Palm weevils can be a devastating pest of palm crops. Larvae of these insects feed on the meristem of the palms, causing mechanical damage, and they can also vector the nematode that causes the red-ring disease in oil palms and coconut palms. Palm weevils use aggregation pheromones to congregate for feeding and matting, and these same pheromones are used for mass trapping with pheromone-baited traps. Although different species of palm weevils have different aggregation pheromones, some reports indicate that a single pheromone can attract more than one species. 

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For this study, I tested the effectiveness of three commercial pheromone lures on two species of palm weevils (Rhynchophorus palmarum and Dynamis borassi) in a palm-growing region of Colombia. The results showed that two lures, Dynalure and Rhyncolure, successfully attracted both species, although they had different preferences: Dynalure attracted more D. borassi, while Rhyncolure was more effective for R. palmarum. The third lure, Metalure, appeared to repel both species.

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These findings highlight the importance of selecting the right pheromone lure when designing traps for pest control. If you’d like to explore the details, you can find the full report here.