Spotted Lanternflies Respond to Natural Pheromone Lures for Mate-Finding and Oviposition.

Using semiochemicals collected from spotted lanternflies Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) (SLF) and deployed in the field with circle traps, we demonstrated that SLF responded to SLF pheromones: in particular, this was the case for males while seeking mates and for females while ovipositing. The attractants consisted of SLF body extract emitted from diffuser lures and SLF honeydew on burlap ribbons, collected from heavily infested locations. Traps with attractants were deployed in field sites with very light SLF infestations to avoid competing signals of pre-existing aggregations. The number of SLF equivalents emitted by each diffuser per trapping period was used in a dose-response analysis. Three trees per block received either (1) a control hexane lure and a clean ribbon, (2) a lure containing SLF extract and a clean ribbon, or (3) a lure containing SLF extract and a honeydew-laden ribbon. Ten blocks were sampled three times per week for twelve weeks. We found a significant positive dose-response by males to SLF body extract only in the presence of SLF honeydew, indicating a synergistic effect between honeydew volatiles and body volatiles. This dose-response occurred for five weeks after mating started, after which males no longer responded. Subsequently, females had a significant positive dose-response to SLF extract only in the presence of honeydew when oviposition was their primary activity, continuing for two weeks, suggesting that females may use pheromones to aggregate for oviposition. The extract in the absence of honeydew did not result in a positive dose-response, nor did the hexane control. These findings suggest that SLF respond synergistically to the combination of pheromones present in both SLF honeydew and SLF bodies. Thus, combining key components from both sources may aid the development of semiochemical lures for SLF.

Soft plastic fishing lures as a potential source of chemical pollution - Chemical analyses, toxicological relevance, and anglers' perspectives.

Soft plastic lures (SPLs) are commonly used artificial lures in recreational angling. Anglers regularly lose SPLs while fishing and there is little knowledge about the environmental impacts of lost SPLs. As with other plastic items, SPLs contain phthalates and other persistent additives that may leach into water. In this study, 16 randomly chosen SPLs of common models were analyzed for the leaching of persistent, water-soluble plastic additives, including phthalates. The estrogenicity of sample extracts from a subsample of 10 SPLs was assessed using luciferase reporter gene bioassays. Over a period of 61 days, 10 of the 16 SPLs leached the targeted phthalates dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) at median detectable concentrations ranging from 10 ng/g sample BBP to a median of 1001 ng/g DMP as well as 45 persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) plastic additives. DEP was detected most frequently in 8 SPLs, followed by BBP (2 SPLs), DMP (2 SPLs) and DnBP (1 SPL). The extract from one SPL with comparatively low phthalate and PMT plastic additive levels was active in the bioassay, indicating high endocrine-disruptive potential, presumably due to unknown additives that were not among the target substances of the methodology used in this study. The study was supplemented by a mail survey among anglers, in which attitudes of anglers towards SPLs were investigated. The survey indicated that SPL loss is a common event during angling. Most participants were concerned about potential ecological impacts of SPLs, wanted the ingredients of SPLs to be labelled and supported legal restrictions concerning toxic ingredients of SPLs. The study shows that SPLs are a potential source of environmental pollution, may pose human health risks and need further investigation, considering the frequent use of SPLs in recreational angling.

Studying foraging behavior to improve bait sprays application to control Drosophila suzukii.

BACKGROUND: Foraging behavior in insects is optimised for locating scattered resources in a complex environment. This behavior can be exploited for use in pest control. Inhibition of feeding can protect crops whereas stimulation can increase the uptake of insecticides. For example, the success of a bait spray, depends on either contact or ingestion, and thus on the insect finding it. METHODS: To develop an effective bait spray against the invasive pest, Drosophila suzukii, we investigated aspects of foraging behavior that influence the likelihood that the pest interacts with the baits, in summer and winter morphotypes. We video-recorded the flies' approach behavior towards four stimuli in a two-choice experiment on strawberry leaflets. To determine the most effective bait positioning, we also assessed where on plants the pest naturally forages, using a potted raspberry plant under natural environmental conditions. We also studied starvation resistance at 20 °C and 12 °C for both morphs. RESULTS: We found that summer morph flies spent similar time on all baits (agar, combi-protec, yeast) whereas winter morphs spent more time on yeast than the other baits. Both morphs showed a preference to feed at the top of our plant's canopy. Colder temperatures enhanced survival under starvation conditions in both morphs, and mortality was reduced by food treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These findings on feeding behavior support informed decisions on the type and placement of a bait to increase pest control.

Evidence for the role of affective theory of mind in face-name associative memory.

Poor face-name recall has been associated with age-related impairments in cognitive functioning, namely declines in episodic memory and executive control. However, the role of social cognitive function - the ability to remember, process, and store information about others - has been largely overlooked in this work. Extensive work has shown that social and nonsocial cognitive processes rely on unique, albeit overlapping, mechanisms. In the current study, we explored whether social cognitive functioning - specifically the ability to infer other people's mental states (i.e., theory of mind) - facilitates better face-name learning. To do this, a sample of 289 older and young adults completed a face-name learning paradigm along with standard assessments of episodic memory and executive control alongside two theory of mind measures, one static and one dynamic. In addition to expected age differences, several key effects emerged. Age-related differences in recognition were explained by episodic memory, not social cognition. However, age effects in recall were explained by both episodic memory and social cognition, specifically affective theory of mind in the dynamic task. Altogether, we contend that face-name recall can be supported by social cognitive functioning, namely understanding emotions. While acknowledging the influence of task characteristics (i.e., lures, target ages), we interpret these findings in light of existing accounts of age differences in face-name associative memory.

Review of surveillance systems for tephritid fruit fly threats in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

Many countries conduct fruit fly surveillance but, while there are guidelines, practices vary widely. This review of some countries in the Pacific region demonstrates the diversity of fruit fly surveillance practices. All utilize 3 parapheromones-trimedlure, cuelure, and methyl eugenol-to trap adult male fruit flies. Some target species are not attracted to these compounds so other attractants such as food-based lures are used in certain areas or circumstances. Lure loading and replacement cycles depend on the target species and the local climate. Malathion and dichlorvos (DDVP) are commonly used toxicants, but not in all countries, and other toxicants are being developed to replace these older-generation pesticides. Jackson and Lynfield are commonly used trap designs but newer designs such as cone and Biotrap are being adopted. Local factors such as chemical registrations and climate affect the choice of trap, lure, dispenser, toxicant, and bait concentration. These choices affect the efficacy of traps, in turn influencing optimal trap deployment in space and time. Most states now follow similar practices around trap inspection, servicing, and data handling, but these processes will be disrupted by emerging automated trap technologies. Ultimately, different practices can be attributed to the unique fruit fly risk profiles faced by each state, particularly the suite of fruit flies already present and those that threaten from nearby. Despite the diversity of approaches, international trade in fruit continues with the assurance that fruit fly surveillance practices evolve and improve according to each country's risk profile and incursion experience.

Natural Oil Lure Outperforms Trimedlure in Capturing Males of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Females of certain tephritid fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae) pose an enormous agricultural threat, as they oviposit in commercially important fruits and vegetables. Trapping networks are often operated in fruit fly-free areas to detect incipient infestations. Trapping relies largely on male attractants, so-called male lures, with trimedlure (TML) being used to detect invasive Ceratitis spp. Operating large-scale surveillance programs incurs substantial costs for both supplies and labor, and the problem is exacerbated by the fact that trimedlure (as well as other male lures) is effective for relatively short intervals in the field (6-8 weeks). Because frequent servicing increases costs, there is considerable interest in modifying existing lures or developing new formulations to extend their effective field longevity. Here, we present results of a field study in Hawaii on a wild population of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), that compared male captures in traps baited with (i) fresh liquid TML, (ii) TML plugs, (iii) a novel controlled-release TML sachet, and (iv) a novel natural oil blend dispensed from a sachet. Catch was recorded weekly for 12 weeks and then at 16 and 20 weeks, with 12 traps deployed per treatment. The natural oil formulation, which contains the natural plant product α-copaene, was as effective as the fresh liquid TML even after weathering for 20 weeks. Future work will focus on developing a dispenser for this formulation that is compatible with standard trap design and deployment.

Baiting Insects with Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs): A Fieldwork-Oriented Review and Guide to PA-Pharmacophagy.

Since 1890, many observations of danaine butterflies visiting dry plants of several families in the Old and New World tropics have been published. For 50 years, it has been recognised that Danainae, along with various other insects, seek out 1,2-dehydropyrrolizidine ester alkaloids (PAs) independently of and in addition to their nutritive requirements and utilise them to increase their chances for survival and biological fitness. This represents an unusual type of insect-plant relationship ("PA-pharmacophagy"), with remarkable peculiarities but also with gaps in knowledge, many of which can be filled by employing PA-baiting. We review and analyse the history of records on the attraction of adult insects to PAs and unveil the complex background information on PA-chemistry, PA-producing plants ("PA-plants"), and PA-sequestering insects ("PA-insects") in order to come up with practical tips for successful baiting with PAs ("PA-baiting"). Studying PA-pharmacophagy integrates taxonomy, behaviour, and ecology with evolutionary biology, chemistry, and toxicology. With basic knowledge of PA-chemistry and bearing the general peculiarities of PA-plants and PA-insects in mind, PA-baiting can be conducted easily and successfully to address many questions on the multifaceted ecology of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. We aim to encourage field researchers in the tropics to employ PA-baiting as a valuable research method in this field of integrative biology.

Wide Range of Brachyceran Fly Taxa Attracted to Synthetic and Semi-Synthetic Generic Noctuid Lures and the Description of New Attractants for Sciomyzidae and Heleomyzidae Families.

During field tests implemented in Transcarpathia (West Ukraine) in 2015, 6501 specimens belonging to 26 Brachyceran fly families were collected with traps baited with generic lures (originally developed for noctuid moths) based on fermenting liquid and floral compounds. Isoamyl alcohol-based baits generally attracted more flies than phenylacetaldehyde-based baits and unbaited controls; however, the phenylacetaldehyde-based traps were the most attractive to the Empididae and Milichiidae families. The isoamyl alcohol-based semisynthetic lure showed significant attractivity to the families of Muscidae, Ulidiidae, Sarcophagidae, Calliphoridae, Sciomyzidae, Heleomyzidae, Drosophilidae, Phoridae and Platystomatidae. Additionally, isoamyl alcohol-based semisynthetic lure is the first reported attractant of the Sciomyzidae family. Since our phenylacetaldehyde-based floral lure was also attractive to Heleomyzidae flies, both types of lures can be seen as the first known attractants of this family.

Hunting practices in southwestern Amazonia: a comparative study of techniques, modalities, and baits among urban and rural hunters.

BACKGROUND: Hunting is a vital means of obtaining animal in various human populations. Hunters rely on their knowledge of species ecology and behavior to develop and employ hunting techniques and increase their chances of success. The comparison of the hunting practices of different human societies can shed light on the sustainability of hunting and the impact it has on species' populations. In this study, we examine and compare the techniques, modalities, and baits used by urban and rural hunters in Rondônia, a state in southwestern Amazonia, Brazil. We expected that rural hunters would use these elements and have greater knowledge when compared to urban hunters. We also expect that the use of specific hunting techniques and modalities will have greater selectivity and specificity of capture for rural hunters and that this knowledge will differ between groups. METHODS: We conducted 106 semi-structured interviews with rural and urban hunters from October 2018 to February 2020. We analyzed the data using PERMANOVA and Network analyses to compare and contrast the hunting practices of each group. RESULTS: We recorded four main hunting techniques divided into ten modalities with three techniques and seven modalities being the preferred choices among hunters. Waiting for at a Fruit Tree was cited as the primary technique employed by hunters living in urban and rural areas indicated. While the techniques and modalities were similar among hunters, the composition of species targeted and baits used differed between groups. Our network approach showed that modularity in urban areas was numerically lower than in rural areas. All species had one to more techniques associated with their capture. CONCLUSIONS: Hunters living in urban and rural environments showed high similarity in their practices, probably due to sharing similar environments to hunt containing similar species, as well as targeting preferably the same species.

Related consistent lures increase the judgment of multiplication facts: Evidence using event-related potential technique.

Simple multiplication errors are primarily shown in whether the lures are related to the operands (relatedness, such as 3 × 4 = 15 vs. 17) or whether the same decades are shared with the correct answers (consistency, such as 3 × 4 = 16 vs. 21). This study used a delayed verification paradigm and event-related potential technique to investigate the effects of relatedness and consistency in simple multiplication mental arithmetic for 30 college students in an experiment of presenting probes in auditory channels. We found that, compared to the related inconsistent lures, the related consistent lures showed significantly faster reaction time and induced significantly large amplitudes of N400 and late positive component. The findings suggest that related consistent lures are less affected by the activation diffusion of the arithmetic problem, and the credibility of being perceived as the correct answer is less; the lures related to operands and sharing the same decades with the accurate results can promote the judgment of multiplication mental arithmetic, and the results support the Interacting Neighbors Model.

Metacognition in working memory: Confidence judgments during an n-back task.

Metacognition in working memory (WM) has received less attention than episodic memory, and few studies have investigated confidence judgements while carrying out a verbal WM task. The present study investigated whether individuals are aware of their own level of performance while carrying out an ongoing verbal WM task, and whether judgments of confidence are sensitive to factors that determine WM performance. A verbal n-back task was adapted to obtain confidence judgments on a trial-by-trial basis. Memory load and lure interference were manipulated. Results showed that metacognition judgments were affected by memory load and levels of interference just as performance accuracy. Even when judgments were sensitive to memory factors, participants were overconfident and generally showed poor metacognitive accuracy at discriminating between erroneous and accurate responses. Results are discussed in terms of possible cues contributing to metacognitive judgements during an ongoing WM task and reasons for WM metacognitive accuracy.

Abundance of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) in Soybean in Areas with Few Previous Sightings in Tennessee.

Halyomorpha halys (Stål) and Megacopta cribraria (Fabricius) are two exotic invasive pests that have invaded the United States in recent years. Halyomorpha halys can damage various fruits, vegetables, and field crops, such as soybean and corn, while Megacopta cribraria only attacks soybean and kudzu, a weed species. They are currently found in southeastern states and threaten soybean and other crops grown in the region. This study evaluated the seasonal abundance of H. halys and M. cribraria in soybeans in 2016 and 2017 in two counties in the central region of Tennessee, where both species had either a few sightings or none that were recorded when this research was being planned. Lures and sweep sampling were used to monitor H. halys, and sweep sampling was used to monitor M. cribraria. Halyomorpha halys was first detected in samples in late July. Their numbers increased in early to mid-September, reached the economic threshold in late Sept, and then started to decline. Megacopta cribraria was first detected in mid to late July, increased their populations in September, but did not reach the economic threshold and declined mid-October. Our results showed the seasonal abundances of H. halys and M. cribraria and their establishment in the central region of Tennessee.

Semiochemicals Associated with the Western Flower Thrips Attraction: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

The study of the semiochemicals of the western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis, Pergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is a relevant topic that spans the last two decades. Approximately a hundred articles published on this subject from 2000 to 2022 can be found in academic databases, representing approximately 5% of the research on this important pest. These topics have generated a platform for novel research with a high potential for development. However, to move on to a new research step, an effectiveness evaluation of the compounds discovered so far is necessary. This review conducted a systematic analysis of the research focused on the semiochemicals (kairomones, pheromones, and attractants) for this pest. Papers from the past three decades on WFT attraction to semiochemicals were collected from databases using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The number of individuals attracted to compounds was extracted from the papers and compiled for analysis. With this information, an attraction ratio was calculated. Forty-one possible attractants were found in the literature, with methyl isonicotinate being the most-studied compound so far, with the third-highest attraction ratio. δ-Decalactone was the compound with the highest attraction ratio, but it was one of the least studied. A meta-analysis of the WFT choosing proportion was performed for the compounds with more trials found in the literature. The predicted mean choice percentages for methyl isonicotinate (MIN) and Lurem-TR, the MIN's commercial product, were 76.6% and 66.6%, respectively. There was a convergence among the analyzed studies showing a high degree of research focus on the same group of nitrogen-containing compounds (mainly the pyridine structure). These findings call for future research to diversify the discovery and evaluation of attractive compounds in this relevant study area.

Nonanal, a new fall armyworm sex pheromone component, significantly increases the efficacy of pheromone lures.

BACKGROUND: The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a global pest that feeds on >350 plant species and severely limits production of cultivated grasses, vegetable crops and cotton. An efficient way to detect new invasions at early stages, and monitor and quantify the status of established infestations of this pest is to deploy traps baited with species-specific synthetic sex pheromone lures. RESULTS: We re-examined the compounds in the sex pheromone glands of FAW females by gas chromatography-electroantennogram detector (GC-EAD), GC-mass spectrometry (MS), behavioral and field assays. A new bioactive compound from pheromone gland extracts was detected in low amounts (3.0% relative to (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-14:OAc), the main pheromone component), and identified as nonanal. This aldehyde significantly increased attraction of male moths to a mix of Z9-14:OAc and (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate in olfactometer assays. Adding nonanal to this two-component mix also doubled male trap catches relative to the two-component mix alone in cotton fields, whereas nonanal alone did not attract any moths. The addition of nonanal to each of three commercial pheromone lures also increased male catches by 53-135% in sorghum and cotton fields. CONCLUSION: The addition of nonanal to pheromone lures should improve surveillance, monitoring and control of FAW populations. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Insights into the distribution and ingestion of prey-like plastic fishing lures in Mediterranean rough-toothed dolphins.

Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) form an isolated subpopulation in the Mediterranean Sea that resides only in the eastern basin. Due to the paucity of records, the conservation threats these dolphins face and their ecology and distribution are poorly understood. While most observations indicate that individuals are found in two isolated clusters in the eastern basin, we hereby present five observations -three visual, one acoustic and one stranding- that possibly extend the range of this subpopulation to the entire offshore waters of the eastern basin. The stomach content remains of the stranded individual revealed a diet based on epipelagic squids and octopods. The stranded dolphin had also consumed seven plastic bags and nine squid-like plastic fishing lures, which had caused a complete gastric blockage and probably led to the stranding. High pollution loads from macroplastics in the Mediterranean Sea may evolve into a new potential threat for this subpopulation.

Community of Bark and Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae and Platypodinae) in Agricultural and Forest Ecosystems with Laurel Wilt.

Redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, is an invasive wood-boring pest first detected in the USA in 2002 in Georgia. The beetle's dominant fungal symbiont, Harringtonialauricola, causes laurel wilt, a lethal disease of trees in the Lauraceae. Over the past 20 years, X. glabratus and laurel wilt have spread to twelve southeastern states, resulting in high mortality of native Persea species, including redbay (P. borbonia), swampbay (P. palustris), and silkbay (P. humilis). Laurel wilt also threatens avocado (P. americana) in south Florida, but in contrast to the situation in forests, X. glabratus is detected at very low levels in affected groves. Moreover, other species of ambrosia beetle have acquired H. lauricola and now function as secondary vectors. To better understand the beetle communities in different ecosystems exhibiting laurel wilt, parallel field tests were conducted in an avocado grove in Miami-Dade County and a swampbay forest in Highlands County, FL. Sampling utilized ethanol lures (the best general attractant for ambrosia beetles) and essential oil lures (the best attractants for X. glabratus), alone and in combination, resulting in detection of 20 species. This study documents host-related differences in beetle diversity and population levels, and species-specific differences in chemical ecology, as reflected in efficacy of lures and lure combinations.

The Trajectory of Targets and Critical Lures in the Deese/Roediger-McDermott Paradigm: A Systematic Review.

The Deese/Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm has been used extensively to examine false memory. During the study session, participants learn lists of semantically related items (e.g., pillow, blanket, tired, bed), referred to as targets. Critical lures are items which are also associated with the lists but are intentionally omitted from study (e.g., sleep). At test, when asked to remember targets, participants often report false memories for critical lures. Findings from experiments using the DRM show the ease with which false memories develop in the absence of suggestion or misinformation. Given this, it is important to examine factors which influence the generalizability of the findings. One important factor is the persistence of false memory, or how long false memories last. Therefore, we conducted a systemic review to answer this research question: What is the persistence of false memory for specific items in the DRM paradigm? To help answer this question our review had two research objectives: (1) to examine the trajectory of target memory and false memory for critical lures and (2) to examine whether memory for targets exceeded false memory for critical lures. We included empirical articles which tested memory for the same DRM lists with at least two testing sessions. We discuss the results with respect to single-session delays, long-term memory recall and recognition, remember and know judgments for memory, and the effect of development, valence, warning, and connectivity on the trajectory of memory. Overall, the trajectory of targets showed a relatively consistent pattern of decrease across delay. The trajectory of critical lures was inconsistent. The proportion of targets versus critical lures across delay was also inconsistent. Despite the inconsistencies, we conclude that targets and critical lures have a dissimilar trajectory across delay and that critical lures are more persistent than targets. The findings with respect to long-term recall and recognition are consistent with both Fuzzy Trace Theory and Associative-Activation Theory of the DRM effect. The generation of false memory with brief delays (3-4 s) is better explained by Associative-Activation Theory. Examining the connectivity between target items, and critical lures, and the effect that has during study and retrieval, can provide insight into the persistence of false memory for critical lures.

Feelings of Contrast at Test Reduce False Memory in the Deese/Roediger-McDermott Paradigm.

False memories in the Deese/Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm are explained in terms of the interplay between error-inflating and error-editing (e.g., monitoring) mechanisms. In this study, we focused on disqualifying monitoring, a decision process that helps to reject false memories through the recollection of collateral information (i.e., recall-to-reject strategies). Participants engage in recall-to-reject strategies using one or two metacognitive processes: (1) applying the logic of mutual exclusivity or (2) experiencing feelings of contrast between studied items and unstudied lures. We aimed to provide, for the first time in the DRM literature, evidence favorable to the existence of a recall-to-reject strategy based on the experience of feelings of contrast. One hundred and forty participants studied six-word DRM lists (e.g., spy, hell, fist, fight, abduction, mortal), simultaneously associated with three critical lures (e.g., WAR, BAD, FEAR). Lists differed in their ease to identify their critical lures (extremely low-BAS lists vs. high-BAS lists). At recognition test, participants saw either one or the three critical lures of the lists. Participants in the three-critical-lure condition were expected to increase their monitoring, as they would experience stronger feelings of contrast than the participants in the one-critical-lure condition. Results supported our hypothesis, showing lower false recognition in the three-critical-lure condition than in the one-critical-lure condition. Critically, in the three-critical-lure condition, participants reduced even more false memory when they could also resort to another monitoring strategy (i.e., identify-to-reject). These findings suggest that, in the DRM context, disqualifying monitoring could be guided by experiencing feelings of contrast between different types of words.

Questioning the Role of Forward Associative Strength in False Memories: Evidence From Deese-Roediger-McDermott Lists With Three Critical Lures.

We report an experiment examining the factors that produce false recognition in the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm. We selectively manipulated the probability that critical lures produce study items in free association, known as forward associative strength (FAS), while controlling the probability that study items produce critical lures in free association, known as backward associative strength (BAS). Results showed that false recognition of critical lures failed to differ between strong and weak FAS conditions. Follow-up correlational analyses further supported this outcome, showing that FAS was not correlated with false recognition, despite substantial variability in both variables across our stimulus sets. However, these correlational analyses did produce a significant and strong relationship between BAS and false recognition. These results support views that propose false memory is produced by activation spreading from study items to critical lures during encoding, which leads critical lures to be confused with episodically-experienced events.

Rapid Assessment of Cerambycid Beetle Biodiversity in a Tropical Rainforest in Yunnan Province, China, Using a Multicomponent Pheromone Lure.

The Cerambycidae comprise a large and ecologically important family of wood-boring beetles. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a generic lure as a potential monitoring tool. Working in a subtropical forest in southwest China, we set traps baited with generic lures at ground level (1 m) and canopy height (~18 m) across 22 randomly located forest plots (12 regenerating forest, 10 mature forest). Three stations were established per plot and each plot was trapped for 7 days in May-June 2013. In total, 4541 beetles of 71 species were caught, including 26 species with 10 or more individuals. We used Hierarchical Modeling of Species Communities (HMSC) to analyze the data and produced informative models for 18 species, showing that trap height, slope, elevation, and leaf-area index were important determinants of cerambycid distribution. Our results demonstrate the potential for using generic lures to detect and monitor cerambycid populations, both for regulatory purposes and for the study of cerambycid beetle ecology. Further research should focus on refining lure blends, and on repeated sampling to determine temporal and spatial dynamics of cerambycid communities.