Alan K. Dowdy

Monitoring Stored-Product Pests in Food Processing Plants with Pheromone Trapping, Contour Mapping, and Mark-Recapture

Distribution and movement patterns of several species of stored-product pests in a food processing plant were investigated. The objectives of this study were to determine the temporal and spatial variation in abundance of stored-product pests using pheromone traps; assess the effectiveness of trap type, location, and number on monitoring insect populations; and to evaluate the nature of pheromone trap capture hot spots by measuring patterns of insect movement. We determined that the distributions of Trogoderma variabile Ballion, Lasioderina serricorne (F.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), and Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) within the facility were typically clumped and that foci of high trap captures, based on visual observation of contour maps, varied among species and over time. Trap type and location influenced the number of T. variabile captured: traps on the floor and along walls captured more individuals than hanging traps and traps next to support pillars. T. variabile was the predominant insect pest at this facility and from mark-recapture studies, we found that individual beetles moved across multiple floors in the facility and from 7 to 216 m though the warehouse.

A pheromone-baited trap for monitoring the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

A pheromone-baited trap was developed to monitor the Indian meal moth in grocery stores and similar areas where visible traps are not desirable. The trap can be used under shelves and against walls. As a shelf mount, the trap is in close proximity to the food packages and may capture emerging insects before they mate. The trap can also be used as a hanging trap similar to the Pherocon II. When used as a shelf or wall mount, it was as effective as the Pherocon II, but when used as a hanging trap significantly fewer insects were captured.

Multiple stored-product insect pheromone use in pitfall traps

Monitoring programs for stored-product insects in warehouses and processing plants are directed at the detection of several species. Pheromone lures for certain species are commercially available, but little is known about the interaction between pheromones from different species used in the same trap. This research examines the effect of the paired interaction of synthetic pheromones used in the same trap on the effectiveness of trapping Rhyzopertha dominica, Tribolium castaneum and Trogoderma variabile. The Rhyzopertha dominica pheromone can be used in the same trap with pheromones for Tribolium castaneum and Trogoderma variabile. The pheromone of Trogoderma variabile does not appear to impact adversely on the trap catch of Tribolium castaneum, but the opposite is not true. There appears to be a repellent effect caused by Tribolium castaneum pheromone on the trap catch of Trogoderma variabile, but not sufficient to preclude its use in the same trap. Using a single trap to monitor two insect species will result in reduced cost, associated with the purchase of less traps and reduced labor in maintaining pest surveillance programs.