Project Number: 210-22310-002-33
Project Type: Specific C/A

Start Date: Aug 01, 2002
End Date: Dec 31, 2005

Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy of lures for scarab beetles, particularly Macrodactylus spp., in Ecuadorian field studies. To broaden behavioral knowledge of scarab beetles and provide new control strategies.

Approach:
Information and material will be exchanged between investigators and students of three institutions in Ecuador, and principal investigators at OARDC, and USDA (Wooster, Ohio). Studies will be in three principal areas. (1) Conduct trials to elucidate the relationships between known scarab attractants and the beetle fauna throughout Ecuador. Traps and lures developed in Ohio for scarab beetles will be used in Ecuador and modified as needed. (2) Evaluate the effects of scarab adults (particularly species of Macrodactylus) on production and yields of crops in Ecuador, and develop control strategies for those beetles. (3) Evaluate the damage from, and control of, populations of scarab larvae in relation to climatic and geographic conditions. For the last two areas, emphasis will also be placed on identifying parasitiods and pathogens of scarabs that may be useful in the U.S. Each of the three study areas will be assigned a graduate student from one of the Ecuadorian institutions. Identification of scarabs will be conducted at the Catholic University of Quito and specimens will be sent to the U.S. Scarab Collection in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Project Team

Flanley, Gretchen Roger Williams - Professor 301-504-4545

Related National Programs

Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)