Trapping methods for adults

Abstract

Traps may also be used as a method of population suppression in pest management. Attempts to do this with He/iothis spp. have been largely unsuccessful, and this use of traps is discussed only briefly here. An ideal trap should be cheap, durable, and robust. It should be serviced easily by personnel of little training, should be highly efficient, attract a large number of moths, and retain as many of them as possible. The trap catch should reflect the population of the area in total numbers, species composition, sex ratio, and mated status. Unfortunately, such an ideal trap does not exist. Here, we review the traps that are available, their advantages and disadvantages in the roles listed above, and some general problems associated with trapping. In many areas of Australia, the presence of Heliothis spp. is well known (Zalucki et al., 1986). There are some areas where lack of distribution records may reflect lack of cultivated hosts and of collecting effort rather than the absence of the species. Gregg, McDonald, and Bryceson (1989) used traps to establish the presence of Heliothis spp. in the arid south-west of Queensland, some 500 km further west than previous records. For such purposes, the most important features of a trap are ease of use in remote areas and the ability to trap moths from low density populations efficiently. Accurate reflection of population density, species composition, and age and sex structures are less important because only a few captures are needed to establish presence. Good preservation of the specimens is not needed so long as identification is possible.