Activity of Tobacco Hornworm1 Moths as Determined by Electrocutor Grid Traps Baited with a Blacklight Lamp and Virgin Females2

Abstract

Hourly sampling catches of Manduca sexta (L.) in electrocutor grid traps baited with a blacklight lamp, virgin females, or both attractants, indicated that these moths are active all night in the Gainesville, Florida, area. Traps baited with females captured only males; traps baited with blacklight and blacklight + females caught both sexes. Many more males than females were captured at all hours of the night. Peak catches of males occurred between 2 and 4 AM EDT in each of the 3 treatments. Most females were captured between sunset and midnight.