The development of a standard pheromone trapping procedure forSpodoptera Iitura(F) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) population in groundnut(Arachis hyopogaeaL) crops

The efficacy of four pheromone‐trap designs was compared for catching male tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (F), moths in groundnut fields. There was no significant difference in the performance of the single‐ and double‐funnel traps, and the single‐funnel (20 cm dia) trap captured more moths than any other trap. Septa of 4 weeks or less exposure attracted most moths. One and two traps ha−1 caught significantly fewer moths than four and more traps ha−1 however there was no significant improvement in capture when four or more traps ha−1 were installed. Night observations indicated that many moths escaped from sleeve traps. Single plastic funnel traps were found suitable and are being used in monitoring S. litura in the national monitoring network in India.