With virgin females as bait, 8 different trap designs deployed at 2 heights and 2 orientations were evaluated for their efficiency in capturing adult males of Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller). The Pherocon™ 1C trap was superior to all other designs tested but had a tendency to become coated with dust. Its performance was independent of the heights tested. Although significantly less efficient, the Pherocon™ 1CP and 1CPY (with and without flag) captured numerous males and were less prone to collecting dust. Pherocon 1C traps deployed with mated females were no more attractive to males than unbaited traps. Virgin females between 0 and 6 days post-emergence were most attractive to males; this attraction continued at a lower level for at least 10 days.