Attractant-baited traps for the sugar-beet weevil Bothynoderes (Cleonus) punctiventris: Preliminary study of application potential for mass trapping

The sugar-beet weevil (Bothynoderes punctiventris Germar) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is one of the most important insect pests of sugar-beet throughout central, eastern and southeastern parts of Europe. The damage by the overwintering adult beetles is caused by feeding on sugar-beet seedlings in early spring. As a possible alternative to insecticides, the present research was aimed at studying the potential of traps baited with a synthetic aggregation attractant in decreasing the population of the sugar-beet weevil through mass trapping at the overwintering sites.