Pheromone Monitoring of Helicoverpa Armigera (Hubner) and Relationship with Abiotic Factors and Infestation on Tomato

Adult activity of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) was monitored using sex pheromone baited traps and correlation of catch data with larval activity and abiotic factors worked out during 2004 and 2005 in the mid-hill regions of Himachal Pradesh. In both the years, the moth activity commenced in the first week of March (10SW) and ceased by the end of June (25–26SW) as monitored through pheromone traps. While in 2004, a significant negative correlation existed between moth catch and minimum temperature and positive correlation with wind velocity. In 2005, a significant negative correlation was evident with both maximum and minimum temperature. The coefficient of correlation (r) of larval count with moth catch data in preceding week was significant during 2004, but non-significant during 2005.