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 carob moth Ephestia calidella (Guen.), raisin moth E. figulilella (Greg.), tobacco moth E. elutella (Hub.), and Mediterranean flour moth E. kuehniella (Zell.) in central Iraq, was established, with the aid of synthetic pheromone and relating cumulative emergence to physiological time (degree-days, DDs). Data of moth catches indicated that the flight period 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-October. Data of first captures ranged from 4 April to 10 May and corresponded to a mean DD summation from 1 January of 367, 348, 608 and 453 for E. calidella, E. figulilella, E. elutella and E. kuehniella, respectively. The mean DD accumulation from 1 March was 283, 236, 496 and 350, respectively, and for E. kuehniella this allowed for a more accurate forecast of moth emergence. The regression equation governing the relationship between cumulative male capture and the DD values was determined. The usefulness of such a system is discussed in relation to control programmes.