Insect Traps Research Articles

An Alpine Malaise trap

The Southernmost region of Australia, the island of Tasmania, is also the most mountainous, with large areas of rugged alpine environments. This entomological frontier offers a distinct suite of insects for study including many endemic taxa. However, harsh weather, remote locations and rough terrain represent an environment too extreme for many existing insect trap designs. We report here on the design and efficacy of a new Alpine Malaise Trap (AMT), which can be readily hybridised with several other common insect trapping techniques. Advantages of the design include its light weight and portability, low cost, robustness, rapid deployment and long autonomous sampling period. The AMT was field tested in the Tasmanian highlands (AUST) in 2017. A total of 16 orders were collected. As expected, samples are dominated by Diptera. However, the trap also collected a range of flightless taxa including endemic and apterous species, Apteropanorpatasmanica – closest relative of the boreal, snow scorpionflies (Boreidae). Combined and compared with other trap types the Alpine Malaise Traps captured less specimens but of a greater diversity than passive sticky traps, while drop traps captured less specimens but a greater diversity than AMT. The statistical potential of the catch is discussed.

Influence of human activity on diversity and abundance of insect in the wetland environment

Mensah BA, Kyerematen R, Annang T. 2018. Influence of human activity on diversity and abundance of insects in three wetland environments in Ghana. Bonorowo Wetlands 2: 33-41. The Wetland environment is unique with unique biota that includes insects. Insects serve as indicators of environmental health, nevertheless, the recent spate of human encroachment on wetlands is likely to affect its unique biotic composition, and this phenomenon poses a threat to the wetland environment. The physical and chemical quality of studied habitats in this research provided background information for comparison against the established quality standard of the wetland environment. The study involved reconnaissance surveys, insect trapping and social surveys on the impact of anthropogenic activities on insect diversity and abundance in and around the wetland environment. Twenty-two insect orders belonging to 112 families were sampled from different sites along the Sakumono, Kpeshie, and Muni-Pomadze wetlands. Species diversity and abundance were significantly different among the various locations with the most diverse being Kpeshie. Water within wetlands in Kpeshie was the most polluted although it had a positive correlation with insect diversity and abundance. Results of a survey of selected communities showed that majority of the residents had a low level of education with less appreciation of issues involving the environment including pollution. Majority of people within the surveyed communities were unable to access decent toilet facilities and publicly demarcated waste disposal sites. There was no coordinated and concerted effort to manage these three wetlands two of which are designated Ramsar sites. Activities such as farming, discharge of domestic garbage, improper fishing practices, improper disposal of industrial and human waste are increasing the pollution risk of these wetland environments.

Soft Rot Enterobacteriaceae Are Carried by a Large Range of Insect Species in Potato Fields.

Pathogenic soft rot Enterobacteriaceae (SRE) belonging to the genera Pectobacterium and Dickeya cause diseases in potato and numerous other crops. Seed potatoes are the most important source of infection, but how pathogen-free tubers initially become infected remains an enigma. Since the 1920s, insects have been hypothesized to contribute to SRE transmission. To validate this hypothesis and to map the insect species potentially involved in SRE dispersal, we have analyzed the occurrence of SRE in insects recovered from potato fields over a period of 2 years. Twenty-eight yellow sticky traps were set up in 10 potato fields throughout Norway to attract and trap insects. Total DNA recovered from over 2,000 randomly chosen trapped insects was tested for SRE, using a specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) TaqMan assay, and insects that tested positive were identified by DNA barcoding. Although the occurrence of SRE-carrying insects varied, they were found in all the tested fields. While Delia species were dominant among the insects that carried the largest amount of SRE, more than 80 other SRE-carrying insect species were identified, and they had different levels of abundance. Additionally, the occurrence of SRE in three laboratory-reared insect species was analyzed, and this suggested that SRE are natural members of some insect microbiomes, with herbivorous Delia floralis carrying more SRE than the cabbage moth (Plutella xylostella) and carnivorous green lacewing larvae (Chrysoperla carnea). In summary, the high proportion, variety, and ubiquity of insects that carried SRE show the need to address this source of the pathogens to reduce the initial infection of seed material.IMPORTANCE Soft rot Enterobacteriaceae are among the most important pathogens of a wide range of vegetables and fruits. The bacteria cause severe rots in the field and in storage, leading to considerable harvest losses. In potato, efforts to understand how soft rot bacteria infect and spread between healthy plants have been made for over a century. Early on, fly larvae were implicated in the transmission of these bacteria. This work aimed at investigating the occurrence of soft rot bacteria in insects present in potato fields and at identifying the species of these insects to better understand the potential of this suspected source of transmission. In all tested potato fields, a large proportion of insects were found to carry soft rot bacteria. This suggests a need to give more weight to the role of insects in soft rot ecology and epidemiology to design more effective pest management strategies that integrate this factor.

Changes in weather pattern affect insect composition in Madai, Sabah.

Biodiversity can be studied at a species level such as insect group. Insects play important roles in the ecosystem which is affected by the climate factors such as rainfall pattern, humidity and temperature. Changes on this climate pattern might give direct and indirect impacts on the insect activities as the global trend of climate showed a warmer effect which has caused the glacier to melt faster withless ice coverage, the rise at the sea level and the global temperature continues to rise in the future. Glacier has lost ice coverage tremendously. The sea level also reported rise up and the temperature predicted continuously increased. This study was carried out at Cocoa Research and Development Centre (CRDC) Madai, Sabah, Malaysia. The objective of this study was to examine the impacts of weather pattern changes on the insect composition in the last 11 years. This study was carried out at three different areas using four different insect trapping methods such as pitfall trap, winkler trap, line transet trap and light trap. Result from this study showed that the insect composition has changed drastically in the last 11 years. Reduction in number of insect catched using 4 different methods has suggested that the changes in weather pattern over period of time have some effects on insect composition.

Large reductions in pesticides made possible by use of an insect-trapping lamp: a case study in a winter wheat-summer maize rotation system.

Increasing attention is being paid to physical methods to control pests such as insect trapping. In order to examine how pesticides can reasonably be combined with the use of an insect-trapping lamp and by how much this can reduce the amount of pesticide used, five treatments were applied to a winter wheat-summer maize rotation system in eastern China: a treatment in which only pesticides were used; a treatment with only insect-trapping lamps; insect-trapping lamps plus one application of pesticides; insect-trapping lamps plus two applications of pesticides; insect-trapping lamps plus three applications of pesticides. The results showed that, when pesticides were reduced by 25-35%, the insect-trapping lamps controlled the insect population well and yields were not decreased but were actually increased, with pesticides being applied only at 2 days before winter wheat planting, at winter wheat flowering and at the big flare stage of summer maize. Reducing pesticides by 35-65% had no adverse effect on crop yields, and thus had the potential to reduce the costs of pest control and produce the greatest economic benefit. When no pesticides were used in the insect-trapping lamp control area, the annual yield was still >15 t hm-2 . If pesticides are used in a timely fashion and at the appropriate stage, their use may be greatly reduced with the help of an insect-trapping lamp. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

An explorative study of the practice of light trapping and the informal market for crickets in Cambodia

Edible insects are an integrated part of the food sector in many South-East Asian countries. While the majority of studies focus on Thailand and its cricket farming sector, neighbouring countries like Cambodia and Laos also form a regional market for edible insects. The aim of this research was to describe the informal food sector for wild caught crickets in Cambodia. The information was collected in April-May 2012. Information on collection equipment and techniques, processing and trade were obtained from light trap owners, traders, market vendors and governmental representatives. Five cricket species were identified to be the main trade object. Cricket trapping contributed to livelihoods of rural households operating in a self-governing market. As the crickets are caught from the wild, the sustainability of the market has to be questioned. The use of a framework to structure future studies on edible insects in South-East Asia is discussed. Insect trapping and trading is not institutionally anchored as either agriculture or fisheries – or another sector – and provides an interesting case of a food market operating in between the institutionalised sectors.

Performance evaluation of locally developed black light trap for maize insects monitoring in Chitwan, Nepal

Till today, the light traps in Nepal are found using with traditional type, which have not being recognized internationally. These light traps were of low efficiency for trapping insects as compared to black light trap (BLT). The black light tube (F10T8/BL) was used in newly constructed trap at National Maize Research Program (NMRP), Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. Both traps were installed at the maize experimental field at NMRP during February to October, 2017. Data on insect numbers were recorded once in a week from dusk to down in two different days to minimize the light effects of each others. The total number of insects trapped in BLT was 2804 as compared to 868 in traditional light trap (TLT). Among the insect orders, Coleopterans were mostly trapped in BLT followed by Lepidopteron and Hemipterans. The results showed that the trapping efficiency of BLT was three fold higher than that of TLT. Therefore, black light trap was highly effective monitoring tool and its field applications are expected to be commercialized.

Android-based Agricultural Insect Trap Monitoring System Using Solar Panel and Arduino Technology

The project was conducted to monitor the voltage level of the battery and weight of the insect trapped through Desktop Application and Android- based monitoring system. The study used Voltage Sensor and load cell in monitoring the voltage of the battery placed beside the prototype as-well-as the volume of trapped insect. The NRF24L01 was used in sending data and receiving from the voltage sensors to the projects’ server in order to save it to the database. Real-time data gathering of voltage using nRF24l01 has been conducted. The data stored in the server was then used for Graphical Representation using the Android phone for ease of understanding. Wi-Fi was used in order to connect the server and the android phone. Random selections of respondents have been conducted. Twenty (20) respondents having ten (10) representatives from Information Technology Students, five (5) representatives of farmer experts, and (5) five randomly selected representatives from Faculty and Staff of SPAMAST-Digos Campus as a respondent. Overall result of the ratings of evaluation on android-based agricultural insect trap monitoring system using solar panel and Arduino technology was conducted in a farm at Purok 6, Matti, Digos City, owned by Mr. Dominador Gomez Jr., with an area 0.25 hectare. On favourability of the project as it performed well and was proven good has a combined mean of 4.3. This means that majority of the evaluator agreed on the functionality, and reliability of the project. Thus, its usability and the user satisfaction are greatly acknowledged.

An Inexpensive and Comprehensive Method to Examine and Quantify Field Insect Community Influenced by Host Plant Olfactory Cues.

Insect pollinators, herbivores and their natural enemies use olfactory cues emitted by their host plants to locate them. In insect-plant ecology, understanding the mechanisms underlying these interactions are of critical importance, as this bio-communication has both ecological and agricultural applications. However, the first step in such research is to identify and quantify the insect community associated with the plant/s species of interest. Traditionally, this has been accomplished by a variety of insect trapping methods, either using pitfall traps, or sticky traps, or sweep nets in field. The data collected from these traps tend to be incomplete, and also damage the specimens, making them unusable for any taxonomic purposes. This protocol derives ideas from these traditional traps and use a combination of three easily made inexpensive modified traps that conceals the host plant, but allows the plant volatiles to pass through as olfactory cues. These traps are economical, can be made to fit with most plant sizes, and are also reusable. Collectively, these traps will provide a solid estimate (quantifiable) of all associated community of arthropods that can also be stored for future studies.

Field Trapping of Predaceous Insects With Synthetic Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatiles in Cotton Fields

Nine herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) and one methyl jasmonate were field-tested for their attractiveness to the main predators in cotton fields of North China in 2 yr. The main predators including ladybird beetles (Propylaea japonica (Thunberg), Harmonia axyridis (Pallas)), green lacewings (Chrysoplera sinica (Tjeder), Chrysopa spp.), predatory bugs (Geocoris pallidipennis (Costa), Orius spp., Nabis spp.) and spiders (Misumenops tricuspidatus (Fabricius), Erigonidium graminicolum (Sundevall)) were investigated. Two-way ANOVA indicated that the volatile compound, year, and the volatile compound × year interaction affected the behavioral responses of predators. It was found that indole significantly attracted the ladybird beetle P. japonica, H. axyridis. Linalool could attract P. japonica. Green lacewing C. sinica was significantly attracted by α-pinene and β-pinene, whereas indole significantly attracted Chrysopa spp. Methyl jasmonate and α-pinene showed significant attraction to small-flower bug Orius spp. In addition, the attraction of α-humulene to C. sinica, attractiveness of β-pinene to Orius spp. and Chrysopa spp., were observed only in one of the two years. However, the big-eyed bug G. pallidipennis, damsel bug Nabis spp., spiders M. tricuspiata and E. graminicolum did not respond to any of the tested HIPVs. These results are discussed with respect to possible applications of a synthetic attractant for main predators in cotton fields.

Many triggerplants (Stylidium spp.; Stylidiaceae) form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations

Triggerplants (Stylidium spp.; Stylidiaceae) grow in Australia and a few areas to its north, though >95% of the >300 species in the genus Stylidium are endemic to Australia. Their name comes from the extremely rapid, active, and resettable pollination mechanism which they use. In addition, they have been recently recognized as possessing at least some of the traits of carnivorous plants, specifically the ability to trap and digest prey insects, as well as the more recently-demonstrated ability to transport and, therefore, benefit, from nutrients obtained in that way. Generally, they trap prey which are much smaller than their pollinators. Triggerplants typically are found in extremely nutrient poor conditions where genera such as Drosera and Utricularia are usually found in the same places.

Some cautions in the use of citizen science: a case study of urban insect collection

ABSTRACTThe engagement of volunteers to collect scientific information (citizen science) is a powerful tool for gathering biodiversity information and for achieving environmental education objectives. Here we describe an intervention designed to enhance participant understanding of insects in ecosystems. We did this by involving them as citizen scientists to collect insects on traps and by providing them with enriching information about insects. We also evaluated the use of citizen scientists for the collection of insect biodiversity data. Despite targeted recruitment around a focal site (a constructed urban wetland), participants were spread throughout the Adelaide metropolitan area, a result of the most successful recruitment method being through electronic communication via social media. Use of paper flyers was ineffective. Surveys before and after the intervention demonstrated some enhancement of knowledge and understanding of insect roles in ecosystems, with participants nominating the insect trapping and subsequent information sheet being their primary sources of new information. However, participants largely appeared to have an existing interest in ecosystems and the environment, reducing our ability to improve understanding and attitudes in the community. Volunteer deployment of sticky traps proved successful in gaining new insect community data and shows promise for future use.

Electrophysiological and Behavioral Evidence for (E)-2-Hexenal as a Female-Attracting Pheromone Produced by DisturbedMegacopta cribraria(Hemiptera: Plataspidae)

Abstract Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae), commonly known as the kudzu bug, is an invasive insect that was first recorded in the United States in Georgia in 2009. Since its introduction it has spread across the Southeast, infesting soybean crops and significantly reducing crop yield. Chemical pesticides pose environmental concerns and are not compatible with biological control. This investigation was conducted to identify M. cribraria pheromones that could be utilized in an insect trap for environmentally friendly monitoring and integrated pest management. Open Y-track olfactometer assays revealed that M. cribraria females are attracted to volatiles produced by disturbed M. cribraria. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of volatile organic compounds produced by disturbed and undisturbed M. cribraria revealed the presence of tridecane and (E)-2-decenal in secretions from both disturbed and undisturbed M. cribraria, whereas (E)-2-hexenal was detected only in secretions from distu...

Oenothera speciosa Nutt. (Onagraceae): A New Record for the Flora of Iraq with Reference to its Faunal Associations and Insect Trapping Attributes

Oenothera speciosa Nutt. is recorded a new for the flora of Iraq. The species was found in different places (such as private and common gardens and wasted areas) in Tikrit (Mid Iraq), Chewarta and Sulaimani (North Iraq). Geographical distributions, details of habitat, morpho-anatomical description and faunal associations of the species are given. O. speciosa was found to act as insect trapping plant where moths and butterflies are the most commonly trapped insects.

Epidemiology of a Bluetongue outbreak in a sheep flock in Brazil.

In January 2013, an outbreak of Bluetongue (BT) a ecting a Lacaune sheep ock occurred in Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. From March to August 2013, blood samples collection and clinical examination were performed monthly, in order to monitor the epidemiological pro le of Bluetongue virus (BTV) circulation and clinical disease in the ock. Agar gel immunodi usion (AGID) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting BTV segment 10 were used as diagnostic assays. Additionally, insect trapping was conducted in the farm from May to July 2013. The ock serological prevalence to BTV was 80% since the rst month of monitoring, with a variation in the serological rate depending on the sheep age categories. The number of susceptible lambs increased with time, probably due to the decrease of passive immunity. Viral RNA was detected in blood samples, demonstrating viral circulation, prolonged viraemia, and potential source for virus transmission in the region, even in a dry and cool season. The presence of Culicoides pusillus and Culicoides insignis was con rmed in the farm. The emergence of this outbreak in a Brazilian endemic area for BTV emphasises an urgent need of animal surveillance and BTV epidemiological studies.

Knowledge and attitude towards body and organ donation among doctors in Lanja – A rural town in India

The present paper reports on palynology and pollination ecology of eight taxa of Amorphophallus from North Western Ghats (NWGS) and Konkan region of India. Out of ten known pollen exine ornamentations of the genus, six are represented – psilate, striate, fossulate, verrucate, scabrate and the new type ‘pseudofossulate’ of Amorphophallus commutatus var. wayanadensis. These diverse pollen exine ornamentations can be utilized as an important taxonomic tool to distinguish taxa and also to resolve taxonomic problems (A. commutatus complex). The pollen of all eight taxa had retained their sculptured surface (exine ornamenatation type) after acetolysis. This clearly demonstrates that these taxa do not show susceptibility to the conventional acetolysis technique as reported earlier. The present study also highlights the importance of pollen surface morphology concerning phytogeography of the genus.Observation of pollination ecology of the studied Amorphophallus taxa reveals that all are mostly visited by beetles (Bostrichidae, Cetoniidae, Hybosoridae, Lyctidae, Nitidulidae, Rutelinae, Scarabaeidae, Staphylinidae), followed by flies (Drosophilidae, Muscidae), bees (Apidae: Trigone), ants (Formicidae, Dolichoderinae) and cockroaches (Blaberidae/Panesthiinae). The beetle families Bostrichidae, Lyctidae and Rutelinae, ant families Formicidae and Dolichoderinae and the cockroach family Blaberidae/Panesthiinae are for the first time reported as visitors in the genus Amorphophallus. Most of the taxa display features characteristic of cantharophily (beetle pollination) except A. commutatus var. commutatus and A. commutatus var. wayanadensis, where Trigona bees are the actual pollinators. The beetles (Cetoniidae, Nitidulidae, Scarabaeidae) and bees (Apidae: Trigona) are the real pollinators for the Amorphophallus species of NWGS and Konkan while rest of the insects are mere visitors for alimentary/food resources (staminode flowers, stigmatic fluid, pollen, appendix surface, appendix exudates) and using the inflorescences as mating and egg laying sites. Species belonging to the section Rhaphiophallus (Amorphophallus konkanensis and Amorphophallus sylvaticus) are pollinated by Epuraea – Haptoncurina sp. (Nitidulidae) beetles only. Generally, the species of Amorphophallus in NWGS and Konkan region with short flowering peduncle are always pollinated by dung beetles or scarabs while species bearing a long flowering peduncle are usually pollinated by Epuraea – Haptoncurina sp. (Nitidulidae) beetles and Trigona bees. Based on the comparative observations, five different phases of insect trapping in Amorphophallus taxa are characterized, focusing on the intricacies of pollination strategies of various pollinators.

ANALISIS PENERAPAN TEKNOLOGI PENANGGULANGAN HAMA PENYAKIT PADA USAHATANI CABAI MERAH DATARAN TINGGI DI PROVINSI BENGKULU

Red chili is one of national strategic commodity, can affect the rate of inflation and is needed by all levels of society. Pest attack often makes low production and the high demand makes price of chili is very high. The aim of this study was to determine the application of pest management technology in farming chili crop in the highlands Province of Bengkulu. The research was conducted in Rejang Lebong and Lebong purposively determined by number of respondents as many as 62 people were taken by random sampling. The results showed an average score of application of crop pest management technology red chili is 2,38 meaning that the overall implementation of technology is not good. 37,5% reduction technology implementation pepper plant pests and diseases in the category is not good that the use of biological pesticides, use of trap insect, and growing border. 37,5% are categorized either using labeled seeds, sanitary land and land preparation is perfect. 25% excellent category that is sprayed with chemicals and use black plastic mulch silver. Keywords: Application of Technology, Disease, Chili Farm and Highland

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Wildlife Detection and Observation Technologies at a Solar Power Tower Facility.

Solar power towers produce electrical energy from sunlight at an industrial scale. Little is known about the effects of this technology on flying animals and few methods exist for automatically detecting or observing wildlife at solar towers and other tall anthropogenic structures. Smoking objects are sometimes observed co-occurring with reflected, concentrated light (“solar flux”) in the airspace around solar towers, but the identity and origins of such objects can be difficult to determine. In this observational pilot study at the world’s largest solar tower facility, we assessed the efficacy of using radar, surveillance video, and insect trapping to detect and observe animals flying near the towers. During site visits in May and September 2014, we monitored the airspace surrounding towers and observed insects, birds, and bats under a variety of environmental and operational conditions. We detected and broadly differentiated animals or objects moving through the airspace generally using radar and near solar towers using several video imaging methods. Video revealed what appeared to be mostly small insects burning in the solar flux. Also, we occasionally detected birds flying in the solar flux but could not accurately identify birds to species or the types of insects and small objects composing the vast majority of smoking targets. Insect trapping on the ground was somewhat effective at sampling smaller insects around the tower, and presence and abundance of insects in the traps generally trended with radar and video observations. Traps did not tend to sample the larger insects we sometimes observed flying in the solar flux or found dead on the ground beneath the towers. Some of the methods we tested (e.g., video surveillance) could be further assessed and potentially used to automatically detect and observe flying animals in the vicinity of solar towers to advance understanding about their effects on wildlife.

A new section in <I>Nepenthes</I> (<I>Nepenthaceae</I>) and a new species from Sulawesi

Nepenthes section Tentaculatae of Borneo and Sulawesi is described and delimited, with a key to the nine species, including N. maryae of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, which is here assessed as Vulnerable under criterion D2 using the 2001 IUCN standard. It is hypothesised that this species might trap insects using a ‘flick of the lid’ mechanism.

Flowers, phenology and pollination of the endemic New Zealand greenhood orchid Pterostylis brumalis

ABSTRACTGreenhood orchids are most diverse in New Zealand and Australia, with at least some species pollinated by sexual deception of male fungus gnats. Preliminary investigation of endemic New Zealand Pterostylis brumalis via field phenology, hand-pollination and insect trapping revealed P. brumalis is self-compatible but relies on insects for cross pollination. Natural fruit-set was low, averaging 2.6% across two populations. High fruit-set in hand-pollinated flowers (66.7%) indicates severe pollinator limitation. In comparison, only one collected insect, a female Mycetophila vulgaris, bore orchid pollinia. Potential pollinator attractants (colour and scent) were analysed. UV reflectance may enhance pollinator detection of the flower against the background, but visual modelling generated conflicting results: a categorical fly vision model indicated excellent camouflage against herbivory, but a generic tetrachromat vision model suggested flowers are easily distinguishable against the background. Both models have flaws that create issues with drawing conclusions, and identification of the pollinator is required to understand their visual system further. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed putative scent-releasing osmophores (lateral sepals) and uniform papillate trichomes (labellum) that may mechanically direct pollinators into the floral trap. The trap is a pressure sensitive labellum that temporarily traps the visitor inside the flower.