A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR MONITORING PECAN WEEVIL EMERGENCE (COLEOPTERA, CURCULIONIDAE)

An inexpensive pyramidal-shaped trap was designed and demonstrated to effectively monitor the emergence of pecan weevil adults Curculio caryae (Horn). The trap is constructed of masonite and uses a modified boll weevil eradication trap top as a collecting container. Weevils were preferentially attracted to brown traps when traps were painted brown vs. white. Brown traps positioned adjacent to pecan trees having whitewashed trunks also were more attractive to weevils than when positioned beneath non-whitewashed trees. Tall traps attracted more weevils than short traps having the same surface area. Two traps per tree captured twice as many weevils as one trap. This report describes the new trap design and presents information to which its effectiveness could possibly be attributed.