Video evaluation of an attract and kill device for Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica)

A novel attract and kill device for Japanese Beetle, Popillia japonica, (JB) was explored using field videography. The device consisted of a 10cm x 10cm nylon pouch treated with deltamethrin and baited with a commercial JB lure. The project objectives were to determine: (1) the number of approaches and contacts to the device, (2) the duration of contact time, and (3) if the presence of deltamethrin affected the number of approaches, contacts or the duration of the contacts. Data were collected via video observations conducted at the Michigan State University Entomology farm over the course of three weeks. Three cameras were focused on devices treated with deltamethrin and 3 cameras were focused on devices lacking deltamethrin. Deltamethrin did not affect beetle approaches, contacts or contact duration times. Greater than 40% of approaches to devices with or without deltamethrin resulted in contacts, with an average contact time of  2 minutes 51 seconds. Deltamethrin did not impact either the ability of the beetles to approach and contact the device or the duration of the contact. A previous study has shown that the contact time for 100% JB mortality using deltamethrin impregnated fabric was approximately 5 seconds. The combined results of the aforementioned study and this study suggest that this novel attract and kill device may provide a new area wide means of managing JB.