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The effect of height and distribution pattern of traps on the capture of Scyphophorus acupunctatus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) on blue agave (Asparagales: Asparagaceae) in commercial plantations was studied. Results showed that the trap height and the distribution pattern did not have an effect on the number of captured weevils per trap. In contrast, the inter-trap distance had an effect on the number of captured weevils per trap. For monitoring this weevil in blue agave commercial plantations, we recommend to use the pheromone and agave tissue-baited traps placed at ground level, at 200 m distance between traps, and distributed in a square distribution pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted for determining the pioneer sex of agave weevil on agave plants. Field experiments were made on plantations of Agave tequilana Weber var. Azul in Jalisco, and Agave angustifolia Haw. and Agave cupreata Trel. & Berger in Guerrero. It was found that both sexes were able to start colonizing agave host plants. Most of the females that colonized host plants were gravid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scyphophorus acupunctatus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) is one of the most important insect pests of wild and cultivated agaves in Mexico. For managing this weevil, it is important to have a method for detecting and sampling its population density. The weevil's life cycle takes place inside the agave plant, which makes sampling of the weevil difficult. The use of traps baited with synthetic pheromone plus agave tissue is a useful tool for sampling the population density of this pest. Using the capture-mark-release-recapture method, we investigated the attraction range of traps baited with synthetic pheromone plus agave tissue to capture S. acupunctatus. We also evaluated several inter-trap distances to determine the best density of traps for monitoring this insect. Our results showed that these traps attracted S. acupunctatus up to a range of 120 m. In addition, we found that the cardinal point at which weevils were released affected their recapture. The results also showed that, in general, experiments with the longest inter-trap distances captured the most weevils. Thus, traps placed at 100 m in the 1st experiment, 200 m in the 2nd experiment, and 250 m in the 3rd experiment captured more weevils than traps placed at shorter distances. Based on our results of attraction range and inter-trap distances, we suggest that these pheromone-baited traps could be used for monitoring S. acupunctatus at densities of 1 trap per 6 ha of blue agave crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]