Seasonal Abundance of Adult Pink Bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) at Tandojam, Pakistan

The seasonal abundance of the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), was investigated from January 2016 to December 2018 in Tandojam, Pakistan, through pheromone trapping. Results showed that adult moths were present throughout the year in Tandojam. Moth abundance varied among months due to differences in weather conditions and host availability. The greatest moth populations were observed from August to November. Peak abundance occurred in September 2016 and 2017 (103.8 and 95.8 moths/trap, respectively), and in October 2018 (156.6 moths/trap). The lowest populations were recorded in June 2016 and 2018 (4.3 and 2.3 moths/trap, respectively), and in February 2017 (1.5 moths/trap). Trap catches were positively correlated with temperature and relative humidity, but negatively correlated with sunshine, in all three years. Rainfall was positively correlated with trap catches in 2016 and 2017, but negatively correlated in 2018. Multiple regression analysis was used to estimate the combined effect of all weather factors on population fluctuation of pink bollworm. The R-2 values indicated that weather factors cumulatively explained 76.4, 91.4 and 69.4% of variability in the abundance of pink bollworm in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. The results of the study allow pest managers to focus treatment during the time of year when moths are most abundant.