Xlure-MST - the Multi-Species Pheromone trap for Monitoring Major Stored Products Insects

Xlure-MST is an innovative multi-species trap for monitoring stored product crawling insects present in the food stock manufacturing facilities. It is one powerful, cost effective trap to capture 10 insect species. Xlure-MST trap has been developed by integrating insect pheromones and food volatiles. A blend of three insect pheromones and two food attractant in one trap resulted increased attraction than standard pheromone trap.

The efficiency of Xlure-MST has been evaluated against Tribolium castaneum and Oryzaephilus surinamensis. It is showed that Xlure-MST is attractive to Tribolium castaneum, with a mean catch efficacy of more than 80% after 24 hours of trap evaluation.

In a laboratory bioassay, the efficacy of the Xlure-MST trap was evaluated against Tribolium castaneum. The results indicated that Xlure-MST is attractive to Tribolium castaneum, with a mean catch efficacy of more than 80% after 24 hours (see Figure 1). It also showed that once the beetles are caught in the trap they are unable to escape from it again. The slope of the trap does not present an obstacle to the ease of entry by the beetles into it.

Fig.2. Percent catches of Oryzaephilus surinamensis in Xlure-MST trap.

In a laboratory bioassay, the efficacy of the Xlure-MST trap was evaluated against Oryzaephilus surinamensis. The results indicated that Xlure-MST is attractive to Oryzaephilus surinamensis and it found that 42% of the Oryzaephilus surinamensis were caught 24 hours after release the beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis (see Figure 2).

It is proved three pheromone components and two food attractant mixtures containing trap Xlure-MST can be used successfully to monitor Tribolium castaneum, Oryzaephilus surinamensis and other stored product crawling insects. It is one cost effective one trap for ten different insects and this multi-species trap can be used as one uniform monitoring tool in all stages of the production, transit and storage which will help asses and pin point the point of pest infestation in this chain.