NATURAL ATTRACTANTS FOR THE CAPTURE OF THE PIFÁ WEEVIL (Palmelampius heinrichi O'Brien)

Abstract

The pifá fruit weevil Palmelampius heinrichi O'Brien (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is the main pest of the pifá (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) in Panama. For its management, a series of measures have been implemented in Panama that include bagging the fruit cluster and cleaning of vegetable residues from the basal area, among other measures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of natural attractants for capturing the pifá fruit weevil. The natural attractants evaluated were chopped pineapple, chopped cane, chopped banana, and soapy water as a control treatment. The attractants were placed inside 1-liter recycled plastic traps. The response variable used was the number of specimens captured of P. heinrichi. The experimental design used for them was completely randomized with four treatments and four repetitions. The results obtained were subjected to a simple variance analysis and Fisher's multiple range test (LSD). The attractant of chopped cane in traps was significant (P<0,05) in comparison with the other three treatments, which were not significant among them. The chopped pieces of sugar cane stems inside the traps of recycled plastic bottles constitute an alternative within integrated management programs for the timely monitoring and control of the attack of the pifá fruit weevil.