Sexual attraction behavior of melon weevil, Acythopeus curvirostris persicus

Melon weevil، Acytopeus curvirostris persicus (Col.: Curculionidae)، is one of the most important pests of melons that is spread in the Middle East countries. Understanding chemical ecology of this species under field condition could provide necessary information for nonchemical control measures. In this study chemical communicationsof melon weevil were studied under field condition using bucket traps (baited with weevil and fruit bait) in Birjand region during 2009-11. In the first assay effect of six male، six female، both sexes and without weevil was investigated. In this assay all treatments were baited with one melon fruit. In the second assay effect of 1، 5، 10 male number on attraction of melon weevil were studied. In the third assay effect 5 male، 5 male + 1 watermelon fruit، 1 watermelon fruit on attraction of melon weevil were investigated.، In the final assay effect of five male weevil and cucumber، watermelon، melon، wild watermelon on attraction of melon weevil were investigated. Results of the first assay showed that the most weevils were captured by traps baited with six males plus one melon fruit. In the second test results indicated that the male number had no effect on mean captured weevils. Morover، results of third assay showed that the most weevils were captured by traps baited with five males plus one watermelon fruit. In the final assay results showed that the treatment that include five males weevil plus watermelon fruit attracted the most number of melon weevils and host plant odors had additive effect on pheromone. Results of this study have provided necessary background for identification of host plant kairomone and aggregation pheromone of melon weevil.