Efficiency of Using LED Traps in Phytosanitary Monitoring of the Pyraustidae (Insecta, Lepi-Doptera) Family Representatives

Several species of the Pyraustidae family are widespread phytophagous insects that cause significant damage to agricultural crops worldwide.Among them, the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis (Hb.)) and the meadow moth (Loxostege sticticalis L.) are particularly harmful and are found in many regions, including the Russian Federation.Effective control of these pests requires reliable monitoring tools to assess population dynamics and predict outbreaks.This study evaluated the efficiency of light traps for monitoring key Pyraustidae pests.The research was conducted from 2021 to 2023 on three farms in the central zone of Krasnodar Krai, a region where economically important phytophages threaten crops such as maize, soybean, sunflower, tomato, and pepper.During peak reproduction periods, pest infestations in this area can result in crop losses exceeding 60%.Light traps designed by the Federal Research Center of Biological Plant Protection (FSBSI FRCBPP) were deployed throughout the growing seasons, and data were processed and analyzed in 2024-2025.The results confirmed the high efficiency of light traps in attracting Pyraustidae species, particularly O. nubilalis.The abundance of these species was closely linked to the intensity of maize crop rotations, while overall population dynamics were influenced by prevailing weather conditions.These findings highlight the importance of integrating light traps into pest monitoring systems to support timely decision-making and crop protection strategies.In conclusion, light traps based on super-bright LEDs proved to be an effective tool for faunistic and ecological monitoring of Pyraustidae species, offering valuable prospects for improving integrated pest management in crop production.