Building a better Psylloidea (Hemiptera) trap? A field-look at a prototype trap constructed using three-dimensional printer technology

Authors: Horton, David; MILICZKY, EUGENE - Washington State University; Lewis, Tamera; WOHLEB, CARRIE - Washington State University; DICKENS, ANTHONY - Florida Department Of Agriculture; HALBERT, SUSAN - Florida Department Of Agriculture; RAMADUGU, CHANDRIKA - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service; JENSEN, ANDY - Washington State Potato Foundation

Submitted to: The Canadian Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/2/2018
Publication Date: 12/1/2018
Citation: Horton, D.R., Miliczky, E., Lewis, T.M., Wohleb, C., Dickens, A., Halbert, S., Ramadugu, C., Jensen, A. 2018. Building a better Psylloidea (Hemiptera) trap? A field-look at a prototype trap constructed using three-dimensional printer technology. The Canadian Entomologist. 151(1):115-129. https://doi.org/10.4039/tce.2018.59.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4039/tce.2018.59

Interpretive Summary: Potato psyllid is a vector of the pathogen causing zebra chip disease, and is monitored season-long in the WA study area by use of yellow sticky cards placed at multiple fields. Sticky cards are messy and collect numerous nontarget insects, and both growers and extension personnel are searching for a more user-friendly tool. Scientists with USDA-ARS, Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research Unit, Wapato, WA in cooperation with scientists at Washington State University, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Washington State Potato Commission examined a prototype trap developed for citrus psyllid and constructed using 3D-printing technology. Paired comparisons of the prototype trap and sticky cards at multiple potato fields in Washington State demonstrated that the 3D-printed trap was only slightly less efficient at capturing psyllids as sticky cards during the critical monitoring period in late May and early June when psyllids first arrive in fields. The 3D-printing technology was found to be highly flexible in allowing modifications of traps leading eventually to production and testing of the prototype trap. Our results suggest that 3D-printing technology merits wider use by entomologists in designing, developing, and testing monitoring tools having insect-specific capabilities.

Technical Abstract: An insect trap constructed using three-dimensional (3D) printing technology was tested in potato fields to determine whether it could be used as a substitute for the standard yellow sticky card currently used to monitor potato psyllid. Sticky cards have shortcomings that prompted search for a replacement: cards are messy and difficult to process, require weekly replacement, are expensive to purchase, and accumulate large numbers of non-target insects. A prototype trap constructed using 3D printing technology for monitoring Asian citrus psyllid was tested for use in monitoring potato psyllids. The trap was designed to attract psyllids visually to the trap, and then to funnel psyllid-sized arthropods into preservative-filled vials attached at the bottom of traps. A prototype trap was paired at each potato field with the standard yellow sticky card to compare captures of psyllids between cards and traps. The prototype trap was competitive with sticky cards during intervals of low psyllid densities early in the growing season. Efficacy of the prototype declined as psyllid numbers increased later in the season. The prototype trap also collected large numbers of non-target insects, particularly Thysanoptera and Diptera. Both taxa also were abundant on sticky cards. We believe that 3D-printing technology has substantial promise for use in developing monitoring tools that exploit known behavioral traits of the targeted insect. Ongoing work includes use of this technology to modify the existing prototype, with a focus on making the trap more effective at capturing psyllids and less susceptible to capture of non-target species.