Dhr. W. Tinzaara : Chemical ecology and integrated management of the banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus in Uganda

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25 Feb 2005 16:00
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula (gebouw 362), Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Promotor: prof.dr. M. Dicke (Entomology)
Co Promotor: prof.dr.ir. A. van Huis, dr. C. Gold (IITA-ESARC, Oeganda)

 The study investigated whether an infochemical-based trapping system can be used to control the banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus under Ugandan conditions. The weevil responded in an additive way to the combination of the fermented plant tissue and the aggregation pheromone. Factors such as the pest biology, pheromone efficacy, trap parameters, cropping system and environmental factors were found to influence the effectiveness of the pheromone traps. The effects of doubling pheromone trap densities on C. sordidus population density and plant damage were negligible. The predators Dactylosternum abdominale and Pheidole megacephala were found to discriminate between fermenting pseudostem tissue and clean air in a two-choice olfactometer. The study showed that the pheromone could be used to enhance the dissemination of Beauveria bassiana for the control of C. sordidus. The next strategy for use of the pheromone is to further exploit the potential to integrate entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes in the trapping system.
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