INFLUENCE OF WEATHER PARAMETERS ON POPULATION DYNAMICS OF APPLE CODLING MOTH Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera; Tortricidae) AT MATTA SWAT VALLEY

Study was carried out to investigate population dynamics and impact of abiotic factors (Temperature, relative humidity and rainfall) on traps catches of apple codling moth (Cydia pomonella) at Matta Swat in a single unmanaged orchard during the year 2012-13. The results of the field study revealed that the incidence of C. pomonella gradually showed increase in the 20th Standard Meteorological Week (SMW) where it reached to 7.00 and 3.00 moth/trap respectively in both years of studies. Afterwards, mean population of C. pomonella reached to its highest number of adults during the 25th SMW (11.25 moths/trap) in the year 2012 and 15.75 moths/trap in the 26th SMW in the 2013. Then the mean population fluctuation of C. pomonella gradually showed decline and reached to 7.00 and 8.00 moths/ trap in both years in 29th SMW. After sharp rise and fall in the population again reached to its maximum level (12.00 and 13.00 moths/trap) in the 31st and 32nd SMW in the year 2012 and 2013 respectively. The lowest mean population of C. pomonella was recorded in the 38th SMW and 39th SMW (0.25 and 0.00 moths/ trap) respectively in both the years of studies. The correlation matrix between C. pomonella and weather parameters revealed that mean maximum temperature (r = 0.79 and 0.79) and mean minimum temperature (r = 0.44 and 0.42) exhibited a highly significant (p 0.01) positive association with C. pomonella population build up. Similarly mean Relative Humidity at morning also showed statistically significant (p 0.05) negative relation (r = -0.46) with C. pomonella population during the year 2012 and non-significant negative association (r = -0.28) with C. pomonella population during the year 2013. Statistically significant (p 0.05) negative association were recorded for the C. pomonella population with mean relative humidity at evening(r = -0.42) during the year 2012 and non-significant negative relation was recorded for the relative humidity at evening (r = -0.24) in the second year while total rainfall showed non-significant negative relationship ( r = -0.00 and -0.22) with C. pomonella population during both the years at Matta Swat. Regression analysis explained 68-82% (R^2) variability due to meteorological parameters in the population dynamics of C. pomonella at Matta Swat.