Evaluation of Two Prototype Traps and Existing Trap Designs for Captures of Japanese Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Two prototype trap designs and four other trap designs currently on the market were evaluated for capture of Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica Newman. The standard Japanese beetle trap manufactured by Trece (Palo Alto, CA) and a prototype trap captured consistently more beetles than other trap designs tested. Traps that used a bag for collection of beetles were not as effective because beetles were able to escape through the holes made for drainage. The new trap design allows traps to be transported more easily and stored in a smaller area because of the collapsible design. This is a significant improvement for states that use thousands of traps for monitoring Japanese beetles.