Monitoring systems for adult insect pests and disease vectors

Abstract

In this chapter, we evaluate a selection of monitoring techniques for dipterous pests and disease vectors. Some of the monitoring systems can also be used as control measures to reduce nuisance biting or the chance of a disease outbreak. In Europe, resting catches, ovitraps, and CDC light traps are widely applied methods to monitor populations of mosquitoes. Recent developments in monitoring techniques in the USA and Germany have resulted in sophisticated traps such as the Mosquito Magnet Liberty and the BG-sentinel trap. Midges are successfully monitored with the Onderstepoort trap. Sandflies are monitored by light traps, sticky materials and human bait collection. Adding carbon dioxide to the majority of trapping devices generally enhances the capture of mosquitoes, midges and sandflies, whereas the effects of other odours are more species-specific. Sticky materials are commonly used to monitor houseflies, stable flies, and sheep blowflies. In addition, odour-baited traps have been developed to be able to monitor flies more species-specifically. Although there is a dire need for a universal trapping device that can be used to monitor diverse pests and thus the risk of invasions, dispersal, and dynamics of populations, no such device exists today and is unlikely to be forthcoming due to species-specific kairomones and behavioural responses towards traps. This hinders continuous monitoring efforts needed to study emerging pests and vector-borne diseases.