ABSTRACT
Sorghum chafer, Pachnoda interrupta (Olivier) (Coleoptera:
Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) is one of the major problems on sorghum. The purpose
of this study was to investigate alternative management methods. The studies
were conducted under laboratory and field conditions. We tested efficacy of Jatropha
curcas, Lantana camara, Croton mychrostaches, Agave sp. (sisal) and Melia
azad- rech. The lure effects of banana, guava, local beer residue
(Atela), malt and molasses were evaluated. The result from laboratory
showed that C. mychrostaches, L. camara, M. azadrech, Agave sp. and J. curcas caused beetle mortality of
44% - 60%, 24% - 64%, 43% - 63%, 45% - 64%, and 65% - 78%, respectively. Also with the result from field it was confirmed
that C. mychrostaches, L. camara, M. azadrech, Agave sp. and J. curcas caused beetle mortality of 23% - 56%, 27% - 55%, 36% - 58%,
40% - 55% and 76% - 82%, respectively. In the bait experiment, a higher
number of beetles were attracted using banana (>3000 beetles) and guava
fruit (>3500 beetles) than the other attractants. Male beetles were more attracted
than the female beetles. Thus, we recommended that all botanical pesticides with banana and guava fruits as
baits could be used in sorghum chafer management.