INFLUENCE OF WEATHER FACTORS ON LIGHT-TRAP CATCHES OF GROUNDNUT LEAFMINER (APROAEREMA-MODICELLA) (LEPIDOPTERA, GELECHIIDAE)

The relationship between weather factors and light-trap catches of lea fminer. (Aproaerema modicella Deventer) of groundnut (Arachis hypogaen L.) was studied during 1987, 1988 and 1989 at Vridhachalam. The numbe r of moths attracted to light-trap was significantly high in second fo rtnight of August and September in 1987 (11 peak catches), in first fo rtnight of October in 1989 (7 catches) and in March and first fortnigh t of April 1988 (6 catches). Pooled analysis of data revealed that the light-trap catches had a negative association with maximum temperatur e (r = -0.18), minimum temperature (r = -0.01) and sunshine hours (r = -0.18), and a positive association with relative humidity (r = 0.24) and rainfall (r = 0.41). The correlation studies indicated that rainfa ll alone exerted a significant positive influence, and an increase of 1 mm rainfall would increase the leafminer adults by 8.9.