Augmenting the pheromone trap catches of red palm weevil adults through modified food baits

The function of food baits in the attraction of adults of Red Palm Weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, to aggregation pheromone ferrolure (4 methyl 5 nonanol + 4methyl 5nonanone) and food baited traps is established. However, there is scope to further augment the weevil catches through systematic testing of various food baits, kairomones and other odor producing substances. Several field trials were conducted with sugarcane, date stem, date fruits, date syrup, ethyl acetate, polypropylene glycol, propylene glycol diacetate, ethanol, apple and pineapple flavored tobacco. From the studies it emerged that pheromone baited trap with ethyl acetate and fermented date fruits have captured significantly higher number of weevils as compared to other treatments. The differences in attraction of weevils to various treatments have been analyzed and results are presented in this paper.