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Effect of Commercial Trap Design and Location on Captures of Diocalandra frumenti (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) on Palm Trees
by
, , and
Carina Ramos-Cordero
1,2
,
Elena Seris-Barrallo
1,3,
Sandra Vacas
4
,
Vicente Navarro-Llopis
4
and
Estrella M. Hernández-Suárez
2,*
1
Dirección General de Agricultura, Consejería de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Soberanía Alimentaria del Gobierno de Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Avda. José Manuel Guimerá, 10, Edif. Servicios Múltiples II, Planta 4ª, 38071 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
2
Unidad de Protección Vegetal, Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias (ICIA), Crta. El Boquerón, s/n, 38270 La Laguna, Spain
3
Unidad de Productos Fitosanitarios, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, Crta. de La Coruña, km 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain
4
Centro de Ecología Química Agrícola, Instituto Agroforestal del Mediterráneo, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera, s/n, 46022 València, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Insects 2024, 15(10), 738; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15100738
Submission received: 30 August 2024
/
Revised: 18 September 2024
/
Accepted: 23 September 2024
/
Published: 25 September 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Arthropod Pests in Agroecosystems)
Simple Summary
The Canary Island palm, Phoenix canariensis H. Wildpret, is a resource of great economic and scenic value in the Canary Islands, whose natural palm groves are priority habitats and protected by law. The palms are being severely affected by a small weevil, Diocalandra frumenti, whose larvae burrow galleries in the leaves, causing their premature drying and collapse, especially in urban environments. This study focuses on developing an effective trap to capture D. frumenti, evaluating several factors such as type, design, colour, height, distance and location of the traps with respect to the palm trees to determine the most efficient configuration. The resulting trap, a green, uncovered Econex® moth trap (Sanidad Agrícola Econex S.L., Murcia, Spain) with ventilation holes and baited with sugar cane and water, proved to be effective in capturing D. frumenti. The combination of this trap with a D. frumenti-specific pheromone will provide a valuable tool for early detection in areas free of the pest, as well as for monitoring and mass trapping in affected areas. The results of this research will have a significant impact on the protection of the valuable natural palm groves of the islands, benefiting both the economy and the landscape of the Canary Islands.
Abstract
Diocalandra frumenti (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) is a weevil present in the Canary Islands, affecting economically important palms such as Phoenix canariensis H. Wildpret and its hybrids, for which there were no trapping tools. The larvae cause the main damage by burrowing galleries in the rachis of the leaves, causing premature drying and collapse. To develop an effective trap, six trials were carried out to evaluate the effect of trap type, design, colour, height, distance and location of the trap in relation to the palm tree on D. frumenti captures. This study confirms that the Econex® trap, green in colour, without a cover and with two ventilation holes of 2.5 cm in diameter, diametrically opposite each other and at 1 cm from the top of the base of the trap, baited with sugar cane and water, and placed between the first and second ring of green leaves of the palm canopy, is efficient in capturing D. frumenti. These results establish a basis for future research focused on the development of a specific trapping system based on semiochemicals to serve as a tool for detection, monitoring and mass trapping of D. frumenti.
