Pheromone-enhanced lure blends and multiple trap heights improve detection of bark and wood-boring beetles potentially moved in solid wood packaging

Exotic bark and wood-boring beetles [Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionidae (Scolytinae)] are among the most damaging forest pests, and species of quarantine significance are frequently moved intercontinentally. Early detection of these potentially invasive species is critical for their effective management, and while current surveillance methods have intercepted many species, they failed to detect others that subsequently became significant pests. We evaluated the effects of trap height (canopy vs. understory) and lure type (host volatiles vs. blends of host volatiles and pheromones) on the efficacy of detecting bark and wood-boring beetles, with the objective of improving surveillance programs. Adding pheromones to host volatile-baited traps increased the number of species detected, but lure performance (mean catch and detection rate) varied among species. The effects of trap height also varied by taxa; some species were detected more often in the understory (e.g., Scolytinae), and others mainly in the canopy (e.g., Cerambycidae). Species assemblages in traps differed between the canopy and understory and also among lure types. The number of target species detected was increased by using combinations of different pheromone-enhanced lure blends and by placing traps in both the canopy and understory. Applying these results should improve early detection of exotic species commonly moved intercontinentally in wood packaging and products.