Mating status of brinjal shoot and fruit borer Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee (Crambidae: Lepidoptera) male adults caught in sex pheromone traps

Abstract

Brinjal Shoot and Fruit Borer, Leucinodes orbonalis , is a major constraint in brinjal production. Investigation was taken up to understand the mating status of L. orbonalis male adults caught in sex pheromone trap. The genetalia of the male moths were examined for the presence of sperm cells and sperm bundles. The results indicated that 55.38 per cent of males caught in the trap were unmated whereas 26.15 per cent of them are partially mated and 18.40 per cent males are spent ones. The study indicated presence of L orbonalis male moths of different mating status in the pheromone catches.