Improvement of trapping technologies for insect pest species
Start Date
August 2025
End Date
August 2025
Location
ALT 306
Abstract
Invasive species pose substantial threats to both managed and natural ecosystems throughout North America. A major challenge in combating invasive insects is a lack of effective traps to detect populations during early days of establishment, when it is still possible to control or eliminate the pest. We conducted multiple trapping assays to assess the effects of trap design on capture of invasive insects. We tested the effectiveness of three different insecticide preparations in traps for the invasive box tree moth and a native pest species, the black cutworm. We also evaluated trap designs and trap amendments to capture box tree moths while excluding non-target insect species. Finally, we assessed the persistence of fluoropolymer treatments on the surfaces of woodborer traps after one field season to determine which product provides the greatest value for survey and trapping programs. The results of our work will allow us to improve trapping technology for invasive insects both domestically and internationally.
Improvement of trapping technologies for insect pest species
ALT 306
Invasive species pose substantial threats to both managed and natural ecosystems throughout North America. A major challenge in combating invasive insects is a lack of effective traps to detect populations during early days of establishment, when it is still possible to control or eliminate the pest. We conducted multiple trapping assays to assess the effects of trap design on capture of invasive insects. We tested the effectiveness of three different insecticide preparations in traps for the invasive box tree moth and a native pest species, the black cutworm. We also evaluated trap designs and trap amendments to capture box tree moths while excluding non-target insect species. Finally, we assessed the persistence of fluoropolymer treatments on the surfaces of woodborer traps after one field season to determine which product provides the greatest value for survey and trapping programs. The results of our work will allow us to improve trapping technology for invasive insects both domestically and internationally.
