Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Physical Factors Influencing Orientation of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae) to Food-Baited Traps

  • Published:
Journal of Insect Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae) is a serious pest of post-harvest durable stored food products for which traps are being developed as important tools for integrated pest management. This work addresses the effects of trap design, trap location, time of response, and light on the orientation of released groups of 7200 pedestrian T. putrescentiae to food-baited traps in experimental rooms maintained in full darkness at 28 °C and 70% RH. A standard trap made from a disposable Petri dish and four commercially produced stored-product pest traps of different designs were compared and evaluated for efficacy in trapping mites. Subsequent experiments evaluated the effect of trap placement, trapping duration, and light on mite capture. More mites were captured in the standard Petri dish trap when compared singly or side by side with four different commercial trap designs, so the standard trap was used in all other studies. Further experiments found that mites could be trapped 1 h after release at a distance of 2 m from the release point and at six meters from a mite source within 24 h. A greater number of mites were caught in traps placed along a wall than those away from a wall, demonstrating thigmotaxis to an edge. Traps at various heights on a shelf rack suggested that walking mites tended to be positively geotactic whether the source of mites was from the floor or from the top shelf at 1.8 m from the floor. More mites were caught in black-painted traps than in unpainted clear plastic traps in fully lighted rooms, suggesting that mites seek refuge from brightly lighted conditions. Light emitting diodes deployed with traps or assayed alone determined mites oriented positively to traps with violet or ultraviolet, with least preference to green, yellow, red and white lights. This research provides new information on orientation by T. putrescentiae that may help optimize trap designs and trap deployment for pest management decisions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbar S, Amoah B, Schilling MW, Phillips TW (2016a) Efficacy of selected food-safe compounds to prevent infestation of the ham mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acarina: acaridae), on southern dry cured hams. Pest Manag Sci 72:1604–1612

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Abbar S, Schilling MW, Whitworth RJ, Phillips TW (2016b) Efficacy of selected pesticides against Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank): influence of application rate, application surface, and residual activity. J Pest Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-016-0766-3

  • Amoah B, Schilling MW, Phillips TW (2016) Monitoring Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: acaridae) with traps in dry-cured ham aging rooms. Environ Entomol 45(4):1029–1039

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bakr AA (2013) Effectiveness of ultraviolet radiation as a physical method in controlling the stored product mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acari: acaridae). J Entomol 10:43–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barcelo JA (1981) Photoeffects of visible and ultraviolet radiation on the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. Photochem Photobiol 33:703–706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boczek J (1991) Mite pests in stored food. In: Gorham JR (ed) Ecology and Management of Food-Industry Pests. AAOC Press, Arlington, pp 57–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Brazis P, Serra M, Selles A, Dethioux F, Biourge V, Puigdemont A (2008) Evaluation of storage mite contamination of commercial dry dog food. Vrt Dermatol 4:209–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke PG (2002) The ability of buried PC™ traps to detect stored-product mites in wheat. In: Credland PF, Armitage DM, Bell CH, Cogan PM, Highley E (eds) Proceedings, 8th international working conference on stored product protection. Advances in Stored Product Protection, York, pp 390–395

    Google Scholar 

  • Cogburn RR, Burkholder WE, Williams HJ (1984) Field tests with the aggregation pheromone of the lesser grain borer (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae). Environ Entomol 13:162–166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Collins LE, Chambers J (2003) The I-spy insect indicator: an effective trap for the detection of insect pests in empty stores and on flat surfaces in the cereal and food trades. J. Stored prod. Res:277–292

  • Cuperus GW, Fargo WS, Flinn PW, Hagstrum DW (1991) Variables affecting capture of stored-grain insects in probe traps. J Kans Entomol Soc 63:486–489

    Google Scholar 

  • Duehl AJ, Cohnstaedt LW, Arbogast RT, Teal PEA (2011) Evaluating light attraction to increase trap efficiency for Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). J Econ Entomol 104(4):1430–1435

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Epsky NE, Morrill WL, Mankin RW (2008). Traps for capturing insects. Encyclopedia of entomology, 2nd ed.: 3887-3901

  • Fields PG, White NDG (2002) Alternatives to methyl bromide treatments for stored-product and quarantine insects. Annu Rev Entomol 47:331–359

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Furumizo RT (1975) Laboratory observations on the life history and biology of the American house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farina (Acarina: Pyroglyphidae). California Vector News 22:49–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Gulati R, Mathur S (1995) Effect of eucalyptus and menthe leaves and curcuma rhizomes on Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acarina: acaridae) in wheat. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 19(9):511–518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagstrum DW, Subramanyam B (2006) Fundamentals of stored-product entomology. AACC International, St Paul

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagstrum DW, Klejdysz T, Subramanyam B, Nawrot J (2013) Atlas of stored-product insects and mites. AACC International, St Paul

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeong KY, Kim WK, Lee JS, Lee J, Lee I-Y, Kim K-E, Park JW, Hong C-S, Ree H, Yong T-S (2005) Immunoglobulin E reactivity of recombinant allergen Tyr p 13 from Tyrophagus putrescentiae homologous to fatty acid binding protein. Clin Diagn Lab Immun 12(5):581–585

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuwahara Y, Ishii S, Fukami H (1975) Neryl formate: alarm pheromone of the cheese mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acarina, acaridae). Experientia 31:1115–1116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McEnroe WD, Dronka K (1969) Eyes of the female two-spotted spider mite. Tetranychus urticae II Behavioral analysis of the photoreceptors Ann Entomol Soc Am 62:466–469

  • Mills LR (1974) Structure of the visual system of the two-spotted spider-mite. Tetranychus urticae J Insect Physiol 20:795–808

  • Mueller DK (2010) Reducing customer complaints in stored products. Beckett-Highland Publishing, Carmel

    Google Scholar 

  • Mullen M, Dowdy A (2001) A pheromone-baited trap for monitoring the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). J Stored Prod Res 37:231–235

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nansen C, Phillips TW, Sanders S (2004) Effects of height and adjacent surfaces on captures of Indian meal moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in pheromone-baited traps. J Econ Entomol 97(4):1284–1290

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nualvatna K, Makathan N, Chayapradit C, Kitkuandee K, Uraichuan J (2003) The use of light traps for attracting stored-product insects in a rice mill and paddy seed stores. Pp. 244-247. In: Credland PF, Armitage DM, Bell CH, Cogan PM, Highley E (eds) Proceedings, 8th international working conference on stored product protection, 22–26 July 2002. CABI Publishing Wallingford, York

    Google Scholar 

  • Onzo A, Sabelis MW, Hanna R (2010) Effects of ultraviolet radiation on predatory mites and the role of refuges in plant structures. Environ Entomol 39:695–701

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pacavira R, Mata O, Manuel A, Pereira AP, Mexia A (2006) Detection of stored product pests by pheromone traps in seven warehouses in Luanda/Angola. In Proceedings, 9th International Working Conference on Stored Product Protection, 15-18 October 2006, Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Brazilian Post-harvest Association - ABRAPOS, Passo Fundo, pp 1157–1165

  • Rentfrow G, Hanson DJ, Schilling MW, Mikel WB (2006) Methyl bromide use to combat mite infestation in dry-cured ham during production, 108-1 to 108-2. In proceedings, annual international research conference on methyl bromide alternatives and emission reduction, 5-9 November 2006, Orlando

  • Rentfrow G, Hanson DJ, Schilling MW, Mikel WB (2008) The use of methyl bromide to control insects in country hams in the southeastern United States. University of Kentucky Extension/National Country ham Association (extension publication # ASC-171), Lexington

  • Sakai Y, Osakabe M (2010) Spectrum-specific damage and solar ultraviolet radiation avoidance in the two-spotted spider mite. Photochem Photobiol 86:925–932

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Ramos I, Alvarez-Alfageme F, Castanera P (2007) Development and survival of the cheese mites, Acarus farris and Tyrophagus neiswanderi (Acari: acaridae), at constant temperatures and 90% relative humidity. J Stored Prod Res 43:64–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute. 2010. PROC user’s guide, version 9.4 ed. SAS Institute, Cary

  • Semeao AA, Campbell JF, Whitworth RJ, Sloderbeck PE (2011) Response of Tribolium castaneum and Tribolium confusum adults to vertical black shapes and its potential to improve trap capture. J Stored Prod Res 47:88–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stukenberg N, Gebauer K, Poehling H-M (2015) Light emitting diode (LED)-based trapping of the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporiorum). J Appl Entomol 139:268–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suski ZW, Naegele JA (1963) Light response in the two-spotted spider mite. II: Behavior of the ʻsedentaryʼ and ʻdispersalʼ phases In: Naegele JA (ed) Adv Acarol vol 1:445–453

    Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki T, Kojima T, Takeda M, Sakuma M (2013) Photo-orientation regulates seasonal habitat selection in the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. J Exp Biol 216:977–983

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thind BB (2005) A new versatile and robust trap for detection and monitoring of stored product pests in the cereal and allied industries. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 35:1–15

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thind BB, Clarke PG (2001) The occurrence of mites in cereal-based foods destined for human consumption and possible consequences of infestation. Exp Appl Acarol 25:203–215

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thind BB, Ford HL (2004) Management of storage mites in production premises through early detection and monitoring using BT mite traps. Phytopaga 14:733–744

    Google Scholar 

  • Toews MD, Nansen C (2012) Trapping and interpreting captures of stored grain insects, pp. 243–261. In D. W. Hagstrum, T. W Phillips and G. Cuperus (eds.), Stored product protection. Kansas State University, Manhattan

  • Wakefield ME (2006) Storage arthropod pest detection - current status and future directions, pp. 371-384. In: Lorini I, Bacaltchuk B, Beckel H, Deckers D, Sundfeld E, dos Santos JP, Biagi JD et al (eds) Proceedings, 9th international working conference on stored product protection. Biology, behavior, and pest detection on stored grain. October 15–18 Campinas

    Google Scholar 

  • Wakefield ME, Dunn JA (2005) Effectiveness of the BT mite trap for detecting the storage mite pests, Acarus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor and Tyrophagus longior. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 35:17–28

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y, Abbar S, Amoah B, Phillips TW, Schilling MW (2016) Controlling pests in dry-cured ham: a review. Meat Sci 111:183–191

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. James Campbell, USDA ARS Center for Grain and Animal Health Research in Manhattan, KS, for providing them with rooms to conduct the experiments. They would also like to thank the United States Department of Agriculture Methyl Bromide Transition Program for funding this study. This article represents Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution 17-262-J and Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA

    Barbara Amoah & Thomas W. Phillips

  2. Department of Biological and Physical Sciences, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, NC, 29117, USA

    Barbara Amoah

  3. Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA

    M. Wes Schilling

Authors
  1. Barbara Amoah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Wes Schilling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Thomas W. Phillips
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas W. Phillips.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Amoah, B., Schilling, M.W. & Phillips, T.W. Physical Factors Influencing Orientation of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae) to Food-Baited Traps. J Insect Behav 30, 544–562 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-017-9639-8

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-017-9639-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation