Pheromone traps

Rice yellow stem borer

Pheromones are natural compounds that are secreted from the body of an insect. Insects use pheromones to communicate with each other. These pheromones are isolated in the laboratory and used to lure the insects into a trap.

Pheromon traps are available against Rice Yellow Stem Borer (Scirpophaga incertulas). Pheromone  lure  having  3  mg  of (Z)-11-hexadecenal and (Z)-9-hexadecenal  at  3:1  ratio  loaded  in  PVC dispensers is the commercial material. Install @ 20 traps/ha at 1-2 feet above crop canopy. The traps should be placed at 20 x 25 m spacing. The lure needs to be changed at 21 days interval. Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad is producing the lure.

Pheromone traps are highly specific in their action. The pheromone trap recommended against an insect pest will not be useful against another insect pest of the same crop.

Banana rhizome weevil

Pheromones are natural compounds that are secreted from the body of an insect. Insects use pheromones to communicate with each other. These pheromones are isolated in the laboratory and used to lure the insects into a trap.

Pheromone traps are available for the banana rhizome weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus). The pheromone attracts adult weevils within a 10 to 20 meter perimeter. The trap attracts both sexes. For mass 16 traps per hectare placed 20 m apart is recommended. The trap should be managed at the level of the plantation. To limit colonization from neighbouring plots, it is recommended to install a series of pheromone traps at the edge of the plot (1 trap every 20m). It is also recommended to regularly check the traps once in 15 days to collect trapped insects.

Pheromone traps are highly specific in their action. The pheromone trap recommended against an insect pest will not be useful against another insect pest of the same crop.

Coconut red palm weevil

Pheromones are natural compounds that are secreted from the body of an insect. Insects use pheromones to communicate with each other. These pheromones are isolated in the laboratory and used to lure the insects into a trap.

Pheromone trap for attracting and killing adult weevils of Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) is available. Place @ one trap per 2 ha. Fix the traps for each species at a height of 0.6 to 1 m above the ground attached to the plant. The trapped beetles should be removed and destroyed periodically. Otherwise add soap solution in the collecting basket to kill the weevil.

Pheromone traps are highly specific in their action. The pheromone trap recommended against an insect pest will not be useful against another insect pest of the same crop.

Cucurbit fruit fly

Pheromones are natural compounds that are secreted from the body of an insect. Insects use pheromones to communicate with each other. These pheromones are isolated in the laboratory and used to lure the insects into a trap.

Pheromon traps are avialble against melon fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae). Plywood blocks containing 6:4:1 mixture of ethanol: cuelure: malathion is placed as trap. The lure will release the sex pheromane at a constant rate over a period of time. Male months are attracted and while attempting for matting, fall into a container having pesticide. Thus the female moths in the field are deprived of successful mates and fail to reproduce or lay viable eggs. Hence, placing the pheromone trap well before flowering is very much important.

The recommended trap density is 10-12 no/ha. The collected insects should be removed periodically. Replace the traps at four months interval.

Pheromone traps are highly specific in their action. The pheromone trap recommended against an insect pest will not be useful against another insect pest of the same crop.

Guava/ Mango fruit fly

Pheromones are natural compounds that are secreted from the body of an insect. Insects use pheromones to communicate with each other. These pheromones are isolated in the laboratory and used to lure the insects into a trap.

Pheromone trap with methyl eugenol and malathion solution will attract and kill the male insects of oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis).The lure will release the sex pheromone at a constant rate over a period of time. Male months are attracted and while attempting for matting, fall into a container having pesticide. Thus the female moths in the field are deprived of successful mates and fail to reproduce or lay viable eggs. Hence, placing the pheromone trap well before flowering is very much important.

The recommended trap density is 10-12 no/ha. The collected insects should be removed periodically. Replace the traps at four months interval.

Pheromone traps are highly specific in their action. The pheromone trap recommended against an insect pest will not be useful against another insect pest of the same crop.

Other pheromone traps

Pheromone traps are available against the following insects also. The pheromone trap recommended against an insect pest will not be useful against another insect pest of the same crop.

American Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera)

Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella)

Spiny Bollworm (Earias insulana)

Spotted Bollworm (Earias vittella)

Tobacco Caterpiller (Spodoptera litura)

Rice Yellow Stem Borer (Scirpophaga incertulas)

Banana rhizome weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus)

Oriental Fruit Fly (Bactrocera dorsalis)

Coffee White Stem Borer (Xylotrechus quadripes)

Black headed caterpillar (Opisina arenosella)

Rhinoceros Beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros)

Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus)

Sugarcane Internode Borer (Chilo sacchariphagus indicus)

Sugarcane Early Shoot Borer (Chilo infuscatellus)

Sugarcane Top Borer (Scirpophaga excerptalis)

Diamond Back Moth (Plutella xylostella)

Melon Fruit Fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae)

Tomato Leaf Miner/Tomoto Pin Worm (Tuta absoluta)

Brinjal Fruit & Shoot Borer (Leucinodes orbonalis)

Sweet Potato Weevil (Cylas formicarius)

Legume pod borer (Maruca vitrata)