Spring dispersal of Sitona lineatus: the use of aggregation pheromone traps for monitoring

The spring dispersal of Sitona lineatus L. (Coleoptera; Curculionidae) was investigated on a Danish farm. S. lineatus dispersed by flight in the early spring on sunny, calm days with temperatures above ca. 15 °C. Two thirds of the population of S. lineatus dispersed from perennial leguminous crops (clover and lucerne) in the first period of flight activity. The next dispersal did not occur until one month later despite several intermediate flight activity periods. The first period of dispersal occurred before the germination of the spring sown summer host crop, Vicia faba L. The field bean crop was infested in three later invasions during a period of more than three weeks. The aggregation pheromone, 4‐methyl‐3,5‐heptanedione, had a significant effect on captures of both males and females in cone traps placed on the ground. There was no effect of the pheromone on captures in yellow sticky traps placed 1.5 m above ground. The pheromone effect is discussed in relation to behavioural observations. Both types of traps may be used in a survey system for monitoring spring dispersal of S. lineatus and optimal timing of insecticide spraying. However, the pheromone cone traps were highly specific whereas all kinds of flying insects were caught in the yellow sticky traps, thus making the latter traps less suitable for monitoring.