Oriental Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): Current Distribution in the United States and Optimization of Monitoring Traps

Abstract

Cooperators in 20 states used traps baited with (Z)-7-tetradecen-2-one to determine the current distribution of oriental beetles in the United States. New areas where beetles were found include Cape Cod and central Massachusetts (widespread), Delaware, (widespread), southeastern New Hampshire, North Carolina (around Asheville), Ohio (around Painesville on Lake Erie), Maryland (widespread), New Jersey (widespread in blueberry plantings), and Virginia (around Richmond and Arlington). Studies on pheromone concentration and release methods showed that there was no signicant difference in beetle captures between 1,000 g released from rubber septa and 3,000 g released from polyethylene pellets. Signicantly fewer beetles were caught in traps baited with 10 or 100 g than in traps baited with 1,000 g released from rubber septa or and 3,000 g released from polyethylene pellets. There was no signicant difference in captures between Trece and Fuji trap designs where 3,000 g was released from polyethylene pellets in 7 out of 8 comparisons. There was no signicant difference in beetle captures where 100 or 1,000 g pheromone was released from rubber versus polyethylene septa. There was a signicant increase in beetle captures where the funnel rims of traps were placed at ground level versus 30 cm above ground level.