EFFECT OF PHEROMONE BAIT STATIONS IN IMPROVING FRUIT SET OF ANNONA SPP., BY SAP BEETLES IN FLORIDA

Atemoya, (Annona squamosa L., x A. cherimola Miller) and sugar apple (A. squamosa) are important in the tropical fruit industry in Florida, but their yields are unreliable. This is because fruit set is erratic, due to highly variable pollination and physiological stress. Fruit setting in Annonacea can be improved by improving attraction to sap beetles by the use of lures. Sap beetle pheromones and food odour bait was evaluated as an attractant for beetle pollinators and their effect on fruit set of Annona spp. Synthetic hydrocarbon pheromones for C. freemani, C. mutilatus, C. hemipterus, C. dimidiatus were used together with a fermented dough-bread as a synergist. These increased pollination in Annonas in south Florida.