Influence of Temperature On the Rate of Grandlure Released From Boll Weevil Pheromone Lures

Although pheromone lures are effective in attracting boll weevils to traps, variations in pheromone release rate may affect the performance of the product under field conditions.  We investigated the release rate of grandlure from three commercial lure dispensers for two weeks at temperatures representative of the period of early squaring and peak bloom of cotton in south-central Texas.  Grandlure release rate was measured daily from lure dispensers at 70 F and 85 F in a laboratory, and approximated every two days by residual grandlure in dispensers in traps exposed to similar mean air temperatures in the field.  Results from the laboratory and field measurements revealed similar patterns of difference in release rates and residual content between lure dispensers.  These results will aid boll weevil eradication personnel in making informed decisions to select lures and adapt lure replacement protocols to expedite the completion of eradication in south-central Texas.