Dr. S. Mohan

The use of trap is relatively a new method of detecting, trapping insects in stored grains. The basic components of a TNAU probe trap consists of three important parts : A main tube, insect trapping tube and a detachable cone at the bottom. Equispaced perforations of 2 mm diameter are made  in the main tube.                             

Concept : Insects love 'AIR' and move towards air. This behaviour of the insect is exploited in this technology.

Method of working : The insect trap has to be kept in the grain like rice, wheat etc., vertically with the white plastic cone downside as shown the figure. The top red cap must be with the level of the grain. Insects will move towards air in the main tube and enter through the hole. Once the insect enters the hole it falls down into the detachable white cone at the bottom. Then there is no way to escape and the insects are trapped forever. The white detachable cone can be unscrewed once in a week and the insects can be destroyed.                                                                                                                                   

 

Salient Features : No chemicals; No side effects and No maintenance cost.

Efficiency : TNAU Insect traps are excellent insect detection devices in food grains and more effective in the detection of stored grain insects namely Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), Sitophilus cryzae (L.) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) in stored food grains both in terms of detection as well as number of insects caught than the standard normal sampling method (by spear sampling). The detection ratio (trap : normal sample) is higher in trap than of normal sampling method by factors ranging from 2 : 1 to 31 : 1. The insects catch is also higher in the probe trap than the normal sampling method by factors ranging from 20 : 1 to 121 : 1. They are also good mass trapping devices when used at 2 - 3 numbers / 25 kg bin (28 cm dia and 39 cm length). They should be placed at top 6 inches of the grain, where the insect activity is seen during early period of storage. They can remove > 80% of the insects within 10 - 20 days.