Henaish, M. (2023). Population, Fluctuations and Updating of Noctuid Moths (Lepidoptera) by Using A Light-trap at Aswan Governorate Egypt. Journal of the Advances in Agricultural Researches, 28(1), 202-215. doi: 10.21608/jalexu.2023.193200.1119
Mahmoud Yousef Hassan Henaish. "Population, Fluctuations and Updating of Noctuid Moths (Lepidoptera) by Using A Light-trap at Aswan Governorate Egypt". Journal of the Advances in Agricultural Researches, 28, 1, 2023, 202-215. doi: 10.21608/jalexu.2023.193200.1119
Henaish, M. (2023). 'Population, Fluctuations and Updating of Noctuid Moths (Lepidoptera) by Using A Light-trap at Aswan Governorate Egypt', Journal of the Advances in Agricultural Researches, 28(1), pp. 202-215. doi: 10.21608/jalexu.2023.193200.1119
Henaish, M. Population, Fluctuations and Updating of Noctuid Moths (Lepidoptera) by Using A Light-trap at Aswan Governorate Egypt. Journal of the Advances in Agricultural Researches, 2023; 28(1): 202-215. doi: 10.21608/jalexu.2023.193200.1119
Population, Fluctuations and Updating of Noctuid Moths (Lepidoptera) by Using A Light-trap at Aswan Governorate Egypt
Insect Classification Dept., Plant Protection Research Institute, ARC, Egypt.
Abstract
Studies on the population size and fluctuations of noctuid moths (Lepidoptera) at Aswan governorate were undertaken by the use of a light trap throughout two successive years from August 2019 up to July 2021. Results obtained revealed 31 noctuid species within 16 genera. Catches of the noctuids showed significant variations in the number of moths in the two years. Large numbers were trapped during May up to September in the first year and during April up to October in the second one. The peak was during May in both years. The winter months demonstrated the lowest numbers of trapped moths. The species Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), Noctua pronoba L. and Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) were the most abundant species with a total annual number of 1225, 1209, 1182 moths in the first year and 2304, 1433, 1747 moths in the second one, respectively.The species, Agrotis trux, Sesamia wiltshire and Trichoplusia daubei were the least abundant species.
Noctuid moths are considered as the most serious pests for a wide range of agriculture plants. Great attention has been given to the ecological studies on the family in many parts of the world and in Egypt. However, the knowledge on the population dynamics is rather fragment and not enough in Upper Egypt, particularly in Aswan. Using light traps, noctuid moths (Lepidoptera) in Aswan Governorate were examined for population trends and updates. All these studies were carried out by the use of light traps (Bassiony et al, 1997; El Kady et al, 1980; El Saadany and Rizk 1973a, b; El Saadany et al, 1978; Etman et al, 1990; Hanna, 1972; Hanna et al, 1968; and 1975; Hassanein et al; 1971; Hussein et al, 1986; Salem et al, 1989Zanaty et al, 1985; Hanna and Atries, 1968 and 1969; El- Saadany, 1973 a, b; Badr et al, 1985 a, b and 1987). Shaheen , 2013; Abdel Fattah and El-Torkey, 2017; Ragab, et al 2014; Lafontaine, and Schmidt 2010; Zahiri, et al (2013).
The family Noctuidae is cosmopolitan and can be found worldwide. For a very long period. It was thought to be the largest family of Lepidoptera and has approximately 20,000 species, but currently, it is the second largest family according to the most recent taxonomical studies, with about 1,089 genera and 11,772 species (Zhang, 2011). Additionally, many noctuid species are thought to be the most destructive pests to vegetables, destroying gardens, orchards, and crops every year (Capinera, 2008; Zahiri et al, 2012).
In Egypt, this family is represented by 320 species, of which, the caterpillars of the genus Spodoptera are among the most significant pests. They have been found in over 40 plant families, primarily dicotyledonous ones, and feed on a broad variety of plants. Four species of the genus Spodoptera are found in Egypt: S. exigua (beet army worm), S. frugiperda (fall army worm), S. cilium (grasslawn army worm), and S. littoralis (cotton leafworm).
The main objective of this study is to explore the fauna of lepidopterous moths of the family Noctuidae in Aswan Governorate and study the population fluctuation and abundance of the species, aiming to contribute some information to the available ecological knowledge.
MATRIALS AND METHODS
A traditional light-trap was placed in the farm of the Directorate of Agriculture in Aswan and was set up at a height of 3 meters above the ground and operated daily from sunset to sunrise for two successive years (2019/2020 – 2020/2021) starting from August, 2019 and ends in July, 2021. The farm was mostly planted with a variety of agricultural crops, vegetables, and fruit trees.
Captured insects were separated and sorted out into species. Noctuid moths of different species were identified, counted and recorded, then listed in alphabetical order according to genera and species. Data of monthly catches of each species were tabulated together with calculations of the total annual numbers and their percentage of abundance. Moths were identified and preserved in the insect classification Department, Plant Protection Research Institute (PPRI) Agricultural Research Center (ARC) Egypt.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Data indicated by the light trap and presented in tables (1) and (2) show different noctuid species, their relative abundance and fluctuations through the two years of study.
Table:1 Total monthly catches of noctuid moths at Aswan location during 2019 -2020
No.
Aug.
Sep.
Oct.
Nov.
Des.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
total
%
1
Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel)
76
49
44
9
3
5
43
65
141
189
204
217
1045
5.395776
2
Agrotis pictifascia (Hampson)
10
22
15
5
1
2
14
54
56
99
84
59
421
2.173801
3
Agrotis pierretti (Bugnion)
17
5
7
2
8
3
6
8
9
14
22
31
132
0.681572
4
Agrotis puta (Hubner)
66
63
77
45
23
11
7
4
1
28
55
76
456
2.354521
5
Agrotis ripae Baker
12
8
13
7
5
3
3
1
5
9
6
11
83
0.428564
6
Agrotis spinifera (Hubner)
78
90
5
1
0
0
27
64
71
102
99
114
651
3.361388
7
Agrotis trux (Hubner)
7
11
2
3
1
0
1
3
2
1
1
1
33
0.170393
8
Athetis atriluna Guenee
111
101
48
26
12
8
12
32
54
99
117
137
757
3.908711
9
Athetis clavipalpis Scopoli
114
88
23
15
9
5
13
63
98
111
116
139
794
4.099757
10
Autographa gamma (Linnaeus)
99
75
2
0
5
1
12
36
76
179
166
101
752
3.882894
11
chrysodeixis chalcitis (Esper)
119
188
115
82
33
12
5
27
33
67
81
89
851
4.394072
12
Hadula trifolii (Hufnagel)
145
99
76
44
15
3
7
54
111
162
188
192
1096
5.659111
13
Helicoverpa armigera H.
84
40
5
3
3
15
44
52
82
117
102
134
681
3.516291
14
Heliothis nubigera Herrich-Schaffer
33
28
17
3
1
0
5
52
128
169
111
54
601
3.103217
15
Heliothis peltigera Schiffermuller
41
17
10
5
3
0
2
25
133
176
243
181
836
4.316621
16
Leucania loreyi (Duponchel)
129
88
67
33
9
3
5
12
76
173
122
112
829
4.280477
17
Noctua pronuba L.
64
24
101
267
144
87
48
5
132
228
76
33
1209
6.242578
18
Sesamia cretica (Lederer)
81
72
15
3
2
1
25
36
133
105
76
121
670
3.459493
19
Sesamia nonagrioides (Lefebvre)
13
9
4
0
1
1
2
1
5
7
16
27
86
0.444054
20
Sesamia wiltshirei Rungs
11
5
3
2
1
0
1
1
1
5
13
18
61
0.314969
21
Soctia segetum (Denis&Schiffermuller)
66
75
13
1
1
1
19
107
143
154
116
88
784
4.048123
22
Spodoptera exigua (Hubner)
115
161
23
35
17
13
19
26
68
128
99
103
807
4.166882
23
Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)
138
101
53
45
27
19
12
30
87
199
289
225
1225
6.325192
24
Spodoptera ciliumLederer
112
123
88
78
25
34
10
23
53
78
67
154
845
4.363092
25
Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval)
201
165
124
93
31
38
14
45
99
112
137
123
1182
6.103165
26
Cornutiplusia circumflexa (Linnaeus)
112
98
12
4
1
14
54
97
115
223
202
101
1033
5.333815
27
Tarache lucida Fabricius
53
34
13
6
2
1
1
12
35
54
17
41
269
1.388961
28
Thyanoplusia orichalcea (F.)
17
13
22
18
2
1
3
9
27
34
41
53
240
1.239221
29
Trichoplusia circumscripta (Freyer)
63
42
43
12
4
2
0
17
52
73
37
21
366
1.889813
30
Trichoplusia daubei (Boisduval)
23
17
11
6
2
0
0
1
0
7
15
45
127
0.655755
31
Trichoplusia ni (Hubner)
44
56
72
66
14
13
10
0
25
65
42
38
445
2.297723
2254
1967
1123
919
405
296
424
962
2051
3167
2960
2839
19367
Table: 2 Total monthly catches of noctuid moths at Aswan location during 2020 -2021
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