Blacklight monitoring of two avocado insect pests

Two lepidopterous insects have been reported as sporadic pests in California avocado groves for over 50 years: the omnivorous looper (Sabulodes aegrotata Guenee) and Amorbia cuneana (Walsingham). To gain a better understanding of the seasonal abundance of these two pests, the authors operated blacklight traps in the major avocado production areas of southern California for three years (1980-82). By monitoring the abundance of adults trapped, the authors hoped to learn how many generations there were per year and when they occurred. Catches were sorted and the number of omnivorous looper and A. cuneana moths recorded at the University of California South Coast Field Station, Irvine. In 1980 and 1981, a total of 5,675 male and 2,240 female A. cuneana and 16,625 male and 3,190 female omnivorous loopers were captured. The specific reason for the higher male catch is not known, although the authors speculate that the males are more active fliers and thus more likely than the females to encounter the traps.