Wind Tunnel and Field Evaluation of Trapping Efficiency of Semiochemical Baited Camera-Traps for Capturing Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Sex pheromone baited monitoring traps are a critical tool for integrated pest management decisions against many insects, particularly codling moths (Cydia pomonella L.). The addition of cameras for remote monitoring has the potential to enhance the usefulness of these important tools. However, changes in trap design could potentially alter plume structure and trapping efficiency of these new traps. Here we look at several trap configurations designed to optimize the capture of codling moths in traps equipped with cameras. We found that, in both wind tunnel and field trials, camera equipped triangle traps and camera equipped rectangle traps (both V1 and V2) caught codling moths equivalent to a standard ‘delta’ style trap. While catch was unaffected, altering our rectangular trap opening from 4 to 8 cm (V1 and V2, respectively) decreased frequency of moths contacting the front of trap and increased the frequency of moths flying directly into the trap. We show that these novel camera equipped semiochemical-baited traps catch equivalent to the industry standard white delta trap.