ECOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON BOLLWORMS

Abstract

The present work was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2000 and 2001 at Kafer El-Geraeyaa, Zagazig region, Sharkia Governorate to study the seasonal fluctuation and field generation numbers of pink, spiny and american bollworms under field conditions and also to evaluate the effects of Chinmix, Spintor and Biorepel compounds against cotton bollworms in cotton fields. Laboratory experiments were carried out to evaluate the biological, biochemical and histological effects of above-mentioned compounds against pink and spiny bollworms. The obtained data revealed that male moths of pink bollworm started to attract by sex pheromone traps at the 1st week of April. Afterwards, the insect population fluctuated in numbers recording about five peaks of activity occurred in both seasons. The highest number of captured pink bollworm moths recorded at the 3rd week of September in both seasons. The pink bollworm showed 5 generations , the fourth generation recorded the highest one. While, spiny bollworm remained active throughout the year with population fluctuation in numbers recording about eight peaks of activity occurred during seasons of 2000 and 2001. The highest peak recorded at the 4th week of August in the both seasons. The spiny bollworm showed 6 generations, the fourth generation was the highest one. On the other hand , male moths of american bollworm started to attract by sex pheromone traps on the 3rd week and 1st week of April in both seasons, respectively. Afterwards, the insect population fluctuated in numbers recording about five peaks of activity