EVALUATION OF COMMERCIAL PHEROMONE LURES AND TRAPS FOR MONITORING MALE FALL ARMYWORM (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) IN THE COASTAL REGION OF CHIAPAS, MEXICO

Abstract

Commercially available sex pheromone lures and traps were evaluated for monitoring male fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, in maize fields in the coastal region of Chiapas, Mexico during 1998-1999. During the first year, Chemtica and Trécé lures performed better than Scentry lures, and there was no difference between Scentry lures and unbaited controls. In regard to trap design, Scentry Heliothis traps were better than bucket traps. In 1999, the pattern of FAW captured was similar to that of 1998, although the number of males captured was lower. The interaction between both factors, traps and lures, was significant in 1999. Bucket traps had the lowest captures regardless of what lure was used. Scentry Heliothis traps with Chemtica lure captured more males than with other lures or the controls. Delta traps had the greatest captures with Chemtica lure, followed by Trécé and Pherotech lures. Several non-target insects were captured in the FAW pheromone baited traps. The traps captured more non-target insects than FAW males in both years. Baited traps captured more non-target insects than unbaited traps.