DESCRIPTION AND APPLICATION OF A TRAPPING SYSTEM FOR ALATAE OF THE COTTON APHID APHIS-GOSSYPII GLOVER (HEMIPTERA, APHIDIDAE) IN CAMEROON

An attractant panel technique for trapping winged forms of the aphid A phis gossypii Glover was developed from 1991 to 1993 in the cotton zon e in Cameroon. A trapping unit consists of four small yellow sticky pl ates installed in the middle of the borders of a 5-metre square in a 1 00 sq. m area that is weeded regularly. During the cotton cultivation period in the rainy season, catches were representative of the alate a phid populations in neighbouring fields and gave a good indication on the regional evolution of the movements of winged forms. It is possibl e to monitor alatae activity at the beginning of the season, making it possible to plan the appropriate control measures. Daily recording of trap data is rapid. The system is effective, reliable, inexpensive an d simple to set up in the field. It is to be extended in 35 sites in t he Cameroon cotton zone.