Mark and recapture studies of Hylobius pales (Herbst) (Col., Curculionidae) for measuring bait and trap efficacy.

The pales weevil, Hylobius pales (Herbst) (Col., Curculionidae) is an important regeneration pest of Pinus seedlings and a secondary pest of Christmas tree plantations in the United States. Attempts to sample this endemic pest in Virginia, USA with simulated host odors of ethanol and turpentine have met with varying levels of success. Mark-and-recapture techniques were used to assess the efficacy of various combinations of host volatiles, pine billets, and trap designs for capturing H. pales adults. No differences were observed in the number of H. pales caught between pit and PVC pitfall traps containing the same bait type. Traps containing freshly cut Pinus strobus L. billets caught significantly more weevils than traps containing synthetic volatiles alone. Traps baited with freshly cut P. strobus caught significantly more weevils than those containing P. strobus cut 2 months previously. The synthetic attractant components of ethanol and turpentine were most effective when presented in a combined bait blend than when released from separate vials. Overall, traps baited with combined blends of 5:1 ethanol-turpentine and freshly cut P. strobus were most effective in capturing H. pales. Hylobius pales showed no attraction to unbaited PVC pitfall or pit traps. Males and females responded similarly to all treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]