Capture of Diaprepes abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Traps: Effects of Location in a Citrus Tree and Wick Materials for Release of the Attractant

Abstract

In replicated field tests made in Florida in October and November 1982 to develop a survey for Diaprepes abbreviatus L., we devised a trap, obtained an attractant from the weevil colony, and then used the trap and attractant to determine the best trap location in a citrus tree as well as to identify a wick material for release of the attractant. Traps were constructed with a cage attached to an inverted funnel. An attractant used in the traps was from a chloroform extract of weevil frass. Trap location was a highly significant factor in weevil capture in a 4-m-high citrus tree. Traps in the top (4.3 m above ground) captured 349 weevils, those in the middle captured 138, and those at a low level (0.3 m above ground) captured 19 weevils. Top and middle traps also captured significantly more male than female weevils (2.8:1). Presence of the attractant significantly increased weevil capture per trap compared with traps with no attractant. Significantly more weevils were captured in traps when glass wool rather than cotton or rubber was used as the wick material for release of the attractant.