A field study was conducted to examine the temporal patterns of boll weevil mortality provided by two commercially available kill strips, Hercon VaporTape II and Plato Insecticide Strip, and to evaluate the impacts of these devices on weevil escape from traps. Both types of kill strips produced similar levels of weevil mortality in traps (>90% after 2 d of exposure). On average, 5 to 8% of weevils escaped from traps whether a kill strip was present or absent. A strong temporal pattern of escape was observed, with >90% of escape occurring within the first hour after weevils were introduced into traps. Because >90% of escape occurred within the first hour weevils were in the traps and <3% of weevils died during the first hour of exposure to kill strips, use of kill strips in large scale boll weevil management programs is not justified on the basis of reduced weevil escape.
Species 1: Coleoptera Curculionidae Anthonomus grandis (boll weevil)
Keywords: mortality, escape
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