Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #204431
Title: Evaluation of Pheromone Traps for Monitoring Sweetpotato Weevils

Author
item Jackson, D
item Bohac, Janice

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/19/2007
Publication Date: 7/17/2007
Citation: Jackson, D.M., Bohac, J. 2006. Evaluation of Pheromone Traps for Monitoring Sweetpotato Weevils. Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology. 23(3): 141-158.

Interpretive Summary: Sweetpotato is one of the world's most important food crops, and production of this vegetable is limited by several insect pests, including sweetpotato weevils. In this study, ten types of pheromone traps were evaluated for monitoring sweetpotato weevils in Charleston, SC, during 2001 and 2002. A funnel trap, a water-pan trap, and sticky trap were the most effective for capturing male sweetpotato weevil adults. A universal trap, Multipher trap, boll weevil trap, a trap constructed from a five-gallon pail, a trap made from a milk jug, and a trap made from a recycled plastic soft drink bottle also were useful and captured many weevils. However, a Japanese beetle trap and a plastic kairomone trap for monitoring cucumber beetles were not effective. Soapy water was as efficient as an insecticide strip for killing weevils in universal traps and soda bottle traps. Captures of male sweetpotato weevils over a 6-year period were low at the Charleston location (<6 weevils/trap/day), and peak captures were generally from mid-September to mid-October.

Technical Abstract: Ten types of pheromone traps for monitoring sweetpotato weevils, Cylas formicarius (F.) were evaluated in sweetpotato fields at the US Vegetable Laboratory (USVL), Charleston, SC, during 2001 and 2002. A funnel trap, a modification of a water-pan trap, and the Pherocon sticky trap were the most effective for capturing male sweetpotato weevil adults. A universal trap, Multipher trap, boll weevil trap, a trap constructed from a five-gallon pail, a trap made from a milk jug also captured significant numbers of weevils. A Japanese beetle trap and the plastic Pherocon CRW kairomone trap were not effective for trapping sweetpotato weevils. In separate experiments in 2005 and 2006, a trap made from a recycled plastic (PET) soft drink bottle was less effective than the universal trap, but it still captured a significant numbers of weevils. Universal traps and PET bottle traps with soapy water were as effective as traps with a dichlorvos insecticide strip for a killing agent. Captures of male sweetpotato weevils in universal traps ranged 0.0-6.0 adults per trap per day over a 6-year period, 2001-2006 at the USVL. Except for 2005, when population levels were unusually low, weevil captures increased rapidly during August and continued at high levels until freezing weather in November or December each year. Peak captures were generally from mid-September to mid-October.