Different trap designs and attractants affect the capture of multiple life stages of Trogoderma granarium Everts and Trogoderma variabile Ballion in the laboratory

Authors: SAKKA, MARIA - University Of Thessaly; GOURGOUTA, MARINA - University Of Thessaly; Morrison Iii, William; Domingue, Michael; GROSDIDIER, ROBERT - University Of Florida; WILKINS, RACHEL - Kansas Department Of Agriculture; ATHANASSIOU, CHRISTOS - University Of Thessaly

Submitted to: Journal of Stored Products Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/4/2023
Publication Date: 3/13/2023
Citation: Sakka, M.K., Gourgouta, M., Morrison III, W.R., Domingue, M.J., Grosdidier, R.F., Wilkins, R.V., Athanassiou, C.G. 2023. Different trap designs and attractants affect the capture of multiple life stages of Trogoderma granarium Everts and Trogoderma variabile Ballion in the laboratory. Journal of Stored Products Research. 102. Article 102108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2023.102108. LOG NO. 398948.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2023.102108

Interpretive Summary: Khapra beetle is ranked as one of the most destructive stored product pests, and is an important quarantine species in the USA and other regions of the world. Some countries in Asia also consider warehouse beetle a biosecurity risk, even though it is widespread and present in many countries. There are continuing efforts to improve trapping and monitoring of both of these species at ports of entries. In assessing 2-3 different types of traps with five different attractants, we found there were generally low captures of adults and larvae for both species, but that more larvae were captured than adults. Our data suggests lures that include a broad spectrum of volatiles, including food odors and pheromones, are more effective at trapping warehouse beetle and khapra beetle than with either type of odor individually. Wall traps appeared most suitable for capturing larvae, and the gel lure appeared most attractive. Overall, our research helps provide new information on trapping efficacy of commercial monitoring tools available for stored product insects, and a subset of these will be useful for improving the biosecurity of the USA and other regions of the world.

Technical Abstract: Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) is categorized as one of the most destructive species in stored products and it is considered as an important quarantine species in many parts of the world. Some countries in Asia also consider Trogoderma variabile Ballion a biosecurity risk. In the present study, five series of laboratory tests were performed to examine 2–3 different traps and five different attractants for the capture of T. granarium adults and larvae and T. variabile larvae. In the first test, a series of four-choice assays with two different traps were evaluated separately with five different attractants each and adult/larval captures of T. granarium were recorded after 7 days. In the second test, the two different traps were placed together containing different attractants each time. In tests 3–5, no-choice trapping trials were conducted with the same traps and attractants in arenas with young or old T. granarium or T. variabile larvae. There were low numbers of captured adults and larvae for both species, but larvae generally responded better than the adults. The current data indicated that there are specific combinations of traps and attractants that are more effective for the detection of T. granarium, which can be further evaluated in area-wide monitoring strategies at food facilities.