An improved coattractant for pheromone trapping of Carpophilus spp. (Coleoptera : Nitidulidae)

Fermenting apple juice (FAJ) contained within polyacrylamide granules was a n effective pheromone coattractant for Carpophilus davidsoni in trapping ex periments conducted in stone fruit orchards in southern New South Wales. Fe rmenting apple juice-baited traps captured as many beetles as traps baited with the 'standard' coattractant fermenting bread dough (FBD), either alone or in combination with aggregation pheromone. Increasing the interval of F AJ replacement to 2 weeks instead of I week, as is necessary for FED, did n ot reduce trapping efficiency. Replacement of FAJ every three weeks did not affect captures of C. davidsoni in one experiment but did reduce captures of Carpophilus mutilatus. In a second experiment, captures of C. davidsoni were also reduced. Fermenting apple juice contained within polyacrylamide g ranules replaced at fortnightly intervals is an effective, convenient and p ractical pheromone coattractant for Carpophilus spp.