Long-line trapping of codling moth: a novel approach to increasing the utility of insect captures in monitoring traps

Sampling for codling moths using a standard pheromone-baited monitoring trap has been shown wanting because of large variations in catch under replicated runs for a particular pest density. This effect is due to high stocasticity in the interaction of random-walking insects with the trap, along with a very small pheromone plume reach (under 5 m) for codling moth. We have discovered and now document that the correlation between number of males caught and absolute codling moth density can be substantially tightened over that for a single trap by deploying five traps in a line separated by only 3 m. Close packing of traps in a line increases travel time and trap servicing costs only slightly. This presentation will present evidence from extensive computer simulations and field experiments releasing known densities of SIR codling moths for the advantages of long-line trapping over single-trap assessments of pest density when making decisions about whether or not treatment is in fact necessary.