Evaluation of bait traps for field detection and monitoring light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana) in California

The recent invasion of the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) into California severely threatens the viability of California's $ 3.8 billion ornamental nursery industry. Moth migration is regularly monitored by regulatory officials using traps containing synthetically derived pheromones to capture male moths. For regulatory, management, and experimental purposes, it is desirable to have a field trap that would capture both female and male migrating moths. This experiment’s objective was to evaluate various liquid baits in bucket traps for these purposes. In 2009, we monitored bait bucket traps in and outside of four ornamental nurseries surrounded by LBAM- infested areas in Santa Cruz County. Each liquid bait was placed in a 9.5 L bucket with eight 3.8 cm holes placed around its upper circumference, and a lid. Each bucket contained, the Hercon Vaportape II Insecticidal strip, sticky tape, or no killing agent. Each bucket contained 1.5 L of one of the liquid baits: (1) port wine solution, (2) brown sugar + terpenyl acetate solution, and (3) vinegar solution. Commercial pheromone traps and UV light traps were also used to monitor migrating moths. Trapped LBAM were quantified and sexed. Other taxonomic groups of moths were identified. The results show that all tested baits can trap LBAM female and male moths and are somewhat effective in screening out many of the other moths that are attracted to a UV light trap.