Mass Trapping for Detection, Suppression and Integration with other Suppression Measures Against the Boll Weevil

Abstract

The male boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, after feeding on cotton plants, emits an airborne pheromone which attracts both sexes of emerged overwintered adults prior to squaring of cotton plants. Cross et al. (1969) reported that male-baited sticky wing traps attracted female boll weevils. Hardee et al. (1969), in concurrent tests, observed that both male and female boll weevils responded to male-baited traps in the spring and in the fall. However, relatively few boll weevils responded to traps around cotton fields during the fruiting period from late June until late August. Mitchell and Hardee (1974) found that pheromone-baited traps placed in cotton fields during mid-season captured females primarily. Thus, the pheromone appears to serve as an aggregating attractant for both sexes of overwintered boll weevils and as a mating attractant for females seeking mates in cotton fields.