Evaluation of gossyplure, compared with hexalure, for monitoring pink bollworm infestations in cotton fields of Israel.

Abstract

Gossyplure used to bait field traps at a dose of 50 micrograms admixed with 4-16 milligrams of an antioxidant attracted and captured male pink bollworm moths early in the cotton-growing season (early May) in Israel, whereas 20 milligrams of hexalure plus antioxidant was completely inactive under identical conditions. Although gossyplure without antioxidant was inactivated through decomposition within ten days, the mixtures remained attractive for at least two months; the antioxidant also increased moth catches 2.5 fold. Monitoring data obtained with 3000 gossyplure-baited traps, at one trap per 50 dunams, in cotton fields in the Beth-Shann region proved that capture thresholds of 5 moths/trap/night to the end of July and 8 moths/trap/night afterward were completely satisfactory for maintaining a low 2.8% average boll infestation for which only 5.8 insecticidal treatments were required during the entire growing season; results were even better in other areas of the country.