Relationship Between Spodoptera Litura Fab. Male Moth Catches in Pheromone Trap and Their Oviposition on Groundnut

Field trials were conducted to study the interrelationship between Spodoptera litura Fab. male moth catches in pheromone trap and their oviposition on groundnut foliage during rainy and post rainy seasons of 2003 and 2004. The male moths were active from July to October and attained four peaks with three oviposition peaks during both years. First to third peaks of male moth catches coincided with first to third peaks of oviposition while very meager oviposition was observed during fourth peak of male moth catches. Oviposition on groundnut foliage showed significantly positive correlation with male moth catches in pheromone trap. The values of coefficient of determination (KT) indicated that the population of male moths contributed significantly to the tune of 60.71 and 58.62 per cent to number of egg masses of S. litura laid in groundnut field during 2003 and 2004, respectively.