Evaluation of light attraction for the stored-product psocid, Liposcelis bostrychophila

Abstract

The psocid, Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae), is the most widespread psocid pest of stored products. Because L. bostrychophila has developed resistance to several chemical insecticides, it is important to investigate other integrated pest management (IPM) approaches, and a critical part of IPM programs is an effective monitoring program, Monitoring tools for psocids are limited, and few studies have been conducted on monitoring of psocids, with none on the attraction of lights for psocids. Therefore, we studied the response of L. bostrychophila adults to eight wavelengths of light-emitting diodes (LED) in paired-choice pitfall test. Among the LEDs evaluated, the strongest response by L. bostrychophila adults was to 351 nm UV. When LEDs were tested against brewer's yeast (the most preferred attractant for L. bostrychophila among more than 20 potential attractants found in previous studies), the 351 nm UV wavelength was the only light that attracted more psocids than brewer's yeast. These results suggest that the use of LEDs might be useful in psocid-monitoring programs for L. bostrychophila and other psocid species. Keywords Liposcelis bostrychophila Á Psocoptera: Liposcelididae Á Stored products Á Grains Á Monitoring Á Light preferences Á Behavior Key message • Psocids are stored-product pests of increasing concern worldwide, and monitoring tools are limited. For the first time, the use of Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) for attraction of the main psocid species, Liposcelis bostrychophila, was explored. • Eight LEDs in combination with brewer's yeast (attractant highly preferred by L. bostrychophila) and/ or blank controls were tested in choice tests. • The LED emitting 351 nm UV light elicited the strongest response by L. bostrychophila adults. This response was even stronger than for brewer's yeast.

Booklice Liposcelis bostrychophila are efficiently attracted by the combination of 2,3,5,6‐tetramethylpyrazine and ultraviolet light

“…A prior study by Diaz‐Montano et al . using the paired‐choice pitfall arena showed that L. bostrychophila adults were attracted by light, and, among the eight wavelengths tested, the 351 nm UV light wavelength was the only one that attracted more booklice than brewer's yeast 20 . Because brewer's yeast has been reported to be the best attractant for L. bostrychophila among more than 20 potential attractants tested previously, 19 it was concluded that 351 nm UV light is a strong attractant for them.…”

“…19 Furthermore, Diaz-Montano et al studied the response of L. bostrychophila adults to specific light wavelengths and found that booklice responded strongly to wavelengths in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum. 20 When light was compared with brewer's yeast, the only wavelength among eight tested that attracted more booklice than the yeast was 351 nm. The combination of light and brewer's yeast also showed certain synergistic attractive effects.…”

Short-Range Responses of the Kissing Bug Triatoma rubida (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) to Carbon Dioxide, Moisture, and Artificial Light

“…This represents the first time that such a short wavelength or any wavelength in the UV range has been tested with kissing bugs (the shortest wavelength tested in Pacheco-Tucuch et al [ 12 ] was 430 nm). In the psocid Liposcelis bostrychophila this wavelength (351 nm) elicited strong attractive responses [ 33 ]. Our results coincide with previous light sensitivity studies with the related species T. dimidiata that reported high attraction to blue (430 nm) with decreased attraction to increasing wavelengths [ 12 ].…”

“…The methodology was adapted from Diaz-Montano et al [ 33 ] where it was used to test attraction of psocids to light. The arena was two petri dishes on top of each other to form a covered arena (14.5 cm diameter, 3 cm height) with two holes on either side (2 cm in diameter) leveled with the floor of the arena.…”

Gene Disruption Technologies Have the Potential to Transform Stored Product Insect Pest Control

“…Attractants used for both monitoring traps and lure and kill can be chemical cues such as pheromones or kairomones or visual cues such as specific wavelengths of light [ 61 , 62 , 63 ]. Pheromones are often species and sex specific, which can be an advantage if targeting a specific pest, but pheromones are commercially available for only some of the common pest species, and not all species respond strongly.…”