EFFECT OF AGE AND SEX ON THE RESPONSE OF WALKING PROSTEPHANUS-TRUNCATUS (HORN) (COLEOPTERA, BOSTRICHIDAE) TO ITS MALE-PRODUCED AGGREGATION PHEROMONE

Studies were conducted on the effect of age and sex on the response of Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) to its male-produced pheromone using a laboratory walking bioassay, P. truncatus adults responded to pheromon e from two days of age, but the level of response significantly decrea sed gradually from 2-10 days of age: newly-emerged, younger beetles se emed to respond more quickly and stay longer in the vicinity of pherom one source than older beetles, There was no significant effect of sex in the level of response to pheromone, The results are discussed in re lation to the function of the pheromone: a feeding-based role, The pra ctical implications of the findings on the pest's monitoring using phe romone-baited traps are also highlighted. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd