FUNNEL TRAP

A funnel trap is a type of insect trap designed to capture a wide range of crawling or flying pests, typically using an attractant to lure them into a container from which escape is difficult.

Structure and Design
Funnel Shape: The trap features a funnel-shaped entrance that guides insects into the trap’s main chamber or container. The funnel is designed in a way that insects can easily enter but have difficulty exiting.

Material: Funnel traps are usually made from materials such as plastic, metal, or durable cardboard. The main chamber or container may contain a sticky adhesive or a liquid solution to capture insects once they enter.

Attractant: Many funnel traps use an attractant to lure insects. This could be a pheromone (e.g., for mating disruption or specific species attraction), food lure (e.g., fermented baits for fruit flies), or visual cues (e.g., color and shape for flying insects).

Applications
Monitoring and Detection: Funnel traps are commonly used for monitoring insect populations in agricultural settings. They help farmers and researchers assess pest density and distribution, aiding in the implementation of timely pest management strategies.

Mass Trapping: In some cases, funnel traps are used for mass trapping to reduce pest populations. By capturing a significant number of insects, especially pests that are harmful to crops, funnel traps can help mitigate crop damage.

Species-Specific Trapping: Funnel traps can be tailored to target specific insect species or groups, depending on the type of attractant used. This specificity makes them valuable tools in integrated pest management (IPM) programs.

Research and Surveillance: Funnel traps are also used in scientific research to study insect behavior, population dynamics, and the efficacy of pest control measures.

Tips for Effective Use
Placement: Position funnel traps strategically based on the target pest and the layout of the area to be monitored. For flying insects, traps are often hung at canopy level in fields or orchards. For crawling insects, place traps along paths or near entry points.

Maintenance: Regularly inspect and maintain funnel traps to ensure they remain effective. This includes replacing attractants, cleaning traps if necessary

The males attracted by the female pheromone lure, enter the trap and get hit by the sides of the walls at the base of canopy and fall into the polythene bag and get killed. Traps should normally be attached to stakes at crop height and placed within the crop with at least 50 m between each trap. To avoid affecting the efficiency of the trapping system.

Target Pest: Helicoverpa armigera (Cotton bollworm), Spodoptera litura (Cut worm), Pectinophora gossypiella (Pink bollworm), Earias vittella (Spotted Bollworm), Scirpophaga incertulas (Yellow Stem Borer), Plutella xylostella (Diamond back moth), Spodoptera frugiperda (Fall Armyworm), Spodoptera exigua (Beet armyworm).