Insecticidal Activity of a Petroleum-Derived Spray Oil and an Organosilicone Surfactant on Listronotus maculicollis (Kirby) Adults in Laboratory and Greenhouse Bioassays.

The annual bluegrass weevil (ABW), Listronotus maculicollis (Kirby), is a severe pest of golf course turf in eastern North America. The development of pyrethroid- and multiple-resistant populations has created a dire need for novel tactics to control adults. We examined the insecticidal properties of a petroleum-derived spray oil (PDSO; Civitas Turf Defense™.) and an organosilicone, nonionic soil surfactant (Silwet L-77®) in laboratory and greenhouse bioassays. Civitas and Silwet killed > 75% of ABW adults in multiple assays. The level of control was positively affected by increased rate, spray application volume, and soil moisture levels. Dissections of weevils treated with Civitas revealed material entering the insect's hemocoel after 15−30 min, though most mortality occurred between the 3 and 24 h observation periods. Reducing rates while increasing carrier volume or soil moisture levels through irrigation applied prior to or after application also provided excellent control of adults in the same observation periods. Silwet provided comparable, yet less consistent levels of control in the laboratory studies but was excluded from further tests after treated plants demonstrated phytotoxicity in greenhouse studies. Neither Silwet nor Civitas efficacy was affected by pyrethroid resistance levels in the ABW populations tested.

Using Surrogate Insects in Acid Bioassays for Development of New Controls for Varroa destructor (Arachnida: Varroidae).

Resistance to traditional synthetic compounds by Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman and shortcomings of the organic acid class of acaracides commonly used in varroa management requires continual development of new controls. V. destructor, however, are difficult to obtain for use in control bioassays because they are obligate parasites that cannot be easily reared outside of a honey bee colony. We conducted bioassays using other, more easily obtainable species to find organisms that could be used as surrogates for V. destructor when testing new potential controls. We compared the toxicities of acetic acid, lactic acid, formic acid, and oxalic acid at 0.005%, 0.05%, 0.5%, 5%, and 50% (20% oxalic acid only) concentrations based on natural volatility (nonheated) for the control of two beetle species, Oryzaephilus surinamensis L. and Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer, greater wax moth larvae, Galleria mellonella L., and V. destructor. The assay results were consistent across all species with formic acid and acetic acid showing 100% mortality of all four test species at 50% concentration. The assays also provided insight into the method of application (vaporization or contact) needed to cause mortality. Our results show that other organisms can be used in place of V. destructor for initial testing of acids and possibly other chemicals for control of the ectoparasite.

Datana drexelii (Lepidoptera: Notododontidae) Occurrence and Larval Survival on Highbush Blueberry Cultivars.

Plant genotype influences plant suitability to herbivores; domesticated plants selected for properties such as high fruit yield may be particularly vulnerable to herbivory. Cultivated strains of highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum L. can be high-quality hosts for larvae of the gregariously feeding notodontid Datana drexelii (Hy. Edwards). We conducted an experiment assessing D. drexelii larval survival and pupal weight when fed foliage from five blueberry cultivars: 'Bluecrop', 'Bluetta', 'Blueray', 'Lateblue', and 'Jersey'. We complemented this experimental work with repeated bush-level surveys of a managed blueberry patch for naturally occurring D. drexelii larval clusters. Larval survival and pupal weight were significantly higher on 'Lateblue' foliage than from the 'Bluecrop', 'Bluetta', and 'Jersey' cultivars. The blueberry patch surveys found more D. drexelii larval clusters on 'Bluehaven', 'Collins', and 'Darrow' bushes than on the cultivars 'Earliblue' and 'Jersey'. The low D. drexelii occurrence and performance on the 'Jersey' cultivar suggests that this variety may be appropriate for areas where this pest is common; conversely, their high occurrence on 'Bluehaven' 'Collins', and 'Darrow' suggests that these cultivars may be particularly vulnerable. Cultivar-level variation in herbivore vulnerability highlights how understanding plant-pest interactions can help manage agricultural species.

Minimizing Bee (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) Bycatch in Japanese Beetle Traps.

Native and introduced bees were attracted to and captured in commercially available Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), traps baited with floral lure components: geraniol, eugenol, and phenethyl propionate [PEP] in Rhode Island, Ohio, and Tennessee. Studies in Rhode Island showed that Bombus impatiens Cresson (Hymenoptera: Apidae) was significantly more attracted to geraniol alone and as a component in floral lure blends than to either eugenol or PEP alone. Xylocopa virginica (L.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) was more selective in being primarily attracted to traps baited with higher amounts of geraniol in 2016. Removing geraniol from the floral lure blend did not significantly reduce Japanese beetle captures in 2017 and 2018 in Rhode Island and Ohio but did significantly reduce bee captures in Rhode Island in 2017 and 2018. Green, black, brown, and red traps captured significantly fewer bees than clear or standard yellow vane and green cage traps in 2018 in Rhode Island and Tennessee; however, there were no significant differences between Japanese beetle captures in any of the colored or clear traps. Our results show that using all green traps with a lure composed of eugenol and PEP and the Japanese beetle female produced sex pheromone can effectively capture Japanese beetles while minimizing bycatch of bees.

Effect of Corolla Slitting and Nectar Robbery by the Eastern Carpenter Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on Fruit Quality of Vaccinium corymbosum L. (Ericales: Ericaceae).

Eastern carpenter bees, Xylocopa virginica (L.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae), are among the most abundant native bee visitors to highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum L., flowers in the northeastern United States, and they sometimes display corolla-slitting behavior to rob nectar. We studied foraging behavior of X. virginica on 14 blueberry cultivars in an experimental planting in Rhode Island, and assessed factors related to slitting frequency, and the effects of slitting on fruit set and blueberry quality. Among 14 cultivars in bloom, an average of 35% (range 16-67%) of flowers were slit in 2017, and 39% (range 20-62%) in 2018. Factors that affected the proportion of corollas slit included cultivar, anther length, flower volume, and number of days in bloom at or above 15°C. Corolla slitting did not affect fruit set. Average weight and percent soluble solids of fruit resulting from slit and non-slit corollas did not differ significantly in two early- ('Bluehaven', 'Earliblue'), two mid- ('Collins', 'Bluecrop'), and two late-season ('Herbert', 'Lateblue') ripening cultivars in 2017. In 2018, average fruit weight and percent soluble solids resulting from slit and non-slit flowers did not differ significantly in most cultivars, but slit corollas resulted in berries with greater mass in two cultivars, 'Bluehaven' and 'Collins'. 'Collins' fruit from non-slit corollas had a significantly higher percentage of soluble solids at maturity than fruit from slit corollas in 2018. Corolla slitting and nectar robbery by X. virginica did not have a significant negative effect on fruit quality under the described growing conditions and pollinator community.

Eastern Carpenter Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae): Nest Structure, Nest Cell Provisions, and Trap Nest Acceptance in Rhode Island.

Analysis of pollen provisions in Xylocopa virginica (L.) nests in southern Rhode Island showed that this species produced pollen loaves from 21 different genera of plants in 2016, 19 in 2017, and 39 in 2018. Antirrhinium majus L. (garden snapdragon) pollen was the most common type collected in all three years (21.4%). Overall, wind-pollinated tree pollen comprised 22.1% of all pollen loaves. Blueberry pollen was a minor component of pollen loaves (0.1%), despite abundant blueberry plants nearby. Mean values of X. virginica nest measurements (tunnel length 15.4 ± 1.2 cm, width 15.0 ± 0.5 mm, and cell length 17.7 ± 0.3 mm) were similar to those reported in previous studies. Only 2 of the 216 trap nests deployed in 2017 were occupied by 11 X. virginica bees (9 females and 2 males). However, 17 nests contained 230 Osmia taurus Smith, 6 nests contained 73 O. cornifrons (Radoszkowski), and 1 nest contained 8 O. lignaria Say. Thirty-four nests (15.7%) were occupied by 151 grass-carrying wasps, Isodontia sp. and 6 vespid wasps occupied three nests (1.4%) in 2017. In 2018, 4 of 96 trap nests were occupied by carpenter bees. Understanding the nesting and foraging habits of X. virginica will help us to manage natural populations for pollination services.

Native Bee Diversity and Pollen Foraging Specificity in Cultivated Highbush Blueberry (Ericaceae: Vaccinium corymbosum) in Rhode Island.

We identified 41 species of native bees from a total of 1,083 specimens collected at cultivated highbush blueberry plantings throughout Rhode Island in 2014 and 2015. Andrena spp., Bombus spp., and Xylocopa virginica (L.) were collected most often. Bombus griseocollis (DeGeer), B. impatiens Cresson, B. bimaculatus Cresson, B. perplexus Cresson, and Andrena vicina Smith collected the largest mean numbers of blueberry pollen tetrads. The largest mean percent blueberry pollen loads were carried by the miner bees Andrena bradleyi Viereck (91%), A. carolina Viereck (90%), and Colletes validus Cresson (87%). The largest mean total pollen grain loads were carried by B. griseocollis (549,844), B. impatiens (389,558), X. virginica (233,500), and B. bimaculatus (193,132). Xylocopa virginica was the fourth and fifth most commonly collected bee species in 2014 and 2015, respectively. They exhibit nectar robbing and females carried relatively low blueberry pollen loads (mean 33%). Overall, we found 10 species of bees to be the primary pollinators of blueberries in Rhode Island.

Clothianidin and Imidacloprid Residues in Poa annua (Poales: Poaceae) and Their Effects on Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantify the amounts of the neonicotinoids clothianidin and imidacloprid in Poa annua L. clippings from treated golf course fairways. Average clothianidin residues 7 d after application ranged from 674 to 1,550 ng/g tissue in 2012 and 455-2,220 ng/g tissue in 2013. Average clothianidin residues the day of application ranged from 17,100-38,800 ng/g tissue in 2014. Average imidacloprid residues 7 d after treatment ranged from 1,950-3,030 ng/g tissue in 2012 and 7,780-9,230 ng/g tissue in 2013. Average imidacloprid residues the day of application ranged from 31,500-40,400 ng/g tissue in 2014. Neonicotinoid or bifenthrin-neonicotinoid combination products applied in field plots in 2012 did not significantly reduce the numbers of larvae relative to the untreated control. However, in 2013, statistically significant reductions in the numbers of larvae recovered from treated field plots were associated with the presence of bifenthrin alone or when used in combination with neonicotinoid active ingredients. Listronotus maculicollis (Kirby) adults caged on neonicotinoid-, bifenthrin-, and bifenthrin-neonicotinoid-treated P. annua turf plugs fed on P. annua leaves, but mortality was only highly significantly different between treated and untreated foliage when weevils were placed on treated foliage the day after treatment and allowed to feed for 7 d. The modest degree of population suppression with bifenthrin in these experiments may not be adequate to justify the continued use of these products due to the increased risk of insecticide resistance and disruption of biological control.

Use of Early Ripening Cultivars to Avoid Infestation and Mass Trapping to Manage Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Vaccinium corymbosum (Ericales: Ericaceae).

Use of early ripening highbush blueberry cultivars to avoid infestation and mass trapping were evaluated for managing spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura). Fourteen highbush blueberry cultivars were sampled for spotted wing drosophila infestation. Most 'Earliblue', 'Bluetta', and 'Collins' fruit were harvested before spotted wing drosophila oviposition commenced, and so escaped injury. Most fruit from 'Bluejay', 'Blueray', and 'Bluehaven' were also harvested before the first week of August, after which spotted wing drosophila activity led to high levels of blueberry infestation. In a separate experiment, damage to cultivars was related to the week in which fruit were harvested, with greater damage to fruit observed as the season progressed. Attractant traps placed within blueberry bushes increased nearby berry infestation by 5%, irrespective of cultivar and harvest date. The significant linear reduction in infestation with increasing distance from the attractant trap suggests that traps are influencing fly behavior to at least 5.5 m. Insecticides applied to the exterior of traps, compared with untreated traps, revealed that only 10-30% of flies visiting traps enter the traps and drown. Low trap efficiency may jeopardize surrounding fruits by increasing local spotted wing drosophila activity. To protect crops, traps for mass trapping should be placed in a perimeter outside fruit fields and insecticides need to be applied to the surface of traps or on nearby fruit to function as an attract-and-kill strategy.

Laboratory assessment of Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) strain GHA for control of Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults.

Bioassays were designed to evaluate Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin strain GHA against Listronotus maculicollis (Kirby) adults. B. bassiana and its "inert" carrier oil in the product BotaniGard and the inert carrier oil alone provided 99 and 96% mortality, respectively, in petri dish assays 1 d after treatment when applied in 1 ml water. When the same treatments were applied in 0.5 ml of carrier water, mortality was only 1.4 and 0.7%, respectively, 1 d after treatment. After 10 d in petri dishes, B. bassiana and its inert carrier oil and the inert carrier oil alone applied in 0.5 ml water showed 77 and 9% mortality, respectively. When one-tenth the label dosage of B. bassiana and inert carrier oil was combined with neonicotinoids applied in 1 ml water, there were significant increases in weevil mortality over the neonicotinoids alone 1 d after treatment. When 88.7% of one-tenth the label dosage of inert carrier oil alone was combined with neonicotinoids clothianidin, imidacloprid, and dinotefuran applied in 1 ml water, there was also a significant increases (38%) with clothianidin in weevil mortality over clothianidin alone 1 d after treatment. B. bassiana and its inert carrier oil provided 28, 50, and 78% mortality at the highest label dosage and 47, 76, and 89% mortality at 4x the highest label dosage in turf plug assays at 7, 10, and 14 d after treatment. Addition of 5 or 20% MycoMax (a nutrient source for B. bassiana) did not significantly increase mortality.

Enhanced toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki and aizawai to black cutworm larvae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with Bacillus sp. NFD2 and Pseudomonas sp. FNFD1.

Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki and aizawai are important control agents for lepidopteran pests. Bioassays were designed to test B. t. kurstaki and aizawai against second- and-fourth instar black cutworm larvae with and without Bacillus sp. NFD2 and Pseudomonas sp. FNFD1 bacteria. B. thuringiensis subsp. aizawai (XenTari) was more toxic to both second- and fourth-instar black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), larvae than B. t. kurstaki (DiPel) at 7 d after treatment (DAT). When DiPel was combined with NFD2 or FNFD1 versus second instars, the LC50s were 5.0X and 4.7X lower, respectively, than with DiPel alone. DiPel combined with both NFD2 and FNFD1 versus second instars resulted in an LC50 value 7.7X lower than with DiPel alone. When XenTari was combined with NFD2 or FNFD1 versus second instars, the LC50s were 5.2X and 3.8X lower, respectively, than with XenTari alone. XenTari combined with both NFD2 and FNFD1 versus second instars resulted in an LC50 9.7X lower than with XenTari alone. When DiPel was combined with NFD2 or FNFD1 versus fourth instars, the LC50s were 4.4X and 3.4X lower, respectively, than with DiPel alone. DiPel combined with both NFD2 and FNFD1 versus fourth instars resulted in an LC50 5.0X lower than with DiPel alone. When XenTari was combined with NFD2 or FNFD1 versus fourth instars, the LC50s were 5.7X and 3.3X lower, respectively, than with XenTari alone. XenTari combined with both NFD2 and FNFD1 versus fourth instars resulted in an LC50 6.7X lower than with XenTari alone.

Enhanced toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis japonensis strain Buibui toxin to oriental beetle and northern masked chafer (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) larvae with Bacillus sp. NFD2.

Bacillus thuringiensisjaponensis strain Buibui (Btj) has the potential to be an important control agent for pest scarabs. Bioassays using autoclaved and nonautoclaved soil showed there were always lower LC, values associated with nonautoclaved soil. We identified five other bacteria found in the hemolymph of insects killed by Btj and used them in bioassays to see whether we could enhance the control achieved with Btj alone. One bacterium, designated NFD2 and later identified as a Bacillus sp., showed the greatest enhancement of Btj in preliminary experiments and was used in bioassays with Btj versus oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis (Waterhouse), and northern masked chafer, Cyclocephala borealis Arrow (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), larvae. This bacterium alone was nontoxic to grubs in bioassays. A combination of this bacterium with Btj in nonautoclaved soil resulted in a significantly lower LC50 value (0.23 microg toxin per g soil) from all other treatments for A. orientalis with one exception; the LC50 where NFD2 was added back into autoclaved soil (0.29 microg toxin per g soil). A combination of this bacterium with Btj in nonautoclaved soil resulted in a significantly lower LC50 value (48.29 microg toxin per g soil) from all other treatments for C. borealis with the exception of the treatment where Bacillus sp. NFD2 was added back to autoclaved soil (96.87 microg toxin per g soil) with Btj. This research shows that other soil bacteria can be used to enhance the toxicity of Btj and possibly other Bts.

LC and LD50 values of Bacillus thuringiensis Serovar japonensis strain buibui toxin to Oriental beetle and northern masked chafer larvae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).

Bacillus thuringiensis serovar japonensis strain Buibui has the potential to be an important control agent for pest scarabs. Bioassays were designed to test B. t. japonensis against two of the major turf and ornamental scarab pests infesting turfgrasses and ornamentals and to serve as a basis for further tests against other scarab pests. LC and LD50 values of B. t. serovarjaponensis strain Buibui toxin and spores were determined by four different bioassays for the oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis (Waterhouse), and northern masked chafer, Cyclocephala borealis Arrow. Oriental beetle larvae were bioassayed in autoclaved and nonautoclaved soil from where they were collected (Kingston, RI [native]), in nonautoclaved soil from where the northern masked chafer larvae were collected (Groton, CT [foreign]), and per os. Northern masked chafer larvae were bioassayed in autoclaved and nonautoclaved soil from where they were collected (Groton, CT [native]), in nonautoclaved soil from where the oriental beetle larvae were collected (Kingston, RI [foreign]) and per os. LC50 values of 3.93 microg toxin/g autoclaved native soil, 1.80 microg toxin/g nonautoclaved native soil, and 0.42 microg toxin/g nonautoclaved foreign soil and an LD50 value of 0.41 microg per os were determined at 14 d forA. orientalis. LC50 values of 588.28 microg toxin/g autoclaved native soil, 155.10 microg toxin/g nonautoclaved native soil, 265.32 microg toxin/g nonautoclaved foreign soil, and LD50 of 5.21 microg per os were determined at 14 d (soils) and 10 d (per os) for C. borealis. There were significant differences in LC50 values for oriental beetles in autoclaved, nonautoclaved native soil and nonautoclaved foreign soil. There were significant differences in LCo values for northern masked chafers in autoclaved and nonautoclaved native soil. B. t. japonensis can be applied now for control of oriental beetles at rates that are economically competitive with synthetic chemicals. If we can determine the component of nonautoclaved soil that enhances the activity of toxin, it may be possible to lower the rates of toxin needed for control to more economical levels for more difficult to control species such as the northern masked chafer.

Pyrethroid resistance mediated by enzyme detoxification in Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from Connecticut.

In 2009, pyrethroid resistance was confirmed for seven "annual bluegrass weevil" Listronotus maculicollis Kirby (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adult populations from southern New England. The mechanisms responsible for conferring this resistance were unknown. In this study, topical application bioassays with bifenthrin and bifenthrin combined with synergists affecting three detoxification systems were conducted on four field-collected adult populations of L. maculicollis from Connecticut to determined whether cytochrome P450 monooxgenases (P450s), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and/or carboxyl-esterases (COEs) mediated metabolic detoxification. Because a susceptible L. maculicollis laboratory strain does not exist, the most susceptible field-collected population (New Haven) provided a baseline against which all other populations were compared. In the population with the lowest resistance (Norwich), only detoxification by P450s was significant. Detoxification in the population with the second highest level of resistance (Stamford) involved both P450s and GSTs. Detoxification in the population with the highest level of resistance (Hartford) involved P450s, GSTs, and COEs. This study suggests that enzyme-mediated metabolic detoxification plays an important role in annual bluegrass weevil pyrethroid resistance.

Pyrethroid resistance in populations of Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from southern New England golf courses.

Topical application bioassays of bifenthrin and lambda-cyhalothrin were conducted on field-collected populations of Listronotus maculicollis Kirby (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from eight southern New England golf courses, six in Connecticut, one in Massachusetts, and one in Rhode Island. Concentrations versus mortality regression lines were estimated to compare the LD50 values and resistance ratios for each insecticide and each population. The LD50 ranges for bifenthrin and lambda-cyhalothrin were 1.80-244.67 ng per insect and 0.52-159.53 ng per insect, respectively. The field-collected strains showed low to high levels of resistance to bifenthrin (6.1-135.9-fold) and lambda-cyhalothrin (28.7-306.8-fold). This is the first report of insecticide resistance in this species. The loss of pyrethroid efficacy is making control of Listronotus maculicollis more challenging.

Susceptibility of four species of turfgrass-infesting scarabs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) to Bacillus thuringiensis serovar japonensis strain Buibui.

Bacillus thuringiensis serovar japonensis strain Buibui experimental formulations containing Cry8Cal delta-endotoxin were evaluated in the field for the control of oriental beetle, Anomala orientalis Waterhouse; Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman; Asiatic garden beetle, Maladera castanea (Arrow); and European chafer, Rhizotrogus majalis (Razoumowsky) larvae infesting turfgrasses. In 17 fall applications, control of A. orientalis and P. japonica was achieved at rates as low as 100 g of toxin per ha; however, rates of 301 or 593 g/ha were consistently more effective. A. orientalis larvae were the most susceptible followed by P. japonica, R. majalis, and M. castanea. Two spring applications of 120 g of toxin per ha were not effective against oriental or Japanese beetles.

Trapping Phyllophaga spp. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) in the United States and Canada using sex attractants.

The sex pheromone of the scarab beetle, Phyllophaga anxia, is a blend of the methyl esters of two amino acids, L-valine and L-isoleucine. A field trapping study was conducted, deploying different blends of the two compounds at 59 locations in the United States and Canada. More than 57,000 males of 61 Phyllophaga species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) were captured and identified. Three major findings included: (1) widespread use of the two compounds [of the 147 Phyllophaga (sensu stricto) species found in the United States and Canada, males of nearly 40% were captured]; (2) in most species intraspecific male response to the pheromone blends was stable between years and over geography; and (3) an unusual pheromone polymorphism was described from P. anxia. Populations at some locations were captured with L-valine methyl ester alone, whereas populations at other locations were captured with L-isoleucine methyl ester alone. At additional locations, the L-valine methyl ester-responding populations and the L-isoleucine methyl ester-responding populations were both present, producing a bimodal capture curve. In southeastern Massachusetts and in Rhode Island, in the United States, P. anxia males were captured with blends of L-valine methyl ester and L-isoleucine methyl ester.

Optimization of a valine:isoleucine methyl ester pheromone blend and comparison of Robbins and Trécé traps for capture of Phyllophaga anxia (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in Rhode Island.

Eight ratios of L-valine:L-isoleucine methyl esters were tested in Robbins traps for capture of Phyllophaga anxia (LeConte) adult males. The 90:10, 80:20, and 60:40 ratios of valine:isoleucine were the most effective blends for capture of beetles in Rhode Island. Females were captured in small numbers in some traps but not consistently to any particular blend. Other male Phyllophaga species captured included Phyllophaga fusca (Frölich), Phyllophaga forsteri (Burmeister), P. hirsuta (Knoch), and P. marginalis (LeConte). The number of these species collected was low, and it was not possible to determine whether they were attracted to any particular pheromone blend. Peak captures of P. anxia males occurred 31 May in 1999 and 2002 in Kingston, RI. The standard Japanese beetle trap manufactured by Trécé (Adair, OK) captured significantly more beetles than the Robbins trap. Because the Trécé trap is already marketed for Japanese beetles, a lure and trapping system can be adopted for P. anxia.

Evaluation of two prototype traps and existing trap designs for captures of Japanese beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).

Two prototype trap designs and four other trap designs currently on the market were evaluated for capture of Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica Newman. The standard Japanese beetle trap manufactured by Trece (Palo Alto, CA) and a prototype trap captured consistently more beetles than other trap designs tested. Traps that used a bag for collection of beetles were not as effective because beetles were able to escape through the holes made for drainage. The new trap design allows traps to be transported more easily and stored in a smaller area because of the collapsible design. This is a significant improvement for states that use thousands of traps for monitoring Japanese beetles.