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Insects
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Optimizing Insect Trap Systems: Advances in Lures, Dispensers, and Field...
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Optimizing Insect Trap Systems: Advances in Lures, Dispensers, and Field Performance

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 2164

Special Issue Editors

Dr. David Alavez-Rosas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chemical Ecology Group, Department of Arthropod Ecology and Pest Management, El Colegio de La Frontera Sur, Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto km 2.5, Tapachula C.P. 30700, Chiapas, Mexico
Interests: insect-plant chemical ecology; organic chemistry; analytical methods; pest management
Dr. Julio C. Rojas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chemical Ecology Group, Department of Arthropod Ecology and Pest Management, El Colegio de La Frontera Sur, Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto km 2.5, Tapachula C.P. 30700, Chiapas, Mexico
Interests: chemical ecology; insect behavior; pest management; insect–plant interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Effective trap systems are essential for global integrated pest management (IPM) programs. They contribute to pest surveillance, the early detection of invasive species, and mass trapping. While extensive research has focused on discovering and synthesizing attractive semiochemicals, trap performance depends on multiple interconnected components, including lure chemistry, dispenser design, trap architecture, and the performance of these elements under field conditions.

Despite its critical role in controlling release rate, stability, and longevity of lures, dispenser technology remains largely underexplored among these components. This knowledge gap limits the complete optimization and scalability of trapping systems across different environments and pest species.

This Special Issue aims to combine cutting-edge research on any aspect of insect-trapping systems, from novel lure development and formulation technologies to innovations in dispenser materials, trap designs, and field validation. We welcome interdisciplinary contributions that combine chemical ecology, entomology, materials science, and applied pest management.

By advancing our understanding and integration of these components, we can develop more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable tools for pest control. We invite the submission of original research articles, reviews, and case studies that contribute to this growing and impactful field of study.

Dr. David Alavez-Rosas
Dr. Julio C. Rojas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mass trapping
  • IPM
  • lures
  • dispensers
  • pest control
  • surveillance
  • baited traps
  • IVM

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2835 KB  
Article
Improving Traps for Spotted Lanternflies, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), by Leveraging Their Own Signals
by Miriam F. Cooperband and Kelly M. Murman
Insects 2025, 16(9), 930; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16090930 - 4 Sep 2025
Viewed by 530
Abstract
The spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) (SLF), is a damaging invasive pest and generalist phloem feeder that has been found in 18 states in the United States. It has a complex multimodal communication system involving semiochemicals, emitted both from their honeydew and [...] Read more.
The spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) (SLF), is a damaging invasive pest and generalist phloem feeder that has been found in 18 states in the United States. It has a complex multimodal communication system involving semiochemicals, emitted both from their honeydew and their bodies, and substrate-borne vibrations. Sensitive and effective traps for detection and survey are essential management tools, but no potent lures for SLF exist yet. We sought to test an alternative that relies on live-trapped SLF acting as lures to improve trap efficacy after the first SLF is captured. SLF circle traps were modified by replacing the commonly used plastic collection bag with a mesh bag pinned to the tree trunk. These allowed the trapped SLF to remain alive and generate signals through the mesh bag, thus leveraging their natural modes of communication to draw additional SLF into the traps. We compared mesh and plastic bags over three years targeting fourth instars and adults and found that prior to oviposition, circle traps with mesh bags captured significantly more fourth instar (70% mesh: 30% plastic) and adult SLF (59% mesh: 41% plastic) compared to plastic bags, but during oviposition time, the results were mixed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimizing Insect Trap Systems: Advances in Lures, Dispensers, and Field Performance)
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29 pages, 5601 KB  
Article
Highly Improved Captures of the Diamondback Moth, Plutella xylostella, Using Bimodal Traps
by Andrei N. Frolov and Yulia A. Zakharova
Insects 2025, 16(9), 881; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16090881 - 24 Aug 2025
Viewed by 810
Abstract
Many cases have been described where the combination of semiochemicals and light sources in traps cause an increase in adult insect attraction. In this context, we tested different treatments using Delta plastic traps to catch DBM adults: (1) dispensers containing DBM SSA; (2) [...] Read more.
Many cases have been described where the combination of semiochemicals and light sources in traps cause an increase in adult insect attraction. In this context, we tested different treatments using Delta plastic traps to catch DBM adults: (1) dispensers containing DBM SSA; (2) UV (365–370 nm) LEDs; (3) a combination of a dispenser containing DBM SSA and LEDs (SSA + LED); and (4) no lures (Control). The trials were conducted in northwestern Russia (the vicinity of St. Petersburg) during the period of 2022–2024 on cabbage crops. The results showed a highly significant interaction between SSA and LEDs with respect to their attractiveness to male DBM adults, as evidenced by an average 15-fold increase in DBM captures after the traps containing SSA were equipped with a second lure, an LED. This article discusses the prospects for using the identified synergistic effect of interaction between SSA and LEDs to enhance the catch of DBM adults for practical purposes, such as improving monitoring and developing more effective mass-trapping technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimizing Insect Trap Systems: Advances in Lures, Dispensers, and Field Performance)
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14 pages, 1546 KB  
Article
Using Leaf-Derived Materials to Stop Common Bed Bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) in Their Tracks
by Patrick Liu, Jorge Bustamante, Jr., Kathleen Campbell, Andrew M. Sutherland, Dong-Hwan Choe and Catherine Loudon
Insects 2025, 16(8), 786; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16080786 - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 511
Abstract
The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., is a pervasive pest of humans throughout the world. Insecticide resistance, cryptic habits, and proclivity for harborage on human belongings have contributed to its global status as a difficult pest to control. Leaves from common bean [...] Read more.
The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., is a pervasive pest of humans throughout the world. Insecticide resistance, cryptic habits, and proclivity for harborage on human belongings have contributed to its global status as a difficult pest to control. Leaves from common bean plants, Phaseolus vulgaris L., which include numerous trichomes, have traditionally been used to capture wandering bed bugs in southeastern Europe. However, fresh leaves rapidly desiccate once removed from plants, losing their trapping ability. A leaf-derived trapping material was developed that does not desiccate as rapidly as fresh leaves and retains the potential to trap bed bugs. In this study, we tested the efficacy of the leaf-derived material in capturing bed bugs. We tested the leaf-derived material in both horizontal and vertical orientations, using fresh bean leaves as positive controls. When deployed horizontally, the leaf-derived material captured bed bugs of all life stages and both sexes (adults). Leaf-derived material was also found to capture bed bugs in a vertical orientation (only evaluated for adult male bed bugs). Because this experimental leaf-derived material was effective in both horizontal and vertical orientations and against all life stages, it may have great potential for development into bed bug monitoring or exclusion devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimizing Insect Trap Systems: Advances in Lures, Dispensers, and Field Performance)
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