ATTRACTION OF MOCIS-LATIPES (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE) TO SWEET BAITS IN TRAPS

Traps baited with solutions of molasses or jaggery (unrefined palm sug ar) captured significant numbers of the moth Mocis laptipes Guenee, in dicating their attraction to these baits. Numbers of moths captured we re affected by bait concentration and by bait age. Greatest moth captu res were obtained with 20% molasses in water or 5, 10 or 20% jaggery i n water Molasses and jaggery baits aged in the laboratory for up to th ree days before field testing were more attractive than freshly-made b aits to M. latipes moths. This is the first demonstration of M. latipe s attraction to sugar based baits.