Intercept flight trap designs to capture Scolytinae and Platypodinae: Curculionidae
ambrosia beetle, trap efficiency, dispersion
Beetles of the subfamilies Scolytinae and Platypodinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) present a high diversity, and in many cases inflict a high damage to the host plants they attack. A number of their species are monitored with ethanol-baited flight intercept traps, and the design of the trap affects its efficiency. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of the number of vanes and openings in flight intercept traps traditionally used in Brazil, made from two-liter soda bottles, baited with 96% ethanol. The traps had one, three or four vanes, presence/absence of a central vane hole; and presence/absence of an upper opening at its top. The trap who captured the most Scolytinae and Platypodinae beetles, in addition to Bostrichidae, Cerambycidae and their Cleridae predators were those with three vanes without a central hole and with an upper opening. The most aggressive Scolytinae species, able to attack healthy host plants, were however more captured in one-vane traps without a central hole and no upper opening