The Boll Weevil Attract and Control Tube (BWACT), a novel, biorational, "reduced risk/reduced use" boll weevil control system has been substantially improved during the last three years. Pheromone dispenser modifications, increase in pheromone content, duration of insecticide residual control and refinement of field placement, spacing, timing and criteria to measure control have contributed to good research, extension, crop consultant and cotton producer results. During 1994 and 1995, results Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas and Latin America illustrated that the use of BWACT in IPM cotton insect control programs can generally be expected to provide one or more of the following benefits:

Up to a 95% reduction of an overwintered boll weevil population, 1 to 4 weeks delay in the initiation of early and mid season weevil insecticide sprays, 1 to 9 less weevil insecticide applications during a crop, 20% to 60% reduction in seasonal square damage from boll weevils, 10% to 45% increase in retained fruit in the #1 and #2 fruiting positions, 50 to 175 pounds per acre lint increase, $50 to $115 per acre operating profit increase from insecticide savings and increased yield, and Up to a 97% reduction of a diapausing boll weevil population.

Results from the 1994 and 1995 Southeast Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation's Program in Alabama and Mississippi provided evidence that the incorporation of BWACTs substantially lowered program costs and contributed to the eradication of the boll weevil in an environmentally acceptable, economical and effective manner.