Mass-trapping male Cylas spp. with sex pheromones: a potential IPM component in sweetpotato production in Uganda

Trapping experiments were carried out in Uganda with decyl (E)-2-butenoate and dodecyl (E)-2-butenoate, previously identified as components of the fem ale sex pheromones of the African species of sweetpotato weevil, Cylas punc ticollis and C brunneus, respectively. In four on-station trials of season- long mass-trapping of both species of weevil in 0.5 ha sweetpotato plots wi th 100 jerry can traps ha(-1) (50 traps for each species placed alternately ), populations of male weevils were reduced by up to 89%, compared to un-tr apped control plots. However, no differences in tuber infestation levels we re recorded between mass-trapped and untreated control plots, and no differ ences in the proportions of female weevils that were mated were observed. ( C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.