Synergistic Effect of Synthetic Pheromone and Kairomone-Releasing Food Baits in Mass Trapping System of Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

Abstract

The red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is one of the most damaging pests of major cultivated palms worldwide, and is a serious threat to Malaysia’s coconut and oil palm industries. Current tactic to manage the weevils are largely based on aggregation pheromone traps. Thus, it is crucial to come up with an effective method to manage the pest based on pheromone based mass trapping system before it causes any significant economic losses. In the present study, the synergistic effect of synthetic pheromone and kairomone-releasing food baits was evaluated in highly infested area of Kuala Terengganu. Pineapple food bait was the most effective in capturing RPW with the greatest capture of weevils (12 individuals/trap), followed by oil palm petiole (10.8 individuals/trap), sugarcane (7.6 individuals/trap), and the lowest capture was coconut fruit (6.6 individuals/trap). More females (166 individuals) were trapped than males (54 individuals) with the sex ratio (1 male: 3.1 females). In terms of environmental parameters, the higher amount of rainfall and relative humidity, the lower the numbers of captured weevils were observed. In contrast, higher reading of weekly temperature influenced higher numbers of captured weevils. The inconsistency weather during monsoon season should be considered in implementing the mass trapping system of RPW. Finding from this study is important for a more effective and long-lasting method of pheromone based mass trapping in integrated RPW control strategy program.