Testing trapping protocols for detecting the Citrus Longhorn Beetle, Anoplophora chinensis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Citrus Longhorn Beetle (CLB), Anoplophora chinensis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a highly polyphagous species native to eastern and south-eastern Asia. In 2000, an outbreak of A. chinensis was detected in Lombardy Region (Italy). In 2017, an extensive trapping experiment was conducted at three infested sites in order to evaluate the effectiveness of three variables: trap model (Econex soft cross-vane trap, Witasek cross-vane trap and Witasek multi-funnel trap), trap position (on a wooden pole in an open space or in the canopy of a host tree) and type of lure (ChemTica, Synergy and Glabriwit pheromones). Each combination of variables was replicated five times at each site, giving a total of 270 traps. At the end of the study, 162 adults had been caught, with catches gradually increasing during the month of June to peak in early July. The two cross-vane traps outperformed the multi-funnel traps and the Econex traps captured more females than the Witasek traps, probably due to the structure of the collecting funnel. The three lures had similar catch performance, although the best combination was the Econex trap with Synergy blend, due to the remarkable variability in catches observed with Glabriwit blend. Finally, traps set in the tree canopy outperformed traps set on wooden poles. In conclusion, the best protocol was the use of Econex cross-vane traps baited with Synergy blend and deployed on the canopy of the host trees.