Evaluating the effectiveness of five sampling methods for detection of the tomato potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Triozidae)

Abstract

One of the challenges in detecting a pest incursion is the selection of an appropriate sampling technique that is relatively easy to use and inexpensive. Five sampling techniques (sticky traps, water traps, sweep netting, vacuum sampling and direct searching) were used to detect the tomato potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) in potato crops on the North Island of New Zealand. Sticky traps and water traps outperformed the other methods in detecting psyllids. There was weak evidence that water traps outperformed sticky traps, but this difference was minor. Sticky traps closer to the edge of a crop were more likely to catch more psyllids. The results suggest that surveillance for incursion by B. cockerelli into Australia using yellow sticky or water traps would be easier and more time-effective to implement than other methods and would provide a higher probability of detection if the psyllid was in fact present.

The tomato potato psyllid,Bactericera cockerelli(Šulc, 1909) (Hemiptera: Triozidae): a review of the threat of the psyllid to Australian solanaceous crop industries and surveillance for incursions in potato crops

“…As predicted by Yen et al . (), yellow sticky traps used in this study to monitor for B. cockerelli incursions were also attractive to a large number of native species, thus requiring careful identification. However, as only 0.3% of all Psylloidea caught belonged to the family Triozidae, the vast majority of specimens could rapidly be discounted as B. cockerelli based on the branching of the forewing basal vein, which is trifurcate in the Triozidae and bifurcate in all other Psylloidea families (Hollis ).…”

“…Conducting trapping studies in New Zealand, Yen et al . () found that yellow sticky traps outperformed all other methods tested for the detection of B. cockerelli in potato crops (sweep netting, vacuum sampling and direct searching) except water traps. Yellow sticky traps were also more effective at detecting low, early season populations of B. cockerelli than direct visual searches (Cameron et al .…”

“…Yen et al . () stated that in the event of a suspected incursion by B. cockerelli in Australia, a program of surveillance using yellow sticky or water traps would be easy and time‐effective to implement and maintain, and would provide a high probability of detection if the psyllid was in fact present.…”

Assessment of Potato Psyllid Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae) and Zebra Chip Disease in Four Commercial Potato Varieties in the Columbia Basin

“…Adults were sampled using an inverted leaf blower (Toro® Powervac™; Anderson, SC) for 5 min, as described by Yen et al (2013). In addition, following Goolsby et al (2007), leaf samples (n=10) were collected randomly to detect potato psyllid eggs and nymphs.…”

Detecting and Classifying Pests in Crops Using Proximal Images and Machine Learning: A Review

“…Early pest detection requires a more systematic approach, especially in large farms. Traps are arguably the most widely adopted tool for systematic pest monitoring [4,5]. If implemented properly, this kind of device can successfully sample insect populations over the entire area of interest.…”