Attractancy of diethyl ether extracts of Arachis hypogaea (Linnaeus) (Papilionaceae), Citrullus lanatus (Thunberg) (Cucurbitaceae) and Irvingia gabonensis var. excelsa (Baillon) (Irvingiaceae) to Oryzaephilus mercator (Fauvel) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae)

Volatiles of the diethyl ether extracts of I. gabonensis, C. lanatus and A. hypogaea attracted 1–7 and 28–42-day-old adult O. mercator when tested in a two-choice pitfall Petri dish bioassay. For both age groups, a significant difference was observed in response between fed and starved adults to the different extracts. Differences in starvation time did not affect responses of individuals in the 1–7-day-old group; a significant effect was observed in the 28–42-day-old group.

Adults, 28–42-day-old were significantly more responsive to virtually all extracts than 1–7-day-old adults. Responses of adults in each age group to the different extracts were not significantly different. The time of trial within the period 0900–1900 h did not significantly affect the response of adults in both age groups, starved for 2 days, to any extract.