Fluctuacion de Poblaciones Y Evaluacion de Cebos Para la Captura de Rhynchophorus Palmarum L:(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) En Palma Africana

The palm weevil, Rhynchophorus palmarum L., has become a serious economic pest of the oil palm because it acts as vector of the nematode Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus (Cobb), which causes the red-ring disease, prevalent in around 100 ha in the plantations of the departments of Magdalena and Cesar. The most efficient methodology to reduce the disease is the use of insect traps. In this connection an experiment was carried out in order to determine the population fluctuation, the efficiency of different baits and its cost. The studied was performed at Sevilla, in Cienaga (Magdalena, Colombia), located at 20 m.a.s.l., with an average temperature of 27°C,and a relative humidity of 76%. The population fluctuation was evaluated using a jar type trap with molasses, water, sugar cane (1, 2,5 and 1 pound, respectively) plus 2,5 ml of methomyl The traps were revised every week in orden to register captures and the bait was changed every month. The baits evaluation was done during four months using a completely randomized desing with four replicates, including as treatments panela (unrefined brown sugar) and molasses, with four different replacement frequencies: 8, 15,21 and 30 days. During the study, the palm weevil was captured with an average of 12,5 per trap, recording the highest population in March 1989; with a female: male ratio of 1,03:1,0. There were no differences between the evaluated baits, but from the economic point of view the panela, was the cheapest. The highest captures were obtanined when the bait was changed every 21 to 30 days.