Monitoring of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), males through pheromone traps and weather parameters affecting population build-up

Delta traps baited with synthetic pheromone, gossyplure, proved potential tool for monitoring the population trends of pink bollworm male moths. Data recorded throughout the year for 4-years indicated that the pink bollworm male moths were present in cotton fields all the year round. However, its peak was noticed between third week of August and second week of November, indicating six peaks. Weather parameter viz., average temperature and average humidity had significant positive impad on the population build-up of pink bollworm male moths. The total rainfall, however, had significant but negative impact on its population build-up.