Monitoring Systems
A well-designed IPM program is dependent on an effective warning system. Trap monitoring is an ideal method for detecting and even measuring the extent of an infestation. Sticky traps are commonly used for detecting cockroaches, ants and other crawling insects; light traps for flying insects; and pheromones for stored product pests and other insects. Traps provide round-the-clock surveillance and help pinpoint areas of infestation. Pest activity should be recorded on a floor plan or diagram. An interpretation of these results will be helpful to the overall pest management program and assist in solving persistent pest problems.
Inspections
Traps should be inspected at least once a week and more often if an infestation is suspected. Pheromone traps and even sticky boards are excellent devices for discovering even low levels of insect activity. One or several insects (i.e., Indian meal moths, cigarette beetles) may indicate a relatively small population; most likely the source of infestation will not be found. However, traps with 10 or 20 cigarette beetles or IMM is a sign of a serious problem and immediate action is needed. Use whatever resources are available to find this infestation. This may include visual inspections, random sampling of suspected materials or sifting through product spillage.
Pheromones
Pheromones are chemical scents that insects produce to communicate with each other. There are two types commonly used, a sex and aggregation pheromone, to attract insects of the same species.
Sex pheromones are produced by adult females to attract male insects. Stored product pests such as Indian meal moths, cigarette beetles and warehouse beetles are attracted to this lure.
Aggregation pheromones are produced by adult insects to attract both males and females. Examples include flour beetles, rice weevils and German cockroaches.
Pheromone and Sticky Trap Placements
- IMM, Cigarette and Warehouse Beetle (in a 40-50 ft. radius)
- Flour Beetle (aggregation pheromone - range 2-3 ft.)
- Sawtoothed Grain Beetle (sticky traps - close proximity)
- Psocids (sticky traps - close proximity)
Site Selection
In heated buildings or in warm climates, a year-round monitoring program may be needed for early detection of stored product insects.
It is important to take care in selecting sites for trap placement. In doing so, consider insect feeding habits and place traps in areas of suspected sources of contamination such as long-term storage, next to beams and vertical supports and where dust and product residue may accumulate.
Trapping
A grid pattern at intervals of 50 to 60 feet is recommended for attracting Indian meal moths, warehouse beetles and cigarette beetles. Tighten the grid as needed in order to help pinpoint the source of activity.
When monitoring for saw-toothed grain beetles or flour beetles use flat sticky boards. Food lures are often used to provide greater attraction for both adults and larvae. Discreet or Dome and X-Lure floor traps may also be selected. For best results place traps within close range (3-4 feet) of suspected infestation.
Do not place traps next to open windows and doors where insects may be attracted from the outside. Insects such as warehouse beetles and carpet beetles are found outdoors. In warmer climates, Indian meal moths and cigarette beetles may also be a source of activity. When monitoring exterior locations, be sure to keep traps away from entrances to avoid drawing insects into the building.
Pest Identification
“The use of pheromones and trapping procedures are not difficult. However, the timing and placement of traps as well as interpretation of the results require a good understanding of insect biology and behavior.”
Wendell Burkholder, 1984
What pheromone traps will do:
- Pheromones will alert the user to low level populations before they become serious.
- An effective monitoring program can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of control procedures.
- Monitoring outside of a facility will give some measure of the movement of insects in and out of the facility.
Trap interpretation
- Pheromone traps for Indian meal moths (IMM), cigarette beetles and warehouse beetles should be placed in a grid pattern about 12 to 15 meters apart..
- Trap height has little impact on the effectiveness of the moth and beetle traps, so a height of about 2 meters is adequate to keep them out of the main traffic flow and still be easy to inspect.
- Beetle traps can vary greatly in their effective range. The confused and red flour beetle pheromones are only effective for a range of 1-2 meters, while warehouse, and cigarette beetle pheromones are effective over a much wider area.
- IMM Moths, warehouse beetles and cigarette beetles are good fliers and, as a result, the effective range of the pheromone can be extended from the floor to the ceiling. However, flour beetles do not fly, so traps are only effective when placed close to the ground. The red flour beetle is capable of flight, but rarely flies.
- As insects migrate through a facility, they tend to move toward the walls. Of course, they cannot move farther, so expect higher numbers in be trapped in these areas.
"One of the foremost experts on pheromone technology, pheromone trapping and insect-resistant packaging"
Mike Mullen, PhD
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