Physical factors influencing trap capture of the ham mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae)

Methyl bromide is the most effective fumigant used to manage infestation of the mold or ham mite,Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae), a serious pest of dry-cured ham and other high protein and/or moisture foods. However, methyl bromide is being banned as part of the Montreal Protocol, due to its ozone–depleting ability. Ham producers will therefore need to rely on other management methods. Currently, no Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program has been developed for this mite on ham. We addressed a critical aspect of IPM: monitoring. The KSU trap and a food-based lure, developed in our laboratory, and four commercial stored product pest traps of different designs: Dome, X-lure, BT, and Insect Ltd were used to determine the best trap placement and design that would maximize mite capture. In a simulated environment, more mites were caught in KSU traps placed along wall than those away from wall (P <0.01). Mites were captured in KSU traps deployed up to six meters from a mite source within 24 hours. The KSU trap captured more mites than any of the commercial traps (P<0.01). Experiments were also conducted in dark rooms with paired standard traps in which one trap was equipped with a light-emitting diode, LED, generating light within narrow wavelength ranges, and the other trap had no LED. Mites oriented more positively to traps with violet and ultraviolet LEDs, by up to 3-fold more compared to unlit traps (P<0.001). When blue LED was tested, there were similar numbers of mites in the lit and unlit traps, and tests of yellow, green and red LEDs consistently had more mites in the unlit traps (P<0.05). To maximize trap’s sensitivity to mites, facility managers may place KSU traps along walls or other “edges”. This may help in more accurately predicting the population dynamics of the mite, hence, help determine when management is required.