Effect of plant baits, shape and place of trap on the efficiency improvement of pheromone traps for red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. (Col., Dryophthoridae)

Red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Oliv. is one of the most important pests of palms in Asia, North Africa and Europe. At present, it is an internal quarantine pest in Saravan region (Sistan & Balouchistan province, Iran). Several experiments on the effect of the plant baits, shape and place of trap on the attracting and trapping of RPW have been carried out in infested date palm groves in Saravan region, during 2007-2008. The results showed that the traps baited with date palm core and aggregation pheromone significantly attracted more beetles of RPW in comparison with other baits include date fruit, apple fruit and banana stem. This subject clearly showed the high synergistic effect of date palm core on the aggregation pheromone of RPW. Covered traps with date palm stem tissue attracted significantly more number of beetles in comparison to traps without cover. The effect of trap place on the attraction of RPW showed that there was not any significant difference in the mean of catches of RPW by traps that had been placed in different trees and metal beam, Because all treatments were equally attractive to RPW. Application of date palm core with aggregation pheromone and covering trap with date palm stem tissue increased the efficiency of RPW pheromone traps.