DESIGN FOR AN IMPROVED ADULT EMERGENCE TRAP FOR CORN-ROOTWORM (COLEOPTERA, CHRYSOMELIDAE)

An emergence trap was designed to estimate absolute populations of adu lt corn rootworms (CRW), Diabrotica species. This trap incorporated el ements from previous trap designs and also had several new and unique features. For example, a collecting device was developed to fit on the top of the pyramidal trap which facilitated the rapid monitoring of t he beetles. A program providing the dimensions and angles for the scre en pattern was written in Microsoft Basic(R) on an IBM computer. A con struction adhesive was used to join the screen edges which proved to b e very cost-effective and efficient. This program substantially reduce d the time required to fit a new screen pattern compared to a trial an d error approach. This trap was set rapidly in the field and easily mo nitored. Higher initial investment in construction was rapidly offset by lower monitoring cost.