The field responses of Diabrotica speciosa (Germar) to traps baited with adults were studied as an suggestion of the pheromone production. Firstly, an assay to settle a suitable height placement to capture D. speciosa was carried out in common beans, Phaseolus vulgaris L., field. Traps placed at 0.25-m height captured ca. 3.5 times more beetles than 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0-m traps. The responses to virgin females and males of two ages (younger = 24 to 72h and older = 72 to 120h after adult emergence), mated females and males were assessed in common bean interplanted among coffee, Coffea arabica L., field. Virgin females baited traps captured ca. 22 times (younger) and 13 times (older females) more male beetles than control traps. Captures were ca. 70% more effective using younger females. None of the other treatments improved trap attraction. These results strongly indicated that there is a female-produced sexual pheromone in D. speciosa.
Insecta; semiochemical; trap height placement; Luperini; Fucata
