Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 January 2017
Methods for detection and monitoring invasive insect species are continually being refined and developed. Detecting invasive pests early can improve chances of eradication or management of populations. Aerial malaise traps are successfully used in monitoring for insects such as longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). These traps have both a top and bottom collecting cup. The bottom portion of these traps leading to the collection cup collects canopy litter at a high rate, greatly increasing time required to sort through and possibly affecting the diversity and abundance of insects captured. Traps with top and bottom collecting cups were compared with traps with only top collecting cups to determine the effect on species richness and abundance of cerambycids and scolytines. There was no significant difference in species richness and abundance of cerambycids, and abundance of scolytines, however species richness of scolytines was significantly higher in top/bottom traps. We conclude that removing the bottoms from aerial malaise traps would benefit monitoring programmes that use this type of trap in combination with funnel traps, albeit with the potential loss of information on scolytine richness.
Subject editor: Véronique Martel