Flight Phenology of Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in the Northwest Florida Panhandle

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In this study, we documented the occurrence and abundance of lesser cornstalk borer (LCSB) male moths using a pheromone trap in the Northwest region of the Florida Panhandle. Then, we examined the relationships between the LCSB abundance and the air temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall. Our study indicated that the LCSB abundance occurs from April to December in the Northwest region of the Florida Panhandle, and the flight peak is in August. Additionally, we found that the moth abundance is positively related to increases in temperature. ABSTRACT: Elasmopalpus lignosellus Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), the lesser cornstalk borer (LCSB), is an economically important peanut pest in the southeastern U.S. region, and its occurrence and abundance have been associated with warm and dry conditions. In the Northwestern Florida Panhandle (USA), the LCSB occurrence and abundance are unknown. Thus, a study in this region used commercial sex pheromones to capture male moths year-round from July/2017 to June/2021. Our results indicated that the LCSBs were present in the region from April to December, with higher abundance in August. Moths were also caught from January to March in only 2020. In addition, the number of moths collected increased when the temperature increased. Our results indicate a different pattern for LCSB abundance than previously documented, with peak occurrence in warm and wet conditions (August). These results support that region-specific weather information should be considered when designing IPM recommendations based on the phenology of pest occurrence in the agroecosystem.