Penestragania apicalis (Osborn & Ball, 1898) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae, Iassinae) – a new invasive phytophages of honey locust in Eastern Europe

Light-baited suction traps are one of the most widely used tools for vector surveillance. Their popularity stems from ease of use even in remote locations, range and abundance of species caught, and low cost. The availability of smaller, portable models, like the CDC miniature light trap, have further increased their ubiquity in entomological field studies. However, when researchers have looked, light trap collections are usually biased in ways that may affect data interpretation for epidemiological studies. If used alone, light traps may fail to collect important or infected vectors, and light traps are inefficient or ineffective when competing ambient light is present. In this article, we discuss these biases and limitations in terms of their effect on collection efficiency, population data, and pathogen detection. While light trap data certainly have a purpose, an over-reliance on light trapping risks drawing false conclusions about vector populations and vector-borne disease epidemiology. These concerns are especially troubling when light trap data are used to inform policy decisions meant to protect human and animal health. Particularly when a species' response to light is unknown or poorly characterized, light traps should be used in conjunction with supplemental sampling methods. Researchers conducting vector surveillance field studies should carefully consider their study design and objectives when deciding on a trapping method or methods, and specifically endeavor to understand the limitations of their data. Only then can researchers take advantage of the best attributes of light traps while avoiding their dark side.

Light trap helps to protect natural enemies and manage destructive insect pests in rice farming ecosystem. Light trapping time at night is not identified, for organic farming in farmers level its essential to identified proper timing at night. The experimental light trap was set up at Sagordi rice farm, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Barishal, during T. Aman rice season in 2019-2020. The time of catching insects by light trap were divided in six different times in a night and defined as treatments (T1= 17.20 to 18.20, T2= 18.20 to 19.20, T3= 19.20 to 20.20, T4 =20.20 to 21.20, T5=21.20 to 22.20, T6= 22.20 to rest of night insects caught at light trap) in this study. Each treatment has had four replications. Yellow sticky trap used to catch and trapped insect and natural enemyRice insect pests and their natural enemies were counted and recorded manually. The caught of yellow stem borer increased and green leafhopper were decreased from treatment, T1 to treatment, T6. During dusk to first four hours, the percentage of caught was approximately 69.28% insect pests. Overall, the percentages of insect pests trapping were 89.65% and natural enemies were 10.35% during the experimental period. The ratio of destructive insect pests caught was highest compared to that of natural enemies in light trap of rice ecosystem.

BackgroundCulicoides are vectors of e.g. bluetongue virus and Schmallenberg virus in northern Europe. Light trapping is an important tool for detecting the presence and quantifying the abundance of vectors in the field. Until now, few studies have investigated the range of attraction of light traps.MethodsHere we test a previously described mathematical model (Model I) and two novel models for the attraction of vectors to light traps (Model II and III). In Model I, Culicoides fly to the nearest trap from within a fixed range of attraction. In Model II Culicoides fly towards areas with greater light intensity, and in Model III Culicoides evaluate light sources in the field of view and fly towards the strongest. Model II and III incorporated the directionally dependent light field created around light traps with fluorescent light tubes. All three models were fitted to light trap collections obtained from two novel experimental setups in the field where traps were placed in different configurations.ResultsResults showed that overlapping ranges of attraction of neighboring traps extended the shared range of attraction. Model I did not fit data from any of the experimental setups. Model II could only fit data from one of the setups, while Model III fitted data from both experimental setups.ConclusionsThe model with the best fit, Model III, indicates that Culicoides continuously evaluate the light source direction and intensity. The maximum range of attraction of a single 4W CDC light trap was estimated to be approximately 15.25 meters. The attraction towards light traps is different from the attraction to host animals and thus light trap catches may not represent the vector species and numbers attracted to hosts.

For a long time, researchers have compared light traps operating with different light sources. According to the results, ultraviolet lights often performed better than visible light sources. In the present study, we examine the wingspan of macrolepidoptera species in relation to the catch result of visible (visible) and BL traps in choice and no-choice situations using data from the Hungarian light-trap network. We used the catch data of 19 light-trap stations from 1962 to 1963. Up to 18 stations belonged to the national network and the last one was in Nagytétény. We processed data of 381 species of the 18 light-traps data of the national network and data of 222 species from the light traps of Nagytétény. The data of the wingspan of the different macrolepidoptera species we collected from the websites of UKmoths (http://ukmoths.org.uk/index.php), and Guide to the Butterflies and Moths of Hungary (macrolepidoptera) (http://www.macrolepidoptera.hu). We summarised for each light-trap station and each trap type the number of the macrolepidopteran species and individuals caught from different generations. Then, using the Mann–Whitney test, we checked for species the number of individuals captured by visible and BL traps, and the difference of the level of significance. We summarised the wingspan data of all the 381 species, the more efficient light source for each species in a no-choice situation at multiple sites and for the single site of Nagytétény the more efficient light source for species detected there. The BL trap seems most efficient for operation for plant protecting purposes, despite the fact that their use is far more problematic. Insect species are not only endangered by light trapping but also by the light pollution of urban areas. Our results confirm that the different light sources should incur mortality on different species to differing levels. Such differential mortality from artificial light sources could disturb the balance of life in biological communities.

Simple SummaryThe light trap is a pesticide-free method for pest control. Appropriate wavelength and light intensity are the key factors for trapping specific target pests. However, present light-trapping methods mainly use UV light, which is effective with Helicoverpa armigera and many nocturnal insects and has displayed a low effect on an important migratory pest, the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). In this study, a series of phototactic behavioral assays were carried out and physical parameters were included to identify the different phototactic behaviors between S. frugiperda and H. armigera. It was found that S. frugiperda had the highest average phototactic rate to blue light than other lights. The phototactic rates of the two moths increased gradually with light intensity and were not obviously influenced by sex. Meanwhile, phototactic rates of S. frugiperda were significantly lower than those of H. armigera at a low light intensity of UV light. Combined with these results and the obtained formula, we summarized a proposal of using blue light for light traps to control S. frugiperda. These results provide an experimental and theoretical basis for improving light-trapping techniques for managing S. frugiperda.The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an important migratory pest, causing great losses to agricultural production. Light trapping is a pesticide-free method for pest control and is influenced by many factors, especially wavelength and light intensity. In this study, a series of phototactic behavioral assays were carried out and the physical parameters were included to identify phototactic responses of S. frugiperda, with Helicoverpa armigera as control. It was found that S. frugiperda showed the highest average phototactic rate to blue light among five different LED lights. The phototactic rates of the two moths increased gradually with light intensity and were not obviously influenced by sex. In addition, the phototactic rate of S. frugiperda was significantly lower under a low light intensity of UV light than that of H. armigera, further confirmed by the indoor simulation experiment and EC50. According to the obtained parameters, the trapping distance of S. frugiperda to blue light was smaller than that of H. armigera to UV light. Therefore, we summarized a proposal of using blue light for light traps to control S. frugiperda, with a maximum distance of no more than 108 m. These results provide an experimental and theoretical basis for improving light-trapping techniques for managing S. frugiperda.

The light trap is the tool of choice for conducting large-scale Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) vector surveillance programmes. Its efficacy is in doubt, however. To assess this, hourly changes in Culicoides activity over the 24-h diel were determined comparatively by way of light trapping and aerial sweeping, and correlated against light intensity. In the Netherlands, sweeping around cattle at pasture revealed that, in early summer, Culicoides are active throughout the diel, and that their abundance peaks during the crepuscular period and falls to a low during the brightest hours of the day. By contrast, the light trap was able to accumulate Culicoides only at night (i.e. after illuminance levels had dropped to 0 lux and midge activity had begun to decline). Although Culicoides chiopterus and species of the Culicoides obsoletus complex were similarly abundant around livestock, they differed critically in their hours of peak activity, being largely diurnal and nocturnal, respectively. This polarity helps to explain why, routinely, the C. obsoletus complex dominates light trap collections and C. chiopterus does not. Inability to accumulate Culicoides at light intensity levels above 0 lux means that, at ever-higher latitudes, particularly beyond 45° N, the progressive northward lengthening of the twilight period will have an increasingly adverse impact upon the efficacy of the light trap as a vector surveillance tool.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of solar panel-based light trapping as an environmentally friendly method for controlling major rice pests in Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. Rice (Oryza sativa) is the main staple food in Indonesia, yet pest outbreaks and the overuse of chemical pesticides often constrain its productivity. Field experiments were conducted in Geneng Village, Gatak District, on farmers' rice fields from November to December 2024. A completely randomized design with two treatments – plots equipped with solar-powered LED light traps and plots with detergent solution only (control) – and eight replications was applied. Light traps consisted of a solar panel, battery, LED lamp, and a basin containing detergent solution. Pest counts of brown planthoppers, rice bugs, and kleppers were recorded every two days over 16 days. The solar panel-based light traps consistently captured higher numbers of all three pest species than the control, with particularly high catches of brown planthoppers and kleppers between the third and sixth observation days. In contrast, the control traps caught relatively few insects, indicating that the detergent solution alone is not very attractive. These findings demonstrate that solar-powered light trapping can effectively reduce pest populations while lowering reliance on synthetic pesticides. The technology is simple, uses renewable energy, and has low operational costs, making it suitable for integration into local integrated pest management programs and for broader adoption by smallholder rice farmers

This will be discussed later. Two species, Mansonia uniformis and Mansonia septempunctata, which breed in association with macrophytes such as water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes, became less common from stage 1 to 2. The saltmarsh species Aedes vigilax was also collected in reasonable numbers at all localities around the reservoir. This species is known for its wide dispersal powers and was

The study reported examines the spectral specific responses of adult insect pests of mushroom (Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach) cultivation to light traps and the potential for use of light trapping as a pest management tool within commercial mushroom production. Lycoriella ingenua (Dufour) (Diptera: Sciaridae) and Megaselia halterata (Wood) (Diptera: Phoridae) were the principal insect pests at the experimental site. Adult L. ingenua and M. halterata were positively phototactic and relatively high numbers were attracted to relatively low light emissions from light trap sources of differing wavelengths. Yellow sticky traps at a height of 1·7 m collected more flies of both species than traps located at crop height (0·6 m). Adult female L. ingenua were more numerous than males in all trap types suggesting that they were more active fliers than male counterparts. Numbers of females recorded in light traps greatly exceeded those in yellow sticky traps, indicating greater photo-responsiveness. Light wavelengths between 300–650 nm attracted greater numbers of adult L. ingenua than wavelengths exceeding 700 nm. This species was present throughout the year but was most abundant between May and December. Adult M. halterata were less numerous than adult L. ingenua in all trap types and particularly on yellow sticky traps at crop level. The lower disparity between numbers of adult M. halterata on light traps and yellow sticky traps suggests that adults of this species are not as photosensitive as adult L. ingenua. The observed response of adult M. halterata to light sources of different wavelengths was variable within the range 300–>700 nm. Adult M. halterata were most abundant between June and November.

We present a universally applicable 3D‐printed external light trap for enhanced absorption in solar cells. The macroscopic external light trap is placed at the sun‐facing surface of the solar cell and retro‐reflects the light that would otherwise escape. The light trap consists of a reflective parabolic concentrator placed on top of a reflective cage. Upon placement of the light trap, an improvement of 15% of both the photocurrent and the power conversion efficiency in a thin‐film nanocrystalline silicon (nc‐Si:H) solar cell is measured. The trapped light traverses the solar cell several times within the reflective cage thereby increasing the total absorption in the cell. Consequently, the trap reduces optical losses and enhances the absorption over the entire spectrum. The components of the light trap are 3D printed and made of smoothened, silver‐coated thermoplastic. In contrast to conventional light trapping methods, external light trapping leaves the material quality and the electrical properties of the solar cell unaffected. To explain the theoretical operation of the external light trap, we introduce a model that predicts the absorption enhancement in the solar cell by the external light trap. The corresponding calculated path length enhancement shows good agreement with the empirically derived value from the opto‐electrical data of the solar cell. Moreover, we analyze the influence of the angle of incidence on the parasitic absorptance to obtain full understanding of the trap performance. © 2015 The Authors. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

: Vector-borne diseases are a serious health threat to U.S. troops stationed around the world. U.S. forces deployed to Iraq following the 2003 invasion experienced serious risk of infection by several vector-borne pathogens, specifically cutaneous (CL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) (Aliaga and Aronson 2007). Camp Ramadi, a U.S. military Forward Operating Base, was established in 2003 at the Al Anbar provincial capital of Ramadi, approximately 110 km west of Baghdad. In Iraq the total number of cases of CL reported per year from 2004 to 2008 was 1,655 and for VL was 1,711 (Alvar et al. 2012). In Al Anbar province in 2008, the estimated incidence of CL and VL was 1 per 10,000 (Alvar et al. 2012). Because of the war, the number of cases of both CL and VL was most likely underreported in Al Anbar and all provinces of Iraq (Alvar et al. 2012). Because of the risk of vector-borne diseases, each large U.S. military facility, such as Camp Ramadi, had a vector control program operating throughout the year. As part of a base-wide vector control program, unbaited Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps were placed at three locations on Camp Ramadi between April and August, 2009 to gather baseline population estimates of adult sand flies and monitor the success of subsequent control measures. This paper reports sand fly collections over the five-month period, whether they were positive for Leishmania, and describes efforts to control sand fly populations using ultra-low volume (ULV) insecticide applications. Three sites on Camp Ramadi were established for trap placement in areas where U.S. troops worked and lived. Site one was in a grove of palm trees near troop living quarters and the base medical clinic. Site two was in a plot of scrub vegetation near the helicopter landing pad, and site three in tall vegetation near buildings occupied by the base Commander. All three sites had active rodent burrows.

Field sampling was conducted from July to August 2019 to determine the diversity and abundance of beetle fauna at Gayo Lues Forest, Takengon, Central Aceh. The study was conducted at two sites namely trail I and trail II. The beetles were sampled using 2 light traps, 2 malaise traps and 20 pitfall traps. Total of 219 beetle specimens comprising of 67 species from 24 families were collected. Light trap collected the most number of beetles (N=117) and Margalef index showed that the most abundant beetle was collected by light trap (Margalef index, 27.551). Shannon-Weiner index shows that the most specious beetle was caught by light traps (4.399). The results showed that the most efficient trap was light trapping. Trail I has the most abundance (Margalef Index: 18.572) but trail II was the most specious (Shannon Weiner Index: 4.176) beetle fauna, whereas trail II has the least abundance (Margalef Index: 17.295) and Campsite has least diverse (Shannon Weiner Index: 3.769).The most abundant family caught was Staphylinidae (Margalef index : 2.667) and specious beetle family caught was the Chrysomelida (Shannon Weiner : 1.846) followed by the ground beetle family Scarabaeidae (Shannon Weiver:1.828). Result of this findings showed that Gayo Lues Forest is an undisturbed forests and has been preserved well.Keywords : Beetle, Diversity, Abundance, Takengon, Gayo

The present research was carried out to document the moth fauna of Annamalai Nagar during December, 2015 to November, 2016 comprising four seasons for a period of one year, from agriculture and horticulture ecosystems using light traps and host rearing methods. The sheet method was used to record moth insects individually without any damage. Any moths that alight on the screen were recorded in jars just after sunset between 18.00 – 23.00 hr. A total of 2,679 moths were recorded using all the three types of methods employed in the study. Out of which, light trap was found with maximum of 2,253 moths followed by manual collection (369) and host rearing (57) from four different sites of observation. Among the sites, light trapping of moths were observed maximum (656) in Orchard followed by Experimental farm with 629 numbers. The diversity of moths was observed in the study area of Annamalai Nagar indicated the presence of 70 genera and 56 species identified under nine superfamilies of Clades viz., Obtectomera (Pyraloidea and Thyridoidea) Macroheterocera (Noctuoidea, Bombycoidea, Geometroidea, Lasiocampoidea) Apoditrysia (Pterophoroidea and Cossoidea) Ditrysia (Tineoidea). The families namely Crambidae, Erebidae, Noctuidae, Sphingidae, Bombycidae, Uraniidae, Thyrididae, Eupterotidae, Geometridae, Pterophoridae, Lasiocampidae, Cossidae and Psychidae were observed in the study area. Out of which, the family Erebidae alone had 28 genera and 25 species and found to be the superior family. From the results, it was clear that light trapping was superior in collection of moths during night times.

The efficiency of today's most efficient organic solar cells is primarily limited by the ability of the active layer to absorb all the sunlight. While internal quantum efficiencies exceeding 90% are common, the external quantum efficiency rarely exceeds 70%. Light trapping techniques that increase the ability of a given active layer to absorb light are common in inorganic solar cells but have only been applied to organic solar cells with limited success. Here, we analyze the light trapping mechanism for a cell with a V-shape substrate configuration and demonstrate significantly improved photon absorption in an 5.3%-efficient PCDTBT:PC(70)BM bulk heterojunction polymer solar cell. The measured short circuit current density improves by 29%, in agreement with model predictions, and the power conversion efficiency increases to 7.2%, a 35% improvement over the performance in the absence of a light trap.

To determine more accurate emergence patterns of the cypress bark moth Epinotia granitalis Butler, pupal exuviae left on the tree trunks of the Japanese Cedar Cryptomeria japonica D. Don were directly counted daily in the field. The emergence patterns were compared with the daily number of E. granitalis adults caught at a light trap in order to examine whether the light trap data reflects the emergence patterns of the moth in the field. The actual emergence in the field and light trap catches started almost simultaneously, although a few adults were trapped after the end of the actual emergence and the 50% light trap catches appeared several days later than the 50% emergence date. Therefore, the light trapping method can be used to determine the beginning of E. granitalis emergence. When the trapping data are approximated to a theoretical distribution pattern, then the 50% emergence date can be forecasted with date from two or three trappings at the beginning of emergence. This allows for the determination of an appropriate date for control of the adult moths in the field.