McQuate, Grant T.2011-12-102011-12-102011-12-090073-134Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/10125/21674In recent years, sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lamarck, production in Hawaii has been increasing, reaching 243 harvested ha, with a total production of 3.76 million kg in 2009. Sweetpotato production in Hawaii is hindered by three major quarantine pests, for which only one, the sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers) (Coleoptera: Brentidae), has an identified sex pheromone, (Z)-3-dodecen-1-ol (E)-2-butenoate, that has been deployed in traps for monitoring and suppression of field populations. The longevity of a commercial source of this sex attractant was tested under field conditions on the Hamakua Coast on the island of Hawaii. Based on a linear regression developed from weevil catch results versus weeks of aging, catch dropped to 50% of the catch of unweathered lure at 13.2 weeks, at a lower elevation site, and at 9.0 weeks, at a higher elevation, windier site. Based on these results, lures in traps should be replaced every 9 weeks to maintain at least 50% of maximum trap catch. Further research is needed to integrate pheromone-baited traps for sweetpotato weevil into a pest management system for sweetpotato pests in Hawaii. Suppression of sweetpotato weevil populations may be enhanced by increasing pheromone concentration in traps.8 pagesenIpomoea batatas, detection, monitoring, mass trappingArticleAttribution Non-Commercial No Derivativesby-nc-nd-nsa