Developing techniques for monitoring forest tent caterpillar populations using synthetic pheromones

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Roland, J.
  • Schmidt, B. C.

• Abstract: To effectively monitor forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria Hubner (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), populations using sex pheromone baited traps, we field-tested pheromone dispenser (lure) type, lure age, and trap design using (Z,E)-5,7-dodecadienal:(Z,Z)-5,7-dodecadienal (100:1). Rubber septa lures, polyurethane lures, and two trap types [sticky-type pheromone traps (Wing Trap 1) and bucket-type pheromone traps (Universal Moth trap)] were evaluated. Traps baited with polyurethane lures produced higher trap catches and lower zero-catch frequencies than did rubber septa traps. There was no detectable difference in trap catch among polyurethane lures aged 0-28 days. Wing traps reached a functional saturation point in outbreak M. disstria populations and caught fewer moths than Universal traps in nonoutbreak populations. A nonsaturating trap such as the Universal trap in conjunction with the polyurethane lure should be effective for monitoring M. disstria populations.

• Date created

  2003

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Sex-pheromone
  • Malacosoma disstria
  • Moth
  • Lepidoptera
  • Lymantriidae
  • Traps
  • Rubber septa

• Type of Item

  Article (Published)

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R33F4S

• License

  © 2003 Cambridge University Press. This version of this article is open access and can be downloaded and shared. The original author(s) and source must be cited.