LETHAL PITFALL TRAP FOR EVALUATION OF SEMIOCHEMICAL-MEDIATED ATTRACTION OF METAMASIUS-HEMIPTERUS-SERICEUS (COLEOPTERA, CURCULIONIDAE)

A lethal pitfall trap was developed for evaluating field response of a dults of the West Indian sugarcane borer, Metamasius hemipterus serice us (Olivier), to semiochemical attractants. Using this trap, we determ ined that early (less than or equal to 5 days) volatile fermentation p roducts from 250 g of chopped fresh stem tissue from the cabbage palme tto (Sabal palmetto [Walter]), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.), p ineapple (Anana comosus [L.]), or pseudostem from banana (Musa sp.) (f ermented under water for 5-7 days) were attractive to M. h. sericeus a dults in the field. Weevils were not trapped with fresh banana pseudos tem and chopped unfurled leaves of S. palmetto. The addition of 20 mal es or 20 females to 250 g of chopped S. palmetto stem tissue increased capture of M. h. sericeus over tissue alone. Surveys with the lethal pitfall trap baited with sugarcane tissue demonstrated that M. h. seri ceus is established in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, Florida . This weevil poses a potential threat to sugarcane and field planting s of certain ornamental palm species, including Hyophorbe verschaffelt ii Wendland, Phoenix canariensis Hortorum ex Chabaud, Ptychosperma mac arthurii (Wendland), Ravenea rivularis, Roystonea regia (Humbolt, Bonp land and Kunth), and Washingtonia robusta Wendland.