Improved semiochemical-based trapping method for old-house borer, Hylotrupes bajulus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

The old-house borer, Hylotrupes bajulus (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), has been a very serious pest of structural timber in many parts of the world. The available semiochemical-based trapping method typically results in low capture rates. In this study, efforts were made to improve the semiochemical-based trapping method using screen cage assays conducted in the greenhouse. Ground traps baited with two vials of (3R)-ketol + 1-butanol (pheromone baited) caught >21.0% adults than the alternative trap and were seen to be superior to ramp traps baited with identical compounds. Based on adult catches with pheromone-baited traps with different colors, attraction of H. bajulus adults to black was significantly greater than other colors, followed by brown, gray and yellow, red, white, green, and blue. No differences were found in adult catches to pheromone-baited traps with respect to different trap sizes. There were no statistical differences between the different semiochemicals tested. Therefore, black ground traps baited with two vials of (3R)-ketol + 1-butanol plus two vials of ethyl acetate can be effective in the monitoring and potential control of H. bajulus.