Development of pheromone traps for control and monitoring of sweetpotato weevils, Cylas puncticollis and C. brunneus, in Uganda
Abstract
Experiments were carried out in Uganda to optimise pheromone traps for the African sweetpotato weevil species, Cylas puncticollis Bohe. and C. brunneus F. (Coleoptera: Apionidae). Various designs of funnel, water and sticky traps were compared and a 5-l plastic jerry can trap was the most appropriate design for effectiveness and practicability. A solution of Omo detergent in water was found to be the most effective trapping agent. Fewer weevils were caught in red traps than in yellow, white, green or blue traps. Catches of C. puncticollis increased when the trap was raised above crop height, but catches of C. brunneus were unaffected. When marked weevils were dropped onto the trap, 36% of C. puncticollis and 23% of C. brunneus were captured, and, of weevils placed in the trap, 88% and 92%, respectively, of the two species remained overnight. Lures for the two species showed no significant loss in attractiveness after 8 weeks in the field, and chemical analysis showed 19% of the C. puncticollis pheromone and 72% of the C. brunneus pheromone remaining after this time. Summarizing, the following trap is presently recommended for monitoring/controlling African Cylas species: a 5-l plastic jerry can trap of any colour with rectangular openings of 11×5 and 6×5 cm positioned 15 cm above the crop canopy, filled with 0.5 l Omo solution (1 g/1 l water), with 0.1 mg lures to be replaced every 8 weeks.
Citation
Smit, N.E.J.M.; Downham, M.C.A.; Odongo, B.; Hall, D.R.; Laboke, P.O. Development of pheromone traps for control and monitoring of sweetpotato weevils, Cylas puncticollis and C. brunneus, in Uganda. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (1997) 85 (2) 95-104. [DOI: 10.1046/j.1570-7458.1997.00239.x]