FORECASTING EMERGENCE AND FLIGHT OF SOME EPHESTIA SPP (LEP, PYRALIDAE) BASED ON PHEROMONE TRAPPING AND DEGREE-DAY ACCUMULATIONS

Forecasting system to monitor the emergence and flight activity of car ob moth Ephestia calidella (Guen.), raisin moth E. figulilella (Greg.) , tobacco moth E. elutella (Hub.), and Mediterranean flour moth E. kue hniella (Zell.) in central Iraq, was established, with the aid of synt hetic pheromone and relating cumulative emergence to physiological tim e (degree-days, DDs). Data of moth catches indicated that the flight p eriod occurs from early April to late November, with peaks from early May to late June, mid-July to late August and late September to mid-Oc tober. Data of first captures ranged from 4 April to 10 May and corres ponded to a mean DD summation from 1 January of 367, 348, 608 and 453 for E. calidella, E. figulilella, E. elutella and E. kuehniella, respe ctively. The mean DD accumulation from 1 March was 283, 236, 496 and 3 50, respectively, and for E. kuehniella this allowed for a more accura te forecast of moth emergence. The regression equation governing the r elationship between cumulative male capture and the DD values was dete rmined. The usefulness of such a system is discussed in relation to co ntrol programmes.