Resumen
- High levels of pest populations were reported recently in potato crops in Colombia, showing Guatemalan Moth (Tecia solanivora) as the most limiting of these. Interdisciplinary approaches are important in dealing with the uncertainty of the behavior of pests and climate conditions. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of climate elements, present in the study zone, on moth adult populations. The experiment was carried out in Mosquera (Cundinamarca – Colombia; 4° 41’ 18.84’ ‘N and 74° 12’ 22.67’’ W) at 2,560 masl. Three potato crop cycles (cv Diacol Capiro) were established with a monitoring system based on T. solanivora pheromone traps. Climatic variables were recorded at a local weather station. Data analysis included Pearson correlation and correlograms. Throughout the study period (2015 – 2017), the fluctuation of Tecia solanivora adults exhibited mean positive correlation with: maximum temperature, day degrees, solar brightness and mean temperature (in order of relevance); and we found mean negative-correlation with precipitation and humidity index (in order of relevance). In climate change scenarios, maximum temperature may be considered the climatic variable of greatest relevance to explain population increase and dispersal of Tecia solanivora adults. On the other hand, rain has a negative influence on the adult population of T. solanivora, with the greatest number of individuals occurring in conditions of low rainfall.