Development of Trapping Tools for Detection and Monitoring of Diabrotica v. virgifera in Europe

There is an urgent need in Europe to prepare resources for the arrival of the emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis (Buprestidae, Coleoptera) from European Russia, and possibly other invasive jewel beetles. A lightweight, easy to handle, non‐sticky trap could facilitate monitoring and detection to derive information about emerald ash borer and other jewel beetle populations. In two experiments carried out over two consecutive years in an oak forest, a new non‐sticky multi‐funnel trap design with a light‐green (sometimes described as fluorescent yellow) visual cue was developed. Altogether, there were 238 (2018) and 194 (2019) specimens captured often (2018) and eight (2019) Agrilus species, eight of which are oak‐related and one (A. convexicollis) was linked to ash. The new light‐green multi‐funnel trap performed similarly to the sticky design with a similar coloured surface. Our results suggest that the new trap design may be suitable for catching a wide range of buprestid species. It may also have the potential to be further optimized with respect to visual and olfactory cues, which would provide an even more useful tool for monitoring both invasive and indigenous buprestids.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing a non‐sticky trap design for monitoring jewel beetles

Imrei

Lohonyai

Muskovits³

et al. 2020

“…PAL sex pheromone sticky traps provided by the Plant Protection Institute of Budapest, Hungary (Tóth et al. 2003) were used during the entire monitoring process.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Results of WCR monitoring plans and evaluation of an eradication programme using GIS and Indicator Kriging

Luigi

Furlan

Palmieri

et al. 2011

This paper presents 3 years of GIS‐based monitoring of western corn rootworm (WCR –Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte), a pest which invaded Northern Italy in 1998. The Veneto Region established a regional monitoring network to detect this important quarantine pest and to employ an eradication programme. Data were collected by means of sex pheromone PAL traps and analysed by Indicator Kriging, a geostatistics tool that determines the probability of data values in a given area being greater than a defined threshold value. Geostatistical analysis proved to be effective in mapping the spread of WCR. The temporal sequence of the probability maps was useful in interpreting the expansion of the insect. The detailed description of the pattern of WCR presence in 2006–2008 proves the temporary and local efficacy of the eradication programme carried out up to the 2006 season in Venezia province. An interpretation of the spatial pattern of WCR between the 2006 and 2008 seasons suggests that the pest colonized the eradication area coming from other invasion fronts. The large‐scale pattern of WCR dispersion can be accurately described by the spatial approach, thus optimizing the monitoring and subsequent control of this important insect pest of Northern Italy. Other data analyses, based on stochastic interpolations and a demographical approach are in progress. An interesting perspective would be to build predictive simulation models based on climatic and agronomic data taking into account the spatial representation of WCR patterns.

“…Dispensers and doses of pheromonal and floral baits used in this study had been optimized previously and preparation of the baits was performed as described (Tóth et al. 2003).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In WCR, a female produced sex pheromone has been identified (Guss et al. 1982) and traps baited with the synthetic pheromone are widely used to detect the first occurrence of the new pest in new regions and to monitor its spread all over Europe (Tóth et al. 2003; Tóth 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

8‐Methyldecan‐2‐yl acetate inhibits response to the pheromone in the western corn rootworm Diabrotica v. virgifera

Tóth

Ujváry²,

Imrei

2010

Self Cite

Compounds that are structurally closely related to the western corn rootworm (WCR) (Diabrotica v. virgifera, Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) pheromone were prepared and screened for biological activity in the field, presented alone or in combination with the pheromone 8‐methyldecan‐2‐yl propanoate. None of the synthetic compounds showed attraction when presented alone. However, when presented in combination with the pheromone, catches in traps containing 8‐methyldecan‐2‐yl acetate as a second component were dramatically reduced, suggesting strong inhibitory activity for this compound. The addition of the inhibitory acetate to the known floral WCR lure (4‐methoxycinnamaldehyde plus indole) did not influence male (or female) catches suggesting that the inhibitor interferes in the perception process of the pheromone and not by exerting repellency per se. To our knowledge, this is the first report on an inhibitor of response to pheromone in WCR. 8‐Methyldecan‐2‐yl acetate has previously been described as a sex attractant of Diabrotica cristata, so its inhibitory activity towards males of WCR may reflect a role in maintaining reproductive isolation between the two taxa.