Using traps for pest control can be very effective. However, it is important to use different traps to minimize the risk of catching non-target species or beneficial insects.
Place traps on pest pathways, such as along baseboards or in corners. Be sure to check and sieve the traps regularly to determine pest abundance. Read on or talk with Columbia MO Pest Control experts to learn more.
Sticky/Glue Traps
Glue traps are an inexpensive, easily accessible pest control option. They are often sold in corner shops, DIY and garden centers, and hardware stores. They can be purchased with or without bait and as floor or hanging traps, depending on whether you are targeting crawling or flying insects.
These traps are primarily designed to capture small rodents but they can also ensnare birds, bats, reptiles, and other prey species. They do not offer a quick or painless death for animals caught in them. Unless rescued, they will die of injury, blood loss, shock, suffocation, or dehydration within days. PETA receives calls regularly from distraught people who have discovered their bird, lizard, snake, or wild cat stuck in glue traps.
The adhesive on these traps is made from sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (commonly called wood pulp) which is non-toxic and biodegradable. It is a common ingredient in food packaging such as cereal boxes and can be found on many cleaning products such as furniture polish and floor cleaners. The traps are easy to set and can be placed directly on the ground or inside of planters. They can be used with bait such as a piece of fruit, a piece of meat, or cheese to lure pests into the trap.
They are a popular tool for monitoring pests in crop fields and orchards. They can be set up 24/7 to monitor pest activity in areas that are out of sight and out of mind, such as at night or when people are not present. This allows pest control professionals to identify problems and implement strategies that can be used during the day.
Sticky traps can be effective for pests such as thrips, raspberry beetles, and fruit flies. However, it is important to observe your bug problem and decide if this type of trap is suitable for you. It is essential to place traps in areas where the pests are active. Otherwise, you will be catching beneficial insects as well, which can hurt your overall pest management strategy.
If you do choose to use sticky traps, it is essential that you only use them in enclosed areas where they can be safely contained. It is also recommended that you keep the area around your traps clean to prevent dust from sticking to the adhesive. This will increase the longevity of your trap and make it more effective.
Pheromone Traps
Pheromone traps use chemicals produced by some species of insects (probably in way more species than we now know) to communicate with other members of their species. Often these are ‘sex pheromones’ a female insect produces to attract a male for mating. Commercial pheromones are available for a wide range of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies). Typically, these pheromones are forced into a rubber ‘septa’ which can be hung in a Delta trap to lure male moths. The traps also have a sticky bottom so the captured moths cannot escape.
These types of traps can be a very useful tool for monitoring the presence of a pest in a dry food storage area. They are very sensitive and can detect a pest in densities which may be difficult to determine using other inspection methods. Pheromone traps should be hung in a grid inside the storage area being monitored and regularly checked for pest captures. If a high number of pests are caught, trap locations should be adjusted so that the majority of traps are located within areas that show the highest number of captures.
Traps for different pests should be positioned at least 50 meters apart to prevent mixing of the various pheromones. Depending on the pest, these pheromones may be embedded in a lure which is sealed in plastic so that they will not dissipate before use. Many different kinds of traps are available for a variety of pests. For example, the Delta trap can be purchased with pheromone capsules for controlling the Turkish moth, Florida moth, and cabbage leaf roller.
The use of organic attractants in pheromone traps can enhance their effectiveness. In the case of gypsy moth, for example, combining the scent of rotting coconut wood and synthetic CRB pheromone increased trapping efficiency by four-fold compared to either attractant used on its own.
However, the use of pheromone traps will not be effective for the control of parthenogenic species, such as hymenopterans and beetles which can reproduce without the help of males. In these cases, pheromones should be used in conjunction with spray treatments to effectively control the pest population.
Plastic Pitfall Traps
Pitfall traps are used to catch creatures that move on the ground such as beetles, woodlice, millipedes, centipedes, and earwigs. They are a simple and cost-effective way to sample the invertebrates in an area. A trap consists of a container (the collection container) buried so that its top is flush with the ground. Creatures that walk over the trap and cannot escape by climbing or jumping will fall into the trap. The collection container can be a glass, plastic, or metal container or even an empty bucket. Many people use empty plastic milk jugs or pots. Plastic ice cream containers with lids are also commonly used because they are inexpensive and durable. They can be camouflaged with grass or leaves to make them less visible. The best time to trap these insects is from dusk until dawn when they are most active.
Despite their widespread adoption, there is considerable variability in how pitfall traps are used, reported, and compared (Adis 1979). For example, the different ways in which a collection container may be secured to the ground can influence how many invertebrates are captured. Moreover, the traps’ design features can significantly affect species abundance (Buchholz and Moller 2018).
For example, a funnel-shaped pitfall trap increases capture efficiency, and reduces vertebrate bycatch and evaporation of killing preservatives, but may be more difficult to compare with nonfunnel traps (Fichter 1941; Obrit and Duelli 1996; Pearce et al. 2005; Radawiec and Aleksandrowicz 2013).
The use of a specific kill solution is also important for pitfall traps. For example, the use of formalin in a wet pitfall trap prevents animals from losing consciousness before being drowned and preserved, which is more humane than other methods such as ethanol.
It is important to note that traps should be checked regularly – at least every hour if possible – to avoid harming the creatures caught in them. This is particularly important because invertebrates are most active during the night and will be more prone to heat or exposure during the day. If the trap is left unchecked for too long, it will not be able to hold the insects and may start to decompose.
Light Traps
Light traps have been used in pest control for more than a century. They use ultraviolet light to attract insects and glue boards to trap and kill them. Some pests, such as cockroaches and earthworms, are strongly repelled by light; others, such as flies and moths, are strongly attracted to it. Light traps also have the advantage of being more convenient than other types of traps because they are easier to set and do not require bait.
Using light traps in food manufacturing or large industrial facilities is an efficient way to intercept flying insects. However, the location of these traps is critical to get the best results. The location and number of traps will depend on the type and amount of insect control needed. It is important that these traps are placed low and along walls protected from damage. This will allow the traps to intercept insects as they enter a facility.
It is important to keep in mind that some of the insects attracted to these traps can be disease vectors. For example, the triatomine, or kissing, bug, which causes Chagas disease is attracted to light and has been found around human habitations. It is for this reason that the locations of any light traps should be well away from livestock enclosures and habitations.
The range of attraction for these traps is also important to consider. Studies have shown that the range of attraction for a CDC blacklight trap can be as small as 1 m (for Lutzomyia sandflies) or up to 30 m for Culicoides biting midges (for malaria). These variations in the range of attraction should be taken into account when planning where to place these traps.
It is also a good idea to avoid positioning any traps where employees will be required to work continuously in close eye level proximity, such as over a sink washing dishes or at a table. It is also important to remember that UV from ILTs can color-fade wallpaper, tile, and fabrics. This is particularly true for a white light trap, so it is important to select a color of light that does not interfere with these materials.
