EFFECT OF CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON SPODOPIERA III-7-0RA LIS (BOISD.) AND H EL ICOVERPA ARMIGERA (HUB.) CAPTURE MALE MOTHS IN RELATIONSHIP TO ACCUMULATED HEAT UNITS

Ecological studies on the cotton leafworrn (CLW), Spodoptere littoral's (Botsd.) and American bollworm (ABW), Hencoverpa almigefa (Nob.) were carried out at Atio.Hammad district, Sharkia governorate, Egypt during two consecutive cotton growing seasons of 2007 and 2008. Results indicated that CLW male moths catch occurred at three peaks during 2007 and 2008 seasons. The accumtlated heat units from peak to peak were 619.13 and 64&63 degreedays in the flist seas" whle In 2008 season S was 783.5lana 667.91 degree-days. The accumulated heat mils from peak to peak of ABW were 469.85 and 739.52 degreedays In the first season, but In 2008 6 was 588.03 and 616.40 degree days were required for the development of these throe generances. The effect of maximum, minimum and mean temperatures and R.H. % on the catch of cotton leafvrown in pheromone traps was significant during 2007 and insignificant in 2008 season (44.20 and 22.81%). Also, the relative humidity showed insignificant effect In the 1v season and significant in the second one. While, the effect of max., mini. and mean temp. showed insignificant effect in the 1" and r° seasons except, the maximum temperature caused significant effect In the 24 season, respectively. While the mean 96 RH showed significant effect In the season and insignificant effect In the 2." season. The effect of all weather factors on catch of American bollworm male moths were positive and insignificant at the two seasons, except mean of % R.H. was negative in the 1' season. On the Other hand, the all weather factors showed lowest Influence on American bolhvorm in 2007 season. Whereas, at the second season it caused moderately Influence (7.89 and 25.71%, respectively. From the previous results it could concluded that the population density of both CLW and ABW male moths were affected with changes in weather factors (temperature and % relative humidity) and can be used to forecasting the population of both these pests.