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14,000 pest control traps distributed in Capital

The project is part of ADFSC’s Integrated Management Programme of Abu Dhabi’s date palm trees to improve agricultural practices.

More than 14,000 light-traps to eradicate pests from date palm trees have been distributed by the Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre (ADFSC) over the past three years. The project is part of ADFSC’s Integrated Management Programme of Abu Dhabi’s date palm trees to improve agricultural practices and awareness among farmers and boost the quality of locally grown dates and other fresh produce.

About 4,000 traps were distributed in the Western Region, over 1,400 in the Al Rahba farming area, 600 in Al Khatum and 8,000 in Al Ain.

The campaign will continue until all farms in the emirate are covered under the ADFSC Date Palm Services Contract. Under the contract, the traps are provided once every five years and they are distributed only through the centre and its agricultural extension centres.

The trap is made of galvanised iron, uses a 150-watt lamp and an approved design that was previously used by the Abu Dhabi Municipality and the Department of Agriculture in Al Ain.

The traps are used to reduce the spread of fruit stalk borer (bunch borer) and stem borer. The insects are attracted to light at night and fall down when they collide with the panels in the trap’s collection bowel, which is filled with water. Traps are connected to a power source to light up the lamp inside them.

There are currently two different varieties of trap distributed by ADFSC — a pheromone trap and a light trap. The light trap attracts borers with light, while in the pheromone trap, red palm weevil is attracted to the pheromone by a chemical secretion.

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