ATTRACTION OF AUSTRALIAN CARPOPHILUS SPP. (COLEOPTERA: NITIDULIDAE) TO SYNTHETIC PHEROMONES AND FERMENTING BREAD DOUGH

Abstract

Data are presented on the attraction of nitidulid beetles (primarily Carpophilus spp.) to synthetic aggregation pheromone, pheromone plus fermenting bread dough or dough alone, in an apricot orchard in southern New South Wales during November-March. The combination of pheromone and bread dough was significantly more effective than either type of bait alone. Synthetic pheromone of Carpophilus hemipterus (L.) increased attraction of this species to dough by 115 times. Low order (1.7–3.2 times increase) cross-attraction of Carpophilus mutilatus Erichson, Carpophilus davidsoni Dobson and Carpophilus (Urophorus) humeralis (F.) also occurred to the combination. Synthetic pheromone of C. mutilatus increased the attraction of this species to dough by up to 17 times and appeared to be most effective early in the season. C. davidsoni and C. humeralis also responded to this pheromone (1.6–5.6 times increase). All species showed some cross-attraction to synthetic pheromones of three North American Carpophilus spp. The potential for using synthetic pheromones in the management of nitidulid beetles in stone fruit orchards is discussed.