Performance of Controlled Release Dispensers for Grandlure, the Pheromone of the Boll Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)2

Abstract

Comparison of laboratory-measured release rates with boll weevil captures showed that dispensers containing 10 mg of grandlure with a release rate of 10 μg/hr or higher generally produced weevil captures which were at least 50% as high as those with the reference, fresh cigarette filter. Emission rates of ca. 3 μg/hr or lower and amounts of residual grandlure of ≤ 2 mg generally resulted in weevil captures below the 50% threshold. Comparisons of commercial dispenser formulations containing 10 mg of grandlure showed that a Hereon orange plastic laminate (H-OL-T) was most effective in prolonging the release of grandlure in both field and laboratory evaluations. Its emission rate was least affected by temperature changes. Scentry PVC dispensers (S-T-T, S-C-T, S-S-T, and S-YS-T) and the Consep membrane (C-M-T) lost grandlure more rapidly than did the laminate; however, differences in weevil captures were often not significant. Fermone black PVC squares (F-S-T and F-OS-T), AgriSense polymeric rods, (A-50R-T and A-35R-T) and the cigarette filter (CF-T) were less effective in extending the release of grandlure. Dispensers mounted in the capture cylinder lost grandlure more rapidly than did similar dispensers mounted in the cooler trap base. A layer of stickum on one side of flat dispensers to facilitate attachment to the trap resulted in a somewhat lower release rate of grandlure.