2011 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) To develop an improved trap for the capture of red flour beetle and other stored product insect pests of the food industry. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Pheromone-based monitoring provides one of the most effective survey methods for detecting the presence and density of a pest species and is a key component of IPM systems. Current monitoring systems may be improved by simple modifications in trap design and trap placement. Kairomones have been shown to impact trap efficiency by increasing capture and in the case of sex-pheromone baited traps capture of the non-target sex. Improved monitoring will result in more rapid identification and location of pest population and will lead to reduced economic losses. By detecting and locating pest populations the need for pesticide treatments will be reduced which will lead to improved food quality. In this project, we will evaluate how changes in DOME® trap design (originally developed collaboratively between ARS and Trece), pheromone and kairomone formulation, and trap placement can improve the effectiveness of pheromone/kairmone trapping systems for monitoring pests of the food industry. In collaborative research between ARS and Trece how trap capture of the focal insect Tribolium castaneum can be enhanced will be evaluated using experimental protocols developed by ARS. Because these traps need to work for a wide range of pest species, we will also evaluate impact of these modifications on other species such as T. confusum, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Lasioderma serricorne, and Typhaea stercorea. Specific research objectives are as follows: (1) Insect movement behavior will be measured around pheromone traps to determine if trap modification will improve trap efficiency. These modifications will be developed collaboratively between ARS and Trece and may include adding additional holes in the DOME® to improve the release of the pheromone from the trap. (2) Insect movement behavior will be measured around pheromone traps to determine if changing the kairomones used in the trap will enhance trap efficiency. These extracts will be supplied by Trece, Inc. (3) Combinations of modified traps with the most promising kairomones will be tested in real and/or simulated food facility environments. 3.Progress Report Pheromone-based monitoring provides one of the most effective survey methods for detecting the presence and density of a pest species and is a key component of Integrated Pest Management programs. The DOME® trap design (originally developed collaboratively between ARS and Trece) is a widely used trap for monitoring red flour beetles, along with many other species of beetles that disperse by walking in food facilities, and while it is demonstrated to be effective, questions have been raised about how well it attracts red flour beetles. Collaborative research between ARS scientist in Manhattan, KS, and Trece has focused on the evaluation of how changes in the physical features of the trap can improve both the attraction to the trap and the capture of beetles after encounter, and several key trap design changes have been identified that increase capture efficiency of the trap. Additional research has focused on the evaluation of new food attractant types and formulations, and a new attractant has been identified that offers an improved response compared to the original food attractant. Field tests of the modified trap and attractants are currently being conducted. Trece is currently planning on incorporating these modifications into a new model of the Dome trap. Additional research was conducted to evaluate cigarette beetle behavioral response to a new trap design that was underperforming under field situations. Analysis of how the beetles interacted with the trap revealed the problem and changes to lure placement were recommended and implemented which greatly improved the capture efficiency of the trap. Monitoring of insect populations is becoming increasingly important in the food industry and improvements to traps that make them more effective at attracting and capturing insects such as the red flour beetle will offer better information about the level of insect activity that will enable more accurate pest management decisions.