been recorded from Syria (Almatni, 2010;Ibrahim et al, 2012;Mofleh et al, 2014), Iraq (Abdul Razzak et al, 2010, Iran (Banamieri &Cheraghian, 2011), andJordan (Al Antary &Al Shaalan, 2013).…”

A survey of parasitoids from Greece with new associations

“…Faunistic surveys of parasitoids constitute the major baselines upon which further applicative studies are based (Tomanović et al 2014; Petrović et al 2019). Many pest species, especially lepidopterans, are prone to increase their abundance if conditions are favorable and inflict significant hazards in agriculture and forestry (Elkinton and Liebhold 1990; Devetak et al 2014). As many parasitoids are able to attack several host species or to specialize on a certain host species, their population dynamics depends on their hosts’ abundance, and thus, they are of major importance in controlling pests (Hassell 1980; Hassell and May 1986; Barbosa 1998; Gagić et al 2016).…”