Examining the trapping efficiency of different coloured light emitting diodes in combination with the host plant for monitoring and managing banana weevils

Light emitting diode (LED)-based insect monitoring approach is drawing the attention of researchers. In the present study, we evaluated the insect pest response to four different coloured LEDs (blue, green, red and warm white or yellow) in the laboratory (darkroom) and in field conditions. The field studies indicated that Odoiporus longicollis is attracted to blue LED with a longitudinal split banana stem trap (LSBST), with an average of 7 +/- 1 weevils per trap, compared to other LEDs and LSBST. However, the corm weevil was not attracted to the traps significantly. To confirm the weevil response to LED trap, an experiment was performed in the laboratory. Interestingly, the laboratory experiment indicated a higher attraction of O. longicollis towards blue LED + LSBST with 63 +/- 5.77% in male and 53.33 +/- 5.77% in female, and of Cosmopolites sordidus with 43.33 +/- 5.77% in both male and female when compared with other traps. The overall results suggest that blue LED can be used as a light trap for monitoring as well as the mass trapping of banana weevils in the garden.