Optimizing monitoring strategies for Lamprodila festiva L. (Buprestidae, Coleoptera): Insights from a two-year field study

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that the cypress jewel beetle, Lamprodila festiva L. (Buprestidae, Coleoptera), a species native to the Mediterranean region, has significantly expanded its range and become a major pest of ornamental Cupressaceae species in many urban areas and nurseries. Often, new outbreaks of this pest are identified based on damage caused by the larvae on host plants. However, this type of identification can be lethal for the host species, which often dries up partially or completely. Therefore, the development of effective detection and monitoring methods, as well as a better understanding of adult flight dynamics, is essential for pest management.
To monitor this pest of Cupressaceae species, a two-year field experiment was conducted in a nursery located near Bucharest, Romania, using sticky traps (coated on both sides with adhesive) in green and yellow colours, together with dispensers containing host volatile compounds. The trapping schemes were as follows: green unbaited, green baited, yellow unbaited and yellow baited.
A total of 2,231 L. festiva specimens were captured, revealing differences in trap performance among treatments. Females represented a very small proportion of the total catch (approximately 3%) in both study years. Green traps were the most effective in capturing adults, while the use of host volatile-based lures did not affect the mean number of individuals captured per trap.
Both sexes showed clear responses to trap colour, with males being more strongly attracted to green traps, while females exhibited a preference for yellow traps.
Under the climatic conditions of the study area, adult flight activity began at the end of May and lasted until the first decade of August. The main flight activity occurred in June in both years, while from late July onwards a marked decline in the mean number of adults captured per day was observed. The results contribute to a better understanding of L. festiva flight dynamics and support the use of green sticky traps as a practical monitoring tool in ornamental nurseries and urban plantings of Cupressaceae.