Sustainable trap strategies for controlling the dominant waxberry pest Dicranocephalus wallichii bowringi: Evidence from three-year field trials.

Abstract

Waxberry, a highly valued specialty fruit in China, is frequently threatened by various pests. Among these, certain beetle species, particularly Dicranocephalus wallichii bowringi, have emerged as major pests during the fruit harvest season in Jiangsu, China. However, the field occurrence patterns of these beetles remain poorly understood, hindering effective management. Here, we conducted a three-year field study to monitor the population dynamics of beetles in open waxberry orchards and to develop sustainable pest management strategies. Of the three common beetle species identified, D. wallichii bowringi was the dominant pest, with peak populations coinciding with fruit ripening. A green trapping device baited with a sugar-vinegar-wine aqueous solution effectively attracted adult D. wallichii bowringi. Implementation of this strategy over three consecutive years resulted in marked reductions in D. wallichii bowringi populations. These findings offer an eco-friendly and effective trapping strategy for managing this key waxberry pest.