Monitoramento de Ecdytolopha aurantiana (Lima) em Laranjeira Valência com Feromônio Sexual

The citrus borer, Ecdytolopha aurantiana (Lima), is one of the most important citrus pests, because of damage and increase of citrus production cost. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the possibility of using the sexual pheromone ((E)-8-dodecenyl acetate and (E)-8-dodecenol) for monitoring E. aurantina, influence of the climate and the trap colour in the capture of E. aurantiana, in compare with the standard procedures, and to determine the losses caused by the pest. The experiment was carried out in a 12-year old Valencia citrus groves located in Araraquara County, SP. In this grove, four blocks were chosen and delimited for placing the yellow, red and white traps in compare to the traditional white trap (Ferocitrus Furao®) kit. The evaluation consisted of counting the number E. aurantiana adults captured per trap and the number of attacked fruits per 10 plants randomly chosen in each block. No statistical difference was observed between trap colors to capture E. aurantiana. In all blocks, the population of the pest remained above threshold level (six males/trap/week) in most of the sampling dates during the experiment. However, no damage was observed because of low humidity that causes decreasing of female longevity and fecundity. The correlation analysis between capture and climatic parameters was significant only with the average temperature.