Abstract
Simple SummarySeveral wood-associated insects are inadvertently introduced every year within wood-packaging materials used in international trade. These insects can cause impressive economic and ecological damage in the invaded environment. Thus, several countries use traps baited with pheromones and plant volatiles at ports of entry and surrounding natural areas to intercept incoming exotic species soon after their arrival and thereby reduce the likelihood of their establishment. In this study, we investigated the performance of eight trap colors in attracting jewel beetles and bark and ambrosia beetles to test if the trap colors currently used in survey programs worldwide are the most efficient for trapping these potential forest pests. In addition, we tested whether trap colors can be exploited to minimize inadvertent removal of their natural enemies. Our results confirmed that trap color strongly affects trapping performance. Overall, the trap colors currently adopted in most survey programs (i.e., green and black) are efficient only for certain beetle species, therefore there is a clear need to use additional trap colors to increase the range of species that can be effectively attracted. Moreover, we confirmed that many predators exploit the same visual cues as their preys, and thus trap color cannot be used as a variable to minimize bycatch.Traps baited with attractive lures are increasingly used at entry-points and surrounding natural areas to intercept exotic wood-boring beetles accidentally introduced via international trade. Several trapping variables can affect the efficacy of this activity, including trap color. In this study, we tested whether species richness and abundance of jewel beetles (Buprestidae), bark and ambrosia beetles (Scolytinae), and their common predators (i.e., checkered beetles, Cleridae) can be modified using trap colors different to those currently used for surveillance of jewel beetles and bark and ambrosia beetles (i.e., green or black). We show that green and black traps are generally efficient, but also that many flower-visiting or dark-metallic colored jewel beetles and certain bark beetles are more attracted by other colors. In addition, we show that checkered beetles have color preferences similar to those of their Scolytinae preys, which limits using trap color to minimize their inadvertent removal. Overall, this study confirmed that understanding the color perception mechanisms in wood-boring beetles can lead to important improvements in trapping techniques and thereby increase the efficacy of surveillance programs.
Highlights
Bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) and jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) are commonly intercepted at ports of entry worldwide [1,2]
We investigated the effect of trap color on (i) jewel beetles, (ii) bark and ambrosia beetles, and (iii) their most common associated predators
We confirmed that checkered beetles have color preferences similar to those of their prey [48,61], and this limits the usefulness of particular trap colors to minimize the inadvertent bycatch of clerids
Summary
Bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) and jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) are commonly intercepted at ports of entry worldwide [1,2]. Traps baited with pheromones and host volatiles are often used at high-risk sites and nearby natural areas to intercept incoming beetles soon after their arrival and to reduce the chances of their establishment [10,11,12] The efficacy of this practice depends on several variables such as trap type, trap height, or lure specificity (e.g., [13,14]), which are often combined in order to attract several beetle species simultaneously (e.g., [15,16]) and hopefully minimize the inadvertent removal of associated natural enemies (e.g., [17,18,19]). Recent studies have shown that trap color can affect trap catches of longhorn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) [20,21] but its effect on jewel beetles, bark and ambrosia beetles, and their associated beetle predators (e.g., Cleridae) has been investigated so far only for a limited number of species
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