Optimizing Trap Characteristics to Monitor the Leaffooted Bug Leptoglossus zonatus (Heteroptera: Coreidae) in Orchards.

Houston Wilson,Jessica Maccaro,Kent Daane

doi:10.3390/insects11060358

Houston Wilson, Jessica Maccaro + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11060358

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Abstract

The leaffooted bug, Leptoglossus zonatus (Heteroptera: Coreidae), has become a key pest of almonds, pistachios, and pomegranates in California. Adults and nymphs directly feed on nuts and fruits, which reduces crop yield and quality and can facilitate pathogen infections. Current monitoring strategies require growers to actively sample the tree canopy, with no economic thresholds being developed for this pest. To improve monitoring of L. zonatus, a three-year study was conducted to identify an optimal trap. A hanging cross-vane panel trap was identified as the best trap type in Year 1, and subsequent work in Years 1–3 focused on refining its use by modifying surface texture and color. Results indicated that coating trap surfaces with the lubricant fluon improved trap catching ability, and adults were most frequently recovered in yellow traps. A hanging cross-vane panel trap with these features could serve as the basis for the development of a new monitoring system for this pest in orchards, which could be improved further if semiochemical lures will be developed.

Highlights

The genus Leptoglossus is neotropical in origin, with most species limited to Central and SouthAmerica [1,2], where they are considered pests for a wide variety of crops [3,4,5,6,7,8]
While historically L. clypealis has been the dominant species found on California tree nuts [18], recent surveys have noted a shift towards L. zonatus, which is considered the primary species attacking these crops [15,19,20]
All of the data analyses focused on L. zonatus alone

Summary

Introduction

The genus Leptoglossus is neotropical in origin, with most species limited to Central and SouthAmerica [1,2], where they are considered pests for a wide variety of crops [3,4,5,6,7,8]. Leptoglossus occidentalis primarily attack coniferous trees [9,10], whereas the other three species have been recovered from a range of perennial crops that include tree nuts, citrus, peaches, and pomegranates [11,12,13,14]. The primary agricultural pest species in California are L. clypealis and L. zonatus, which are known to attack almonds, pistachios, and pomegranates when not feeding on a variety of weedy annual species [15]. While historically L. clypealis has been the dominant species found on California tree nuts [18], recent surveys have noted a shift towards L. zonatus, which is considered the primary species attacking these crops [15,19,20]

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