366 A. D. N. T. Kumara et al.
The trap density varies from 0.5 to 10 ha (Fa-
leiro 2006 ). Normally, it at least 1 or 2 traps/ha
are recommended for use. In Saudi Arabia, phero-
mone traps brought down the infestation by 6.6
and 2.5 % in 1993 and 1997, respectively (Vidyas-
agar et al. 2000 ). In Oman, the infestation was
brought down by 24 % in 1998 while obtaining
3 % in 2003 (Al-khatri 2004) and the UAE gained
64 % reduction in 2 years and 71 % reduction in
during one year (El-Ezaby et al. 1998; Oehlschag-
er 2006). While India reduced infestation from 5 %
to zero within 1 year and from 2.4 to 0.2 % dur-
ing 1.5 years (Faleiro 2005a; Sujatha et al. 2006 )
and during 1997, Sri Lanka gained significant
reduction using pheromone trap at 5 trap/ha, ag-
gregation pheromone with fermented yeast sugar
solution (Rajapakse 1998 ). In Sri Lanka it was
revealed that the small-scale use of pheromone
did not effectively reduce the pest infestation, and
they suggest that using it as a large-scale area-
wide mass-trapping program is most suitable for
the management of pest (Fernando pers. comm.).
Chakravarthy et al. ( 2014 ) evaluated commer-
cially available formulations at four concentra-
tions to find the effective dosage for attracting
maximum weevils. Pheromone 250, 500, 750,
and 1000 mg were impregnated in wooden blocks
(0.025 × 0.025 m) for 1 min, packed in a plastic
cover (0.075 × 0.075 m), and sealed airtight in
trilaminated pouches (0.075 × 0.075 m). These
bucket traps (2 L) wrapped in gunny cloth hav-
ing four holes of 4.5–cm diameter were used for
trapping the weevils and beetles. Several types of
food bait, such as ripened pineapple fruit pieces,
sugarcane stem pieces, ripe dates, toddy solution,
palm leaf petiole, palm stem pieces, etc., are used
for weevil attraction as shown in Fig. 3 (Flairo
2006). The trap consisting of 1 L water and car-
bofuron 3G at 5 g and other chemicals as bait was
used in each trap for the weevils (Fig. 4 ). The
pheromone lure was tied to the inner surface of
the bucket trap lid. The results of the study con-
ducted by Falerio (2005b) were reconfirmed by
Chakravarthy et al. ( 2014 ) and suggested that the
pheromone compound 800–1000mg with food
baited trap is the better for RPW mass trapping
(Table 4 ).
In new areas and probable spreading zones, it
is better to take strengthened quarantine measures
to avoid the pest invasions. Avoiding the use of
planting materials from infected areas, properly
testing plant materials before transport from in-
fected areas to uninfested areas, use of certified
planting materials are essential for preventing theFig. 3 Comparative weevil catches in red palm weevil pheromone traps using food baits (Source: Faleiro 2006)