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Spatial analysis of mass trapping: how close is close enough?
Author(s) -
Suckling David M,
Stringer Lloyd D,
Kean John M,
Lo Peter L,
Bell Vaughn,
Walker James TS,
Twidle Andrew M,
JiménezPérez Alfredo,
ElSayed Ashraf M
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.3950
Subject(s) - trapping , biology , ecology
BACKGROUND The identification of new attractants can present opportunities for developing mass trapping, but standard screening methods are needed to expedite this. We have developed a simple approach based on quantifying trap interference in 4 × 4 trap arrays with different spacings. We discuss results from sex pheromones in Lepidoptera (light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana ), Diptera (apple leaf curling midge, Dasineura mali ) and Homoptera (citrophilous mealybug, Pseudococcus calceolariae ), compared with a kairomone for New Zealand flower thrips ( Thrips obscuratus ). RESULTS The ratio of catch in corner traps to catch in centre traps was 25:1 at 750 D. mali traps ha −1 , and was still ∼5:1 at 16 traps ha −1 , suggesting trap interference even at such low trap densities. Trap competition for sex pheromone lures at close spacing (<5 m) was evident in 16‐trap arrays of P. calceolariae , but less so for E. postvittana . No trap competition was observed at 4 m spacings with the kairomone for T. obscuratus . CONCLUSIONS The ratio of catch in traps in the corner and centre of a 16‐trap array at different spacings offers a rapid preliminary assessment method for determining the potential for mass trapping. Additional knowledge of vital rates and dispersal is needed for predicting population suppression. Our approach should have value in mass trapping development. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry