Trap design, pheromone

Ross D. W. and Daterman G. E. (1998) Pheromone-baited traps for Dendroctonus pseudotsugae (Coleoptera Scolytidae) influence of selected release rates and trap designs. J. Econ. Entomol. 91, 500-506. 

Comparison of trap designs for use with aggregation pheromone and synthetic co-attractant in a user-friendly attract and kill system to control Carpophilus spp. (Coleoptera Nitidulidae). Aust. J. Entomol., 46, 244-250. 

James, D.G., Bartelt, R. J. and Moore, C. J. (1996a). Trap design effect on capture of Carpophilus spp. (Coleoptera Nitidulidae) using synthetic aggregation pheromones and a coattractant. J. Econ. Entomol., 89, 648-653. 

Williams, R.N., Fickle, D. S., Bartelt, R. J. and Dowd, P.F. (1993). Responses by adult Nitidulidae (Coleoptera) to synthetic aggregation pheromones, a coattractant, and effects of trap design and placement. Eur. J. Entomol., 90, 287-294. 

The delivery mechanisms for pheromones are crucial. They must be capable of being programmed accurately to achieve the concentration characteristics for the species concerned. They must release the material at appropriate and uniform rates and have capacity consistent with the particular application and operational time frame. Trap design is important, whether the intent is to trap flying insects or both walking and flying insects. 

Pheromone Dispenser and Trap Design Much Technological Development Needed... 

Pheromone releaser distributions and/or point-source release rates have pronounced effects on the disruption of trap captures of spruce budworm (39). Small field plot studies with hand-placed releasers in moderate- to-high density budworm populations indicate an increase in trap disruption as the point sources of the synthetic pheromone are increased in release rate and decreased in number per unit area (Fig. 1). Identical pheromone dosages per plot were present in each treatment. Optimizing the releaser spacing and point-source release rate is therefore important and implies the need for a formulation re-design. This effect of releaser distribution and point-source release rate on trap disruption and mating disruption has been demonstrated in several insect species (40). 

Possible solutions - Can knowledge of chemical communication help in designing less stressful methods for catching suitable brood-stock animals The straightforward solution should be based on a pheromone trap to which the required animals would be attracted and which they would enter voluntarily. However, the effective range of pheromones is usually unknown. 

Unconventional Methods of Application. In addition to the conventional methods of insecticide application, several novel methods of virus delivery have been tested. Most of these were designed for long term population suppression by utilizing the disease producing features of dispersal and epizootic development. Autodissemination of the virus by male moths contaminated with virus in baited light or pheromone traps has been demonstrated (33). 

Practical application of pheromone traps for detection and control is furthest advanced for several species of Trogoderma and Attagenus, which include some of the more notorious pests. In fact, small detection traps containing the pheromone and an insecticide are now in use in a number of storage facilities, and on ships for quarantine purposes. The very high levels of response make early detection in a sparse population much more feasible than previous procedures the use of numerous small traps allows for pinpointing the sources of the infestation. Current studies are aimed at improved trap and dispenser design. 

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