Traslucent pheromone traps increase trapping efficiency of ambrosia beetle Megaplatypus mutatus

Abstract

Megaplatypus mutatus (=Platypus mutatus) is an ambrosia beetle native to South America. Unlike most ambrosia beetles, it attacks only living trees, penetrating the xylem of its host by boring long tunnels. These galleries cause severe stem-breakage and mortality in commercial poplar plantations.In previous studies we showed that volatile emissions from pioneer male M. mutatus are composed of (+)-6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one and 3-pentanol. Recently, we developed reservoir type controlled release dispensers and tested the efficacy of various trap designs in the field. Results showed that black cross-vane traps (CIPEIN-CV) captured significantly more insects than other traps designs baited with the same dispensers. In the present study we modified the colour, the construction material and the size of traps with the aim of increasing trapping efficacy and reducing the final trap cost. The results showed that significantly more female and male M. mutatus were captured in small and large traslucent traps (CIPEIN-CVt) than in black CIPEIN-CV trap. Furthermore, traslucent CIPEIN-CVt trap costs were significantly lower than costs for CIPEIN-CV traps. Significantly improved trapping efficacy with an important decrease in final costs will allow detection of considerably lower populations of M. mutatus in monitoring programs. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.