ABSTRACT
The present study evaluates the efficacy of volatile baited traps for monitoring and managing Celosterna scabrator Fab. a first-of-its-kind investigation. Conducted from July, 2023 to January, 2024 in Vijayapura, the study compared six different volatile baited traps across four locations. Ethanol baited traps recorded the highest mean catches (L1-2.27, L2-2.20, L3-2.20 and L4-2.13) followed closely by ethyl acetate baited traps (L1-1.95, L2-1.92, L3-1.92 and L4-1.88). The least effective traps were those baited with methanol (L1-0.85, L2-0.78, L3-0.70 and L4-0.78). The ethanol and ethyl acetate traps were significantly more effective than those baited with acetaldehyde, methyl salicylate, acetone and methanol. Temporal analysis revealed that, ethanol traps consistently captured the highest number of beetles throughout the study period, while methanol traps captured the lowest among the other volatile baited traps. The ethanol traps also achieved the highest per centage of beetle captures at all locations, contributing to a total of 26.54 per cent of the overall beetle collection.
The study further investigated insecticidal and botanical management practices, with aluminium phosphide 56% P showing the highest efficacy (91.33% reduction in live tunnels) and yield (7760.40 kg/ac). However, due to regulatory restrictions on aluminium phosphide, chlorantraniliprole 18.50% SC and imidacloprid 17.80% SL are recommended alternatives. The study highlights the potential of ethanol and ethyl acetate baited traps in integrated pest management strategies while emphasizing the need for additional measures to control beetle populations effectively. Further research should explore ecological factors influencing beetle behaviours and the synergistic effects of combining different volatile compounds for optimal pest management.