Influence of environmental factors on daily flight activity of the filbertworm, Melissopus latiferreanus (Lepidoptera, Olethreutidae)

Flight of Melissopus latiferreanus (Walsinghzm) , the filbertworm, was influenced by a number of environmental factors including temperature, wind, and rainfall. Few M. latiferreanus moths were trapped in light or suction traps or found in sweep nets samples when air temperatures were above 31°C or below 15°C. Moth captures were optimum when prevailing temperature was between 21 and 26°C. Typically moth flights began at about sunset and continued throughout the night with a peak at 22.00 hours, about an hour after sunset. Very few moths were trapped under showery and gusty conditions when wind velocity was over 16km h −1 . More moths were captured in light traps during dark nights than on full moon nights. The pattern of captures indicated that females flew earlier than males.