PEPPER WEEVIL ADULT RESPONSE TO COLORED STICKY TRAPS IN PEPPER FIELDS

Adult response of the pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii Cano, to color ed sticky traps was evaluated by trap color, trap placement and sample time at Bradenton, Florida, in 1988-1989. Pepper weevil adults were f ound to be attracted to yellow and were more likely to be trapped 10-6 0 cm above the ground and on larger traps (300 cm 2 surface area). The greatest numbers of weevils were captured between 1500 and 1700 hr. A lso, females were more likely to be captured between 1200 and 1400 hr than during early morning or late evening hours. The ratio of females to males was higher on colored sticky traps than on plants, particular ly toward the end of the growing season. One 375 cm2 yellow sticky tra p captured as many adults as were detected by inspecting 50 terminal p epper buds.