REDUCTION OF BANANA WEEVIL POPULATIONS WITH PSEUDOSTEM TRAPS

One-week-old traps made from split banana pseudostems were 1.5-1.7-fol d more attractive to adult banana weevils than 2-3-week-old traps. In one experiment, all available pseudostem material was used for trappin g, and weekly collecting of weevils over an 11-month trapping period l ed to a 50% reduction in weevil catches in one field. In another field with a lower initial weevil density the trapping did not reduce weevi l populations. In another experiment, the effect of intensive use of p seudostem traps and daily collecting of trapped weevils was estimated by a mark and recapture method over a period of 6 weeks. Reductions in weevil densities were calculated using a modified version of the Linc oln-Index. Weevil populations were reduced by 48.5% after 3 weeks and by 62.5% after 6 weeks. Trapping efficiency declined during the experi ment and appeared to be related to weevil population densities. This c ultural control system may be effective in weevil control in small-far m situations where labour availability is not a limiting factor.