Seasonal activity ofPlagionotus (Echinocerus) floralis(Pallas) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae, Cerambycinae) adults in Bulgaria established by attractant baited fluorescent yellow funnel traps

Abstract

The Lucerne longicorn, Plagionotus (Echinocerus) floralis (Pallas) is a pest on alfalfa, Medicago sativa L. and several other species in the area of its distribution. Seasonal flight activity of adults of this species was studied for first time by CSALOMON® ARb3z fluorescent yellow traps with a floral attractant in alfalfa fields at three sites located in Tracian Lowland (Pazardzhik and Plovdiv) and Sofia Basin (Sofia) zoogeographical regions of Bulgaria. At all three sites P. (Echinocerus) floralis beetles were caught in relatively large numbers. Flight activity of the pest occurs over a period of about two months from the end of May (in Pazardzhik and Plovdiv) and middle of June (in Sofia) until the end of July. In Sofia (2007), the abundance of the pest in an old (5-year-old) alfalfa was significantly higher than in a young (1-year-old) alfalfa. In the untreated fields, air temperature and air humidity had no effect on beetle captures. Our investigations showed that yellow fluorescent VARb3z traps baited with floral lure can be used successfully for detection and seasonal monitoring of P. (Echinocerus) floralis . Data obtained by monitoring of the seasonal activity of adults using baited traps can be useful for forecasting and controlling outbreaks of the pest.