Banana Weevil Borer Funnel Trap Kit (10 Pack)

Description

Our banana weevil borer funnel trap is a completely new design.  It offers a tool for monitoring and mass trapping of banana weevil borer to help improve the management of what is a difficult pest.

Current practice relies heavily on toxic pesticides.  These are known harmful chemicals which are both residual and potentially damaging to valuable tropical and subtropical ecosystems including the great barrier reef.

Our novel trap design uses two inverted funnels which help direct weevils into a cardboard tube containing the banana weevil borer aggregation pheromone.  The assembled trap with pheromone lure can be distributed quickly and easily on the floor of the plantation.   It is designed to offer an accessible ramp for the weevils to enter the trap from any way it drops to the ground.  This trap does not rely on water to catch and drown weevils nor does it require ‘digging’ into place.

This concept is still in an R&D phase and while we have conducted several trials, we do ask for feedback from early adopters.  So far it is proving to catch good numbers of the pest and offers promise as a valuable aid to pest management in bananas.

Mass trapping is an important and much under-utilised pest management practice.  This approach is not expected to cause a dramatic drop in pest abundance but can greatly help improve management by reducing numbers over time.  Continuous mass trapping has the ability to reduce the need for toxic pesticides along with many of the negative effects of a chemical approach.

Our BWB traps come supplied with an equivalent number of pheromone lures.  Both the pheromone lures and replacement cardboard tubes are available for purchase separately.  The unique plastic funnels can be re-used many times before replacing due to loss or wear.

The pheromone lures should be stored in a freezer before use.  Remove one of the funnel ends to insert the lure before field placement.  Our recommendation is that the banana weevil borer funnel traps be deployed at rates of 10 per hectare (up to 20 per hectare for heavy infestations).  The pheromone lure has a field life of 3 months after which it should be replaced.  The traps should be maintained year round.

The cardboard tube is protected from the elements by a waterproof label however it may be wise to add further sealing from weather by adding a strip of insulation tape at each end of the tube where it meets the funnel.  Replacement cardboard tubes are available from our website.