Evaluation of Attractants in Handcrafted Traps for Capture of Lepidopterans in Banana (Musa AAA cv. Williams)

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Introduction: Banana cultivation is considered the main agricultural sector in Ecuador, however, like any other agricultural crop, it is attacked by a diversity of pests, among which the presence of insects of the order Lepidoptera stands out; For this reason, the objective of the research was to evaluate the efficiency of attractants in artisanal traps for the capture of lepidopterans in banana crops (Musa AAA) as strategies within pest monitoring and control programs. Taking place on a farm with Commercial Bananas (BC) and Organic Bananas (BO). A completely randomized design was used; In each location, two types of traps (plastic gallon and plastic bag) and five food attractants (Ripe banana, Ripe banana + Banana essence, Ripe banana, Ripe banana + Banana essence and Sugar cane + Molasses) were installed. 198 specimens were captured in the BO and 190 in the BC. The captured species were identified as: Ascalapha odorata, Caligo illioneus, Caligo bellerophon, Cissia sp., Opsiphanes tamarindi, Thysania zenobia and Colubura dirce. According to the Simpson index, the BO has the highest value (0.64) compared to the BC (0.52). In both locations it was evident that the most frequent species was O. tamarindi; According to records, the population of this species increased over time, which is why it requires attention. The attractants that allowed the greatest capture were: ripe banana, ripe banana and banana + essence. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the efficiency of attractants in artisanal traps for the capture of lepidopterans in banana crops (Musa AAA) as strategies within insect - pest monitoring and control programs. Theoretical Framework: This topic presents the main concepts and theories that support the research. The attractants in artisanal traps for capturing lepidopterans in banana stand out, providing a solid basis to understand the context of the research. Method: The methodology adopted for this research comprises a completely randomized design. Data collection was carried out using traps in the field. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed that the most frequent species was O. tamarindi and according to the population records, this species increased over time, which is why it requires attention. In the discussion section, these results are contextualized in light of the theoretical framework, highlighting the implications and relationships identified. This section also considers possible discrepancies and limitations of the study. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by using artisanal traps with food attractants. The relevance and value of this research is evidenced in the use of more sustainable practices for the management and control of insects - pests in the country's banana cultivation.