Integrating novel multi-taxa lures with multisensory traps for surveillance of high-risk pests

This research addresses the critical challenge of the increasing rate of biosecurity threats to NZ biosecurity and primary industries by integrating multi-taxa lures with multisensory traps to enhance precision biosecurity surveillance.

Emerging evidence suggests combining specific semiochemical lures within a single trap can effectively monitor multiple pest species within a generic surveillance program, however, few studies have attempted to combine semiochemicals (host plant-based and/or pheromone attractants) into a single trap to simultaneously monitor species with different life traits and from different taxa. Cues beyond olfaction, such as visual signals (e.g., color, shape), could enhance attraction/direct movements of insects to the traps.

This project will test the hypothesis that the effectiveness/specificity of existing surveillance tools can be enhanced by combining multi-taxa lures and incorporating non-olfactory cues into novel multisensory traps. We will assess the compatibility of different semiochemicals to simultaneously target key pests at single locations and determine whether novel traps that integrate these chemicals with insect-attractive cues from other sensory modalities could enhance the effectiveness/specificity of the lures while reducing the sensitivity to non-target species.

Our research will directly enhance NZ’s biosecurity system by contributing to the success of surveillance programmes in/around pest arrival points in New Zealand through the adoption of a multispecies- and multi-taxa lure approach for simultaneous surveillance of high-risk insects from different orders/families (BMSB, exotic lepidopterans, bark/ambrosia beetles, cerambycids). This new approach offers:

(a) a cost-effective solution for reducing biosecurity operational costs without compromising detection efficacy;

(b) increase trap selectivity/specificity for targeted surveillance of key high-risk pests to NZ primary industries;

(c) strengthens existing local/ international collaborations,

(d) provides baseline data for future projects on optimization of multispecies/multimodal traps (e.g. best trap deployment methods, locations, densities); and

(e) generates a new tool for surveillance – optimizing current surveillance systems like the one for spongy moth.  

Contact Project Leader Adriana Najar-Rodriguez: [email protected]