Integration of repellency effect of Neem insecticide with bio-pheromone trap of Beauveria bassiana to control Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

This work was investigated the bio-pheromone trap (attract, infect and kill) efficacy of the commercial formulation of Beauveria bassiana (Broadband^TM) in integration with Neem insecticide (Azadirachtin) to control adults of the red palm weevil (RPW) (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus). Two net- houses (5X5 m) were used with five palms (1-1.5 m high) in each.  In the first net-house; cuts were made on the palms and then were sprayed with Neem insecticide at repellent concentration (700 ppm), with the use of bio-pheromone trap in the middle of the house. The second net-house was consider as control, where cuts made on the palms and then were sprayed with tap water, with the use of standard pheromone trap (attract and kill). Thirty adults of RPW were released in each house. The results after 30 days showed that in the first net-house with bio-pheromone trap, all insects died due to contamination by fungi. While repellency of Neem prevented the females from laying eggs in wounded palms, no larvae of RPW were found. In the second net-house, the control, with standard pheromone trap only 60% of the adults were killed in the trap, and two palms of five were infested and several larvae were found.