Are sweetpotato weevils differentially attracted to certain colors?

Different colors attract sweetpotato weevils, depending on external conditions

2014-01-03

(Press-News.org) Contact information: Dr. Gadi V.P. Reddy
gadi.reddy@montana.edu
406-278-7707
Entomological Society of America
Are sweetpotato weevils differentially attracted to certain colors? Different colors attract sweetpotato weevils, depending on external conditions

The sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius (Fabricius), is the most serious pest of sweetpotato around the world, damaging sweetpotatoes in the field and in storage. Because the larval period is spent within vines or tubers, and the adults are nocturnal, chemical control frequently is not effective.

Mass trapping using synthetic pheromones has suppressed populations of sweetpotato weevil males in several countries, but it has not reduced the damage greatly. However, a new study published in Annals of the Entomological Society of America suggests that the color of the traps may affect their usefulness.

For years Dr. Gadi V.P. Reddy (Montana State University) has been searching for the right formula to control this insect without the use of toxic pesticides. In his most recent study with Nirupa Gadi (University of Guam), the researchers found that green traps were most effective in attracting the weevils in indoor conditions, while red traps were most effective in outdoor field conditions.

"Sweetpotato weevils responded to pheromone baited traps of different colors differently in the field and indoors," said Dr. Reddy. "In the field, sweetpotato weevils preferred red, and particularly light red, over the other colors, but indoors, green traps were favored. We have no explanation for the difference. Further studies focusing on why insect behavior changes from outdoors to indoors will be required to find out."

INFORMATION:

The full study (DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/AN13135), "Are Sweetpotato Weevils (Coleoptera: Brentidae) Differentially Attracted to Certain Colors?" is published in the January 2014 edition of Annals of the Entomological Society of America.

Annals of the Entomological Society of America is published by the Entomological Society of America, the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists and people in related disciplines. Founded in 1889, ESA today has more than 6,500 members affiliated with educational institutions, health agencies, private industry, and government. Members are researchers, teachers, extension service personnel, administrators, marketing representatives, research technicians, consultants, students, and hobbyists. For more information, visit http://www.entsoc.org.

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Methane hydrates and global warming

2014-01-03

Methane hydrates and global warming Dissolution of hydrates off Svalbard caused by natural processes Methane hydrates are fragile. At the sea floor the ice-like solid fuel composed of water and methane is only stable at high pressure ...

Pine Island Glacier sensitive to climatic variability

2014-01-03

Pine Island Glacier sensitive to climatic variability A new study published in Science this month suggests the thinning of Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica is much more susceptible to climatic and ocean variability than at first thought. Observations by a ...

Molecule discovered that protects the brain from cannabis intoxication

2014-01-03

Molecule discovered that protects the brain from cannabis intoxication Two INSERM research teams led by Pier Vincenzo Piazza and Giovanni Marsicano (INSERM Unit 862 "Neurocentre Magendie" in Bordeaux) ...

Animal cells can communicate by reaching out and touching, UCSF team discovers

2014-01-03

Animal cells can communicate by reaching out and touching, UCSF team discovers Signaling through direct contact not restricted to neurons, as previously thought In a finding that directly contradicts the standard biological model of animal cell ...

Study explaining parasite gene expression could help fight toxoplasmosis and malaria

2014-01-03

Study explaining parasite gene expression could help fight toxoplasmosis and malaria INDIANAPOLIS -- A newly identified protein and other proteins it interacts with could become effective targets for new drugs to control the parasite that cause toxoplasmosis, researchers ...

Men's and women's soccer: Physical or technical?

2014-01-03

Men's and women's soccer: Physical or technical? A comparative study into the performance of men and women players in UEFA Champions League matches suggests that women and men each play soccer 'in their own way' This news release is available in Spanish. When the ...

Genetically identical bacteria can behave in radically different ways

2014-01-03

Genetically identical bacteria can behave in radically different ways Uneven distribution of certain mechanisms during cell division creates diversity that can enhance a bacterial population's survival Although a population of bacteria may be genetically identical, individual ...

Patch outperforms Holter for prolonged heart rhythm tracking

2014-01-03

Patch outperforms Holter for prolonged heart rhythm tracking Scripps study suggests shift in decades-old practice for detecting irregular heart beats SAN DIEGO – Research by the Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) has found that a small adhesive wireless ...

Researchers report technique that enables patient with 'word blindness' to read again

2014-01-03

Researchers report technique that enables patient with 'word blindness' to read again MAYWOOD, Il. - In the journal Neurology, researchers report a novel technique that enables a patient with "word blindness" to read again. Word blindness is a rare neurological ...

Odor receptors discovered in lungs

2014-01-03

Odor receptors discovered in lungs They're just like those in your nose but instead of conjuring up a cup of coffee they might make you cough Your nose is not the only organ in your body that can sense cigarette smoke wafting through the air. Scientists at Washington ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Ultrasound-directed microbubbles could boost immune response against tumours, new Concordia research suggests

In small preliminary study, fearful pet dogs exhibited significantly different microbiomes and metabolic molecules to non-fearful dogs, suggesting the gut-brain axis might be involved in fear behavior

Examination of Large Language Model "red-teaming" defines it as a non-malicious team-effort activity to seek LLMs' limits and identifies 35 different techniques used to test them

Most microplastics in French bottled and tap water are smaller than 20 µm - fine enough to pass into blood and organs, but below the EU-recommended detection limit

DARPA-ABC program supports Wyss Institute-led collaboration toward deeper understanding of anesthesia and safe drugs enabling anesthesia without the need for extensive monitoring

[Press-News.org] Are sweetpotato weevils differentially attracted to certain colors?
Different colors attract sweetpotato weevils, depending on external conditions