To develop an auto-sterilising device for the red bollwormDiparopsis castanea(Hmps.) a prototype bait-station was used in the laboratory with virgin females as bait which consistently attracted male moths of various ages. The female moths were attractive for at least 8 days. Males sterilised by overnight contact on filter-paper saturated with 0.2% aq. tepa were as responsive to the virgin females as untreated males.