A field cage was used to study sex pheromone mediated behavior and evaluate female-baited pheromone traps for capture of males of the pickleworm, Diaphania nitidalis (Stoll). Males were attracted to females throughout scotophase with peak attraction occurring during the third (2200–2259 hours), fourth (2300–2359 hours), and fifth (0000–0059 hours) hours. Four traps were evaluated: (1) the box, currently used for monitoring pickleworm moth populations; (2) the Heliothis; (3) the Pherocon 1C (sticky); and (4) the unitrap (bucket). The bucket trap consistently captured and retained more male pickleworm moths than the other traps tested. The bucket trap was evaluated at 30, 80, 150, and 180 cm above ground level. Significantly more males were caught at 80 and 150 cm than at either extreme. Trap efficiency was determined for the bucket trap and a modified (Fluon-coated outer cone) bucket trap. Efficiencies for the bucket and modified bucket traps were not significantly different. The bucket trap caught 20.3 ± 1.2% ( |x| ± SEM) of males orienting toward the trap, 29.3 ± 1.7% of males touching the trap, and 41.0 ± 3.3% of males landing on the caged females used as the pheromone source.
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Valles et al. (1991) studied this question.