Efficacy of unbaited and baited green multi-funnel traps for detection of Agrilus species and other wood-boring beetle taxa

Abstract

Semiochemical-baited traps are a key component of post-border surveillance for detection of non-native and potentially invasive bark and wood-boring beetles (Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionidae: Scolytinae) at risk of introduction in untreated woody materials used in global trade. Because the particular species that may arrive with imported goods is unknown, plant protection agencies need trapping protocols that effectively survey all three taxa. Baiting traps with host volatiles and aggregation/sex pheromones of longhorn beetles increases efficacy of detecting Cerambycidae and Scolytinae, but its effect on detection of Agrilus species and other jewel beetles is unknown. In this multi-country trapping study we found that the addition of ethanol and common aggregation/sex pheromones of longhorn beetles to green multi-funnel traps placed in the mid-upper forest canopy had negative effects on abundance of Agrilus species and other jewel beetles collected but no effect on their species richness, and significant positive effects on species richness and abundance of Cerambycidae and Scolytinae. Baiting green canopy traps with longhorn beetle pheromones increased the efficacy of traps for detecting total target taxa of bark and wood-boring beetles at risk of international movement in untreated woody materials. This information is beneficial for the design of multi-taxa surveys, potentially saving money and resources without decreasing trapping efficacy.

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