Survey on the wintering stock of meadow moth cocoons

The meadow moth belongs to numerous pests. Perennial pests are species that feed on many cultivated and wild plants.
Favorable weather conditions in the autumn-winter period: snow depth from 3 cm to 15 cm. Deep freezing of the soil was not observed, because high negative temperatures (from -150 to -200 C) were short-lived. Precipitation in the form of snow was in the 2nd decade at the beginning of the 3rd decade of February 2023. Long-term snow melt was not observed.
Specialists of the branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Rosselkhozcenter" in the Stavropol Territory have started a spring control survey of the wintering stock of meadow moth cocoons.
The survey was conducted on an area of ​​25.27 thousand hectares, the settlement was revealed on an area of ​​9.31 thousand hectares. (37% of the surveyed area) with an average density of cocoons of 1.1 ind./m2, the maximum number of 5.0 ind./m2 was found in Izobilnensky, Aleksandrovsky, Levokumsky, Petrovsky districts. The death of cocoons was not detected.
Meadow moth - distributed everywhere, but most harmful in the North Caucasus, Volga, Urals, southern parts of the West Siberian and East Siberian regions. The meadow moth feeds on plants belonging to 35 families.
Caterpillars that have finished feeding hibernate, in the soil in a cocoon located vertically near the surface. They are very resistant to cold (withstand temperatures down to -300C) and usually do not freeze in winter. The flight of butterflies begins in May, at an average stable temperature of at least 170C.
The intensity of reproduction of the meadow moth depends significantly on weather conditions during the mass flight of butterflies. If during this period the temperature is not lower than 16-170C, and the amount of precipitation is numerically equal to the sum of average ten-day temperatures or exceeds, then favorable conditions are created for a sharp increase in the pest population.
The abundance of the meadow moth limits a wide range of entomophages. Trichogramma parasitize in eggs, caterpillars and pupae - larvae of true riders, braconids and tachin flies. Predatory ground beetles and insectivorous birds also play an important role in reducing its numbers.
The branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Rosselkhoztsentr in the Stavropol Territory continues to monitor the wintering stock of the meadow moth.

Source: Branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "ROSSELHOZTSENTR" in the Stavropol Territory