Annapolis, MD; January 3, 2014 -- The sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius (Fabricius), is the most serious pest of sweetpotato around the world, damaging sweetpotatoes in the field and in storage. Because the larval period is spent within vines or tubers, and the adults are nocturnal, chemical control frequently is not effective.



Mass trapping using synthetic pheromones has suppressed populations of sweetpotato weevil males in several countries, but it has not reduced the damage greatly. However, a new study published in Annals of the Entomological Society of America suggests that the color of the traps may affect their usefulness.



For years Dr. Gadi V.P. Reddy (Montana State University) has been searching for the right formula to control this insect without the use of toxic pesticides. In his most recent study with Nirupa Gadi (University of Guam), the researchers found that green traps were most effective in attracting the weevils in indoor conditions, while red traps were most effective in outdoor field conditions.



“Sweetpotato weevils responded to pheromone baited traps of different colors differently in the field and indoors,” said Dr. Reddy. “In the field, sweetpotato weevils preferred red, and particularly light red, over the other colors, but indoors, green traps were favored. We have no explanation for the difference. Further studies focusing on why insect behavior changes from outdoors to indoors will be required to find out.”



The full study (DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/AN13135), “Are Sweetpotato Weevils (Coleoptera: Brentidae) Differentially Attracted to Certain Colors?” is published in the January 2014 edition of Annals of the Entomological Society of America.



Annals of the Entomological Society of America is published by the Entomological Society of America, the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists and people in related disciplines. Founded in 1889, ESA today has more than 6,500 members affiliated with educational institutions, health agencies, private industry, and government. Members are researchers, teachers, extension service personnel, administrators, marketing representatives, research technicians, consultants, students, and hobbyists. For more information, visit http://www.entsoc.org.