PECAN NUT CASEBEARER (LEPIDOPTERA, PYRALIDAE) SEX-PHEROMONE USED TO MONITOR PHENOLOGY AND ESTIMATE EFFECTIVE RANGE OF TRAPS

Sex pheromone traps for pecan nut casebearer, Acrobasis nuxvorella Neu nzig, were deployed at densities of 1, 2, and 4 traps per tree in bloc ks of 9 trees or in single, isolated trees replicated 4 times in an is olated, vegetatively propagated pecan orchard in western Texas to exam ine male moth activity. The phenology of overwintering generation peca n nut casebearer male moth activity was consistent among the 6 treatme nts. Male moth capture per trap tended to decrease as traps per tree i ncreased, but captures per tree were not significantly different among the 6 treatments, indicating an effective catch area of I tree for a trap. Catch differences were found among trees within the 9-tree block s, with fewer moths caught in traps within the center tree and more ca ptured in the southwestern tree, west tree column, and south tree row. Trap lines extending away from the orchard caught few moths. Pheromon e-baited traps show merit in detecting moth phenology and may have app lication in assessing moth density for making pest management decision s.