Potential of Botanical Lures as Attractant for Monitoring Grasshoppers (Orthoptera) on Yam (Dioscorea Rotundata)Plant in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Botanical lures(Prolure, Pklure, Cplure) developed from legumes were tried in traps along with Pflure from aqueous organic product from poultry for their potential as natural attractants under field conditions in 2004, 2005 and 2006 Cropping Seasons. The attraction of grasshoppers to these natural attractants was significant (P<0.05) compared with the control (water) which recorded zero catch using Student Newman keuls Test (SNK). The grasshoppers trapped in the extracts include Catantops melanosticus schaum (Orthoptera: Acrididae), Pyrgomorpha vignaudi Geur (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) and Homorocoryphus nitidulus Walker (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). These potential attractants have prospects as an alternative to synthetic insecticides and pheromones in the management of grasshoppers on yam.This is the first report on these attractants developed from plant products. The attractants are cheap, non toxic to users and environment, easy to manage by farmers, easy to control fast flying and very alert insects such as the Acrididae.
