MONITORING OF COLEOPHORA LARICELLA HB. IN A LARCH SEED ORCHARD SITUATED IN CENTRE OF TRANSYLVANIA, ROMANIA

Abstract

A rich complex of pests, which could cause damages both in quality and quantity, can often affect the larch forests and larch orchards. Because within this complex, larch case-bearer (Coleophora laricella Hb.) occupies a special place, in a larch seed orchard situated in Baciu (Cluj), centre of Transylvania, Romania, ten pheromonal traps with clue were placed within the panel. The traps were placed within the orchard on May 22, 2010, and in the period of May 26 and July 31, twenty regular observations were made by reading the captures. Maximum flight curve was reached about three weeks from the onset of the flight, date by which 47 captures were made. Adult flight ended around July 31, the entire flight activity ranging within 66 days. In this interval, there were captured 442 males, from which 8 in May, 254 in June and 180 in July. The number of captures made by a pheromone trap ranged from 34 to 51 adults/trap, the average being 44.2 adults per trap. The maximum of captures made by a trap on the interval between two successive readings was of 10 adults per trap. This phenomenon was achieved during the peak of the flight curve and was recorded by traps located on the outskirts of the experimental lot. Traps with sexual-attractant pheromone may be successfully used in the activity of monitoring pests and also for specie’s combat through mass capture of males.