Efficacy of Field-Aged Bait Sticks Against the Boll Weevil

The role of the commercial boll weevil bait stick (Boll Weevil Attract-and-Control Tube) in boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman) management is poorly understood. This study evaluated the influence of bait stick age on weevil mortality and behavior. Bait sticks were assayed after aging 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 wk in the field. Efficacy was estimated in the field by allowing weevils to land on the bait stick, capturing them as they departed, and holding them to determine mortality after 24 and 48 h. Weevils captured in traps were used in forced contact assays of the same bait sticks The Journal of Cotton Science 5:68-73 (2001) http://journal.cotton.org, © The Cotton Foundation 2001 D.W. Spurgeon, USDA-ARS, IFNRRU, 2413 E Highway 83, Weslaco, TX 77845; Current Address: USDA-ARS, APMRU, 2771 F&B Road, College Station, TX 77845. Received 9 Jan. 2001. *Corresponding author (spurgeon@usda-