A Binomial and Species-Independent Approach to Trap Capture Analysis of Flying Insects

Abstract

Traps for monitoring of flying insect pests constitute a critical part of integrated pest management strategies. However, interpretation of trap captures is hampered by 1) factors associated with the performance of traps (i.e., lure, trap design, placement); 2) an often poorly defined relationship between trap captures and population density; and 3) interpretation approaches being highly specific to a certain insect species, trapping method, or trapping environment. The main purpose of this study was to identify a trap capture interpretation approach with little sensitivity to characteristics specific to a given data set, which would allow easier comparison of trapping data sets and make it easier to standardize sampling plans across insect pests and trapping environments. Based on fits of trapping data sets to standard distributions (normal, Poisson, and negative binomial), evaluations of the index of aggregation, k, and linear regression coefficients from Taylor's power law, we concluded that these characteristics varied considerably among data sets, which means that enumerative sampling plans may not be appropriate. Across 13 trapping data sets of six insect species, we showed a consistent nonlinear relationship between average trap captures and number of traps with zero captures and that the k can be stabilized by converting trapping data into binomial data. A trap interpretation approach based on number of zero captures is both easy to use, was found to be species-independent, and means that it may be possible to establish meaningful and reliable action thresholds based on trap captures of flying insects. Although developed using trapping data from food facilities, this approach may have application to trapping data from other environments as well.

Distribution, abundance, and seasonal patterns of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) in a commercial food storage facility

“…Pheromone trapping using the commercially available (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate (ZETA) lure to attract male P. interpunctella can be employed to monitor population trends, identify sources of infestation, examine distribution patterns, and document the spread of an infestation within a facility (Zhu et al, 1999;Campbell et al, 2002;Nansen et al, 2008;Trematerra et al, 2011). However, it is sometimes difficult to interpret moth capture data because of various factors that affect trap performance (Arbogast et al, 2005;Nansen et al, 2008).…”

“…However, it is sometimes difficult to interpret moth capture data because of various factors that affect trap performance (Arbogast et al, 2005;Nansen et al, 2008). Interpretation of trapping data is especially difficult in food warehouses because of the constant movement of commercial food products into and out of the building and among different locations within facility.…”

Biorational Approaches to Managing Stored-Product Insects

“…Traps in foodprocessing and warehouse facilities need to be distributed fairly evenly over the entire area of interest at a density that is cost-effective for the manager, and they must be checked for insects on a regular basis over time, perhaps every one or two weeks throughout the season of interest or the entire year. Application of trapping data with spatial analysis or geographic information software can be used to visualize locations in a building with high or low probability of encountering a pest insect or infestation (70,71), but sometimes simple manual observation of collected trap capture data over time will be highly useful information to a pest manager. Traps provide relative population samples.…”

“…Relative sampling of insect populations in food-processing facilities using pheromone traps or other insect sampling methods (e.g., light traps and product recall data) is the norm. Interpretation of trap captures at processing facilities to estimate population levels has been difficult, but recent attempts (71) to use the number of traps with no insects to estimate population levels look promising and practical at commercial food-processing facilities.…”

A low-cost trap for Cerambycidae monitoring in forest plantations in Brazil

“…Because insecticide applications are more effective when control decisions are based on population levels, one method to reduce insecticide use is the efficient monitoring of pests, in order to determine the correct timing of pesticide applications (Nansen et al, 2008). Research works on insect pest monitoring use traps in the borders of the target crops to assess if the pests are approaching the crop of interest (Esker et al, 2004).…”