Physical Factors Influencing Orientation of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae) to Food-Baited Traps
Amoah, B., Schilling, M.W., & Phillips, T.W. (2017). Journal of Insect Behavior, 30, 544–562.
Tyrophagus putrescentiae, the ham mite, is a serious pest of post-harvest stored food for which traps are an important integrated pest management tool. This work examined how trap design, placement, timing, and light affect mite capture. A standard Petri-dish trap outperformed commercial designs; mites showed thigmotaxis toward walls, positive geotaxis, and stronger orientation to violet and ultraviolet light. The findings provide new information to optimize trap design and deployment for pest management decisions.