Influence of Wick Area on Trap Captures of Japanese Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Lures for the Japanese beetle, phenethyl propionate (PEP) + eugenol, 3:7, and PEP + eugenol + geraniol, 3:7:3, were evaporated in the field through wicks with exposed areas ranging from 3.82 to 62.06 cm2. Although shorter wicks attracted beetles more efficiently than longer wicks, captures did not differ significantly regardless of exposed wick area. Furthermore, traps containing wicks with the greatest evaporative area (over fivefold that of the standard) gave no indication of repellency to the pest. Evaporation of as little as 35 mg of lure per trap per day is sufficient to maintain high trap performance.