The use of light traps for controlling insect pests is restricted since they kill both pests and beneficial insects. It may be a possible to reduce the numbers of beneficial insects trapped by adjusting nightly trapping time based on differences recorded in the timing of the nocturnal flight peaks of target pests and beneficials. To test this, insects were collected hourly over night using black light traps at three locations in China from 2003 to 2005. Groups of lepidopteran and coleopteran pests were selected as the target pests that we would control by trapping and groups of beneficial predatory insects the catches of which needed to be reduced. The highest numbers of Coleoptera were caught between 20:00 and 22:00 h and of most Lepidoptera between 02:00 and 04:00 h. The hourly numbers of predatory insects caught by light traps were evenly distributed throughout the night. A model was developed to describe the relationships between the cumulative proportions of insects caught and time of night. The model accurately describes the flight activity of insects that were mainly caught before midnight, after midnight and evenly throughout a night by using different parameters for the three different insect groups. A beneficial-friendly trapping strategy was developed to reduce the numbers of beneficial insects trapped, which was based on differences in the nocturnal flight activity of pests and beneficial insects and validated by a field study in Shandong province. Results show that this trapping strategy reduced the number of beneficial insects caught by 46% and the electricity consumption by 50% compared to the traditional strategy. Thus this strategy is more beneficial-friendly than the traditional trapping strategy for controlling pests., Gang Ma, Chun-Sen Ma., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The rose grain aphid, Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is one of the three most important cereal aphid species in Europe. High temperature is detrimental for the survival of this species. Detailed experiments were conducted on the effect of high temperature (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 31.5, 32.5, 33 and 34°C), period of exposure (2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 h per day for 1, 2, 4, 6 days) and developmental stage (2nd, 3rd, 4th instar nymph and adult) on the survival of the aphid. The results show that all three factors significantly affect survival. Temperatures over 29°C for 8 h significantly reduced survival, which decreased generally as the temperature increased. The survival was inversely related to the period of exposure. Exposing aphids to 32.5°C for 4 h or longer significantly reduced survival. Mature aphids had a lower tolerance of high temperatures than nymphs. Periods of high temperature experienced by 4th instar and adult aphids can greatly affect their survival. The value of these results for forecasting and determining control thresholds, the effect of global warming on cereal aphid abundance and the dropping off behaviour of the aphids are discussed.