Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata (2004) 110, 151-158

M.C.A. Downham, M. Tamò, D.R. Hall, B. Datinon, S. Adetonah and D.I. Farman (2004)
Developing pheromone traps and lures for Maruca vitrata in Benin, West Africa
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 110 (2), 151-158
Abstract: In previous work successful trapping of the legume podborer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), was accomplished using a synthetic pheromone blend consisting of (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal, (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienol, and (E)-10-hexadecenal in a 100 : 5 : 5 ratio. In the present work, experiments were conducted in cowpea fields in Benin to compare different trap designs, and other aspects of the lures. A water-trap made from a plastic jerry-can was found to be superior to commercial funnel- and sticky-trap designs, and 120 cm was the optimum height for captures. Generally, lures consisted of polyethylene vials containing 0.1 mg of pheromone. Results showed that shielding the lures from the adverse effects of sunlight with aluminium foil did not increase trap catches of M. vitrata. The degree of isomeric purity of the (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal and (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienol blend components, in the range 73-99%, had no significant effect on captures, while lures of 80% isomeric purity showed no loss of effectiveness for up to 4 weeks. Similar results were observed with lures from a commercial source containing 0.46 mg of pheromone in the blend ratio 100 : 11 : 6 and 95% isomeric purity. Residue analysis showed that vial lures exposed for 2 weeks in the field still contained 73% of the initial amount of (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal, compared to rubber septa dispensers, which only retained 22%. Females comprised 11-50% of total catches, confirming earlier, unexpected results for synthetic lures. The observations that effective traps can be made from locally available plastic containers, and that pheromone blend composition and purity are not critical, should reduce costs and improve the feasibility of traps as practical monitoring tools for M. vitrata.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): David Robert Hall, Manuele Tamò

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
pheromones/attractants/traps

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Maruca vitrata		Benin