Abstract
The efficiency of a fiberboard formulation (sex pheromone complex) impregnated with synthetic sex pheromone and insecticide (MEP) was tested in a field experiment to prevent damage by sweetpopato weevil, Cylas formicarius (FABRICIUS) in Amami-ohshima Is., Kagoshima, Japan in 1992. In an experimental plot sex pheromone complexes were applied twice at 0 and 45 days after planting with an additional insecticide (carbosulfan) application at 45 day after palnting of sweet potatoes. In the other plot insecticides (carbosulfan) were applied three times on 45, 65, 85 days after planting. The application of sex pheromone complexes plus insecticide was more effective in reducing damages to sweet potatoes by Cs formicarius than those of insecticides only. The numbers of Cs formicarius males captured in the sex pheromone traps in the experimental fields were not always consistent with the damages to sweet potatoes, suggesting that sex pheromone complexes might attract males from both inside and outside of the experimental field.
