A trap with sex attractant for monitoring time of codling moth flights

Historic, Archive Document

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September 1970

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A TRAP WITH SEX ATTRACTANT FOR MONITORING
TIME OF CODLING MOTH FLIGHTS

Agricultural Research Service
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUETURE

A TRAP WITH SEX ATTRACTANT FOR MONITORING
TIME OF CODLING MOTH FLIGHTS

By L. G. Schoenleber, B. A. Butt, and D. O. Hathawayi

To obtain effective control of the codling moth (Carpocapsa pomonella (L.)) with chemical
or biological measures, the native populations and flight habits of this moth must be known.
Insect traps with attractants are being used with limited success as research tools for trapping
codling moths.^ ^

The trap described in this report was designed to determine the intensity and time of flight
and the population trends of the codling moth (fig. 1).

DESIGN AND OPERATION OF TRAP

This insect trap was designed to capture male codling
moths and to provide a eomposite catch at hourly
intervals separately from other time periods. It makes 24
composite catches, then continues to recycle. This
permits capturing codling moths for more than 1 day
with the same intervals of hourly catch for succeeding
days in the same composite sample. Insects captured
during other periods can be used by changing gears in
the timing mechanism. The trap includes its own power
system and operates on a 12-volt battery. It also
operates with a low power requirement to extend the
time between battery eharges. Virgin female codling
moths are kept in a small screen cage to attract wild
male moths. Transparent doors and crank for moving the
belt permit easy access to serviee the trap and observe its
performance.

The trap utilizes a 4-inch-wide two-ply polyester belt,
which has a sticky material spread uniformly on the
surface. This material, or Stickem Special,* ** is a mixture
of polymerized 1-butane 14 percent, 1-butene 48 per-
cent, 2-methyl propene 35 percent, and paraffin wax 3
percent.

The trap belt with plastic cover removed provides the
needed flexibility. It is enclosed by two transparent
doors and sheet-metal covers except a 4- by 6-inch-wide

* Agricultural engineer, Agricultural Engineering Research
Division, and entomologists. Entomology Research Division,
respectively. Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Yakima, Wash.

^ Batiste, William C. A timing sex pheromone trap with special
reference to codling moth collections. [ Unpublished. ]

^Butt, B. A., and Hathaway, D. 0. Female sex pheromone as
attractant for male codling moths. Jour. Econ. Ent.
59: 476477. 1966.

** Mention of a proprietary product in this report does not
constitute a guarantee or warranty by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture over other products not mentioned.

area at the top. Above the exposed belt is an open-ended
hood. An attractant is placed inside the hood near the
top and center to attract the moths. Moths fly inside the
hood to the attractant and onto the sticky belt where
they are unable to free themselves.

A timing mechanism operated by a 12-volt batter)
moves the belt once each hour to expose a new belt area
(figs. 2 and 3). Six seeonds are required to move the belt
to a new position.

Covers to protect the electrical components and drive
pulleys from the weather are designed for quick removal.

The electrical and mechanical components are dia-
gramed in figure 4. A 12-volt d.c. -regulated clock (F) is
connected mechanically as an integral unit with a repeat
cycle earn and mieroswitch (G). This microswitch is
wired to operate a delay relay (_H). Relay (H) when
energized closes its internal switch instantly. It then
opens the circuit automatically at a preset time. The
relay is connected in series with switch (1), fuse (J},
battery (^, and motor (C). Motor (Q starts when relay
(H) is energized.

The drive system connected to motor (C) rotates cam
(P) and moves belt (B) through linkage (A). As cam (D)
rotates, microswitch (E) is closed to make a complete
cireuit for drive motor (C). While earn (D) rotates, relay
(H) becomes deenergized to open its contact points. One
complete revolution of cam (D) results in microswitch
(E) opening the circuit to stop motor (C). Since the
minimum on-time of cam and microswitch (G) is 3 to 4
minutes, delay relay (H) is needed (1) to shorten the
period to only a few seconds for proper movement of
the belt and (2) to use a minimum amount of power.

The trap ineludes driving arm (A), which is linked
mechanically to a one-direction drive roller clutch. The

3

Figure 1.— Insect trap as used in orchards.

Figure 2.— Insect trap with transparent door open, showing
electrical components.

clutch is fastened to a belt drive pulley shaft. One cycle
of driving arm (A) moves the belt one twenty-fourth its
length when properly adjusted on the roller-clutch
linkage arm. A crank fastened to the shaft is used to
override the clutch for easy turning of the belt when

removing insects and resetting to expose the correct belt
area.

The current required to operate the timer is 50
milliamperes. While the motor is running, a peak current
of 800 milliamperes is required by the electrical system

4

Figure 3.— Insect trap with cover removed, showing linkage
drive components.

for about 3 seconds. The peak current load occurs when
the belt speed is maximum. Motor (C), which moves the
belt, is set to operate 6 seconds out of each hour.

General arrangement of components for the insect
trap with the cover removed is shown in figure 5. The
trap is IVi feet high. The drive system is shown in fig-
ure 6.

The 4-inch-wide belt runs over pulleys (A), (Q, and
(P). Each pulley has a slight crown at the center to
maintain proper belt alinement. Pulley (P) includes a
lagging surface to afford a positive grip in moving the
belt. An adjustment to keep the belt tight is provided b)
bolts (E) and screws (F) to move frame (I^. Adjustment
(D) connected to (C) is used to make the belt run true.

Motor (L) of the drive system contains a 1,280 to 1 ratio
planetary gear reduction and produces 700 ounce-inches
torque at 11,000 r.p.m. with 12-volt d.c. power. Pulley
(M) is connected by a belt to pulley (N). Pulley (N) is
attached to shaft (0) to drive pulley (P) through linkage
system (1), (J), and (K). Link arm (H) is also used as a
cam to actuate microswitch (G). Link arm (K) includes
an adjustment (J) to make the correct belt movement.
The overriding clutch is attached to link arm (K) and the
shaft driving pulley (P). Crank (Q) is provided to move
the belt for servicing without disturbing the motor drive
system.

Figure 4.— Electromechanical insect trap with belt. (For
identification of parts, see text.)

SIDE VIEW FRONT VIEW

Figure 5.— Assembled insect trap.

5

SIDE VIEW FRONT VIEW

Figure 6.— Drive assembly of inseet trap. (For identification of
parts, see text.)

USE AND PERFORMANCE OF TRAP

The trap was operated continuously in an abandoned
orchard (fig. 1) from May 13 to September 30, 1969.
Ten live female moths were kept in the screen cage
located in a wire basket inside the hood of the trap
above the exposed part of the belt to attract the male
moths. Penciled lines across the belt divided it into 24
equal areas, which were identified by clock hours. With
this feature the belt was easily timed for catch by
exposing the proper area, which indicated the hour that
insects were caught. The trap was inoperative only a few

times when the battery was insufficiently charged and
when the caged attractant moths were dead.

The 12-volt battery operated up to 3 weeks before it
required recharging.

Insects captured on the sticky material of the belt
were removed with tweezers. The sticky material was
replaced only once on the belt areas of highest insect
catch during the trapping season.

NUMBERS OF CODLING MOTHS CAUGHT

The time and numbers of moths trapped are shown in
figures 7 and 8. The solid line in figure 7 represents the
time of sunset and the dotted line the time of sunrise.
Pacific daylight time, based on Nautical Almanac Office,
U.S. Naval Observatory. Over 730 insects were trapped
during the summer. The trap was not always serviced
each day. The accumulated catch by hours for these
days is shown when the insects were counted. The
relative numbers of codling moths trapped hourly during
a 24-hour period for 4^2 months are shown in figure 8.

Sunset occurred between 1844 and 2059 and sunrise
between 0508 and 0859, Pacific daylight time, during
this period. The peak catches were near sunset, but a
large number continued to be trapped until 0100.
During the remaining hours a few insects were trapped
every hour except 3 hours.

During the peak periods of insect flight in July and
August (fig. 9), a maximum of 33 codling moths was
trapped in 1 hour.

6

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MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

Figure 7.— Distribution of moths trapped by hour and by date from May 13 to September 30, 1969.

^3 SUNRISE
^ SUNSET

TIME

IS 1 IS 1 15 1 15 1 IS 1

May June July Aug. Sept.

Figure 9.— Number of moths trapped per week from May 13 to
September 30, 1 969.

Figure 8.— Total relative distribution of moths trapped by hours
from May 13 to September 30, 1969.

7

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Research Service
Beltsville, Maryland 20705

Official Business
Penalty for Private Use, $300

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