USE OF FLUORESCENT POWDERS TO MONITOR FLIGHT ACTIVITIES OF ADULT GLISCHROCHILUS QUADRISIGNATUS (COLEOPTERA: NITIDULIDAE)

Abstract

AbstractFluorescent powders provided an effective method for marking and monitoring flight activities of adults of Glischrochilus quadrisignatus (Say), a pest of processing tomatoes. Observations and experiments were conducted that would have been impossible with unmarked insects.Experiments showed that small numbers of beetles located hampers with damaged tomatoes placed 300 m from a release point within less than 2 h. Tomatoes picked and cracked 1, 2, or 3 days prior to release of marked beetles attracted beetles in a ratio of 1:2:3. Approximately 3.5 times as many starved as fed beetles were attracted to damaged tomatoes. Most of the beetles landed on the ground near the hampers and entered via the floor, rather than landing on tomatoes at the top of the hamper.The significance of the above four findings in relation to control of the insect is (1) beetles are probably attracted to damaged tomatoes from a wide area; (2) tomatoes should be harvested as close as possible to the scheduled time of delivery to the factory; (3) more severe infestations could occur subsequent to periods of inclement weather when beetles, are unable to move to new food sources; and (4) the treatment of hamper floors with insecticides before harvest may assist in control.