OECOS - THE STORY SO FAR
Oecos established in Kimpton, England in 1977, manufactures and sells insect
monitoring and trapping devices based on the use of insect attractants and other
insect behaviour modifying materials, collectively known as semiochemicals.
These traps and other related products are used in field agriculture, horticulture
(vegetables and fruit) and protected cropping.
Oecos established its first pheromone system in 1978, making it the first producer of Pheromone systems in Europe. It was a monitoring system for the pea moth Cydia nigricana developed in conjunction with the Institute of Arable Crops (at Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, UK). The system took three years to complete and was one of the first to give predictive pest thresholds from trap catch. The pea moth system remains one of the most reliable systems for use in any crop.
The number of pheromone systems supplied now exceeds 100 species, mainly Lepidopteran (moths) pests, but with a growing number of Coleopterans (beetles) and Diptera (flies). Oecos produces and supplies to all parts of the world, throughout Europe, North and South America, Asia including Japan and the Middle East.
Since 1999 Oecos has had its own chemistry synthesis and analysis capability as the diversity of chemicals used in pheromone and attractant systems has made this necessary to stay at the forefront of this technology.
Along with its interest in pheromones, Oecos has developed its own equipment to produce boards and rolls of plastic sheet coated with a polybutene based adhesive to trap pest insects, particularly in protected crops. The manufacture of an effective trap requires an effective insect trapping glue with certain unusual characteristics. It must have the capability to catch and hold insects, it should remain sticky when exposed in the field, it should be weatherproof and be capable of being stored in variable conditions. The non-setting insect trapping adhesive developed by Oecos, now known as Oecotak, has been accepted as an International Standard in insect trapping glues and is used worldwide in research projects with insects as varied as thrips in Malaysia, armyworm in East Africa, Simulium in West African rivers and cockroach trapping throughout the world.
Oecos has developed specialised machinery for the application of Oecotak to a variety of substances ranging from small cards used to trap whiteflies and aphids in glasshouses to 100m rolls for trapping leafhoppers in Californian vineyards.
Oecos has provided material for the pursuit of field experimentation by Governmental organisations and International Development and Aids Agencies throughout the world. Currently, there are many approaches to control measures under investigation for insect control. These are in conjunction with research establishments in many places, ie AgResearch in New Zealand to establish an attractant system for Sitona species to monitor movement of this pest complex; with the Natural Resources Institute UK to produce an attractant for a borer pest of legume pests in West Africa; with the Processors and Growers Research Organisation UK to look at control measures for pea moth on legumes avoiding the use of insecticide sprays. A proposal to investigate the use of pheromone attractants with pathogenic fungi in top fruit with codling moth Cydia pomonella - CRAFT Award - with Horticulture Research Institute UK and University of Lleida is submitted to the EC.
Pheromone & Attractant Lures
Oecos offer an ever-widening range of pheromone dispensers or lures for use in the trapping and monitoring of insects, a list of the most common pheromone and attractant lures supplied is available.
The majority of dispensers are pheromone based and are targeted at the order of Lepidoptera, when one of the Oecos Delta Traps is commonly recommended as the most suitable and the most economic option. The Oecos Delta Trap is available in two sizes - the small and the large. The small is recommended for adult moth sizes up to 12mm in length while the large Delta Trap is recommended for adult moths of 12 to 25mm in length.
Certain of the larger species (particularly of the noctuid moths) require a more voluminous trap as 1 or 2 moths may quickly fill the trapping area of even the large Delta Trap. Here the Oecos Funnel Trap is recommended - the all green Funnel Trap being preferred for field use.
The recommended trap types for Coleoptera and Diptera is usually quite different and advice as to the most suitable traps is available from Oecos.
Siting of Traps
The siting of traps, that is their positioning, is very important and operators should be carefully instructed in this matter. Basically, the operator should place his traps so as to maximise the probability of pest capture. This will be achieved by placing the trap where the pest is most likely to visit and ensuring they have unimpeded access to the trap.
As a general rule, when using pheromone/attractant traps for monitoring for a pest, traps should be used at a rate of 1-2 traps per hectare. Catches should be monitored regularly and results recorded. Evaluation of the results and deciding the optimum time to spray is the art. Basically one is looking for changes, ie a sudden and sustained rise in the pest population (sometimes referred to as the threshold) - then spraying is necessary. Do not place traps with lures for different species near to one another in the field (ie less than 100m).
Pheromone Storage and Hygiene
On receipt, the sachets holding the lures should be kept in a refrigerator or freezer until they are placed in traps in the field. Always handle the lures carefully using clean hands. Wash your hands between handling lures for different insect species. Do not expose lures for different species near to one another, either indoors or outdoors. These instructions are necessary in order to avoid cross-contamination between lures for different insect species. Insects are highly sensitive to these chemicals and even the amount transferred by touch could attract the wrong species, reduce catches or render the lure ineffective.
Lures can be stored for up to two years at -18°C provided they are kept in the air-tight sachet they are supplied in. All traps, lures and sticky inserts should be disposed of either by burning or with the domestic refuse, and should never be re-used.
The adhesive used on the trap is very sticky but can be removed from hands using a quality hand cleaner or from other surfaces using white spirit or paraffin. While this product uses no harmful materials, the lure is small enough to be swallowed.
Sticky Traps
Yellow water traps and sticky traps have been used for several decades in scientific
studies, on aphids in particular, and their use has spread as inexpensive monitoring
and control devices especially in glasshouses. Recent concern for the environment
has led to their more extensive use and more research has been done to optimise
the choice of colour and location.
WESTERN FLOWER THRIPS
The arrival and spread of Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis)
is currently causing concern to growers. Research in Scandinavia has demonstrated
that blue surfaces of a particular spectral reflectance placed vertically just
at the top of the crop canopy are extremely effective and attractive to this
and other Thrips. Oecos' blue traps are therefore useful to monitor for the
presence of this pest and to indicate the need for and effectiveness of chemical
treatments.
LEAF MINERS
The American Serpentine Leaf Miner and the South American Leaf Miner (Liriomyza
trifolii and Liriomyza huidobrensis) have lately become increasingly important
glasshouse pests. Oecos' yellow traps are useful for control, they should be
suspended just above the crop canopy thereby minimising the risk of catching
the beneficial parasites.
APHIDS
The winged form of all species are strongly attracted to Oecos' yellow traps,
but the more damaging wingless forms must be controlled by conventional chemical
methods, movement between plants may be reduced by installing a barrier of Oecotak
which stops all crawling insects.
FUNGUS FLIES
Oecos' white traps have frequently been used for monitoring Phorid and Sciarid
flies in mushroom houses. Oecos' yellow traps are equally effective and may
also be used against Cecidomyid flies.
ORANGE BLOSSOM MIDGE
The yellow sticky traps have been found to be successful in attracting the orange
blossom midge and can be used to monitor its arrival in wheat crops during May/June
in the UK.
CARROT FLY
Orange sticky traps, using a much more rigid plastic, are effective in monitoring
carrot flies. Sticky traps are available from Oecos with stands for placing
them in the crop at the optimum height and angle. (It is recommended that the
traps are at an angle of 45°)
Oecos produces two types of sticky traps:
WETSTICK with Oecotak Adhesive
Our original sticky traps, coated with our Oecotak adhesive. The traps are available
in various sizes/dimensions, plastic in yellow, blue and white and PE coated
cardboard in white or brown. The cardboard traps are also used as the sticky
inserts for the delta traps. Plastic traps can be printed with a grid to help
with counting catches and/or customer name and logo.
DRYSTICK
By popular demand, we have introduced a sticky trap which is more user friendly,
ie the adhesive does not come off the trap onto hands when handling. The adhesive
is covered with a silicone coated paper which is removed when the trap is positioned.
The paper is perforated so that it can be removed in sections if required for
monitoring purposes. This adhesive is generally not active for a long as the
Oecotak adhesive as it is more easily saturated with insects or dust and debris.
Drystick traps are available in yellow or blue plastic in various dimensions.
NEW PRODUCT - PAPER DRYSTICK
Our latest product is a paper trap coated with the drystick glue. This is available
in yellow and is more environmentally friendly and cheaper than our plastic
drystick traps.
Oecos' traps should be deployed at the rate of about 2 traps per 5 square metres
in particularly susceptible crops, and at half the rate where the perceived
problem is less. If in deployment the hands become contaminated, the sticky
material may be removed with white spirit and washed off with soap and water
or a good hand cleaner.
Oecotak
Oecotak is a non-setting/drying, polybutene based adhesive, formulated specifically for the trapping of insects in the field and in protected crops or locations. Oecotak has been extensively tested in the field and the research reports confirm its outstanding performance under a range of climatic conditions from North European winter through to tropical summer.
Oecotak was developed in the UK for the highly successful Oecos pea moth monitoring system and has been used worldwide in research programmes for the last 25 years and has proved very effective in a wide range of insects from armyworms in Africa to thrips in Malaysia. Spraying with water does not affect the adhesive properties of the material but contamination with dust and debris or very large catches of insects (especially moths) will reduce efficiency and the traps should then be replaced.
Oecotak is consequently the "product of choice" in all insect trapping programmes.
The adhesive is available in ready made traps or may be purchased in bulk for local production of traps. Oecotak may also be used for surface application to create an insect exclusion zone for crawling insects around threatened areas or plants.
An effective insect glue must combine the characteristics of not being too fluid or runny under field conditions, but must retain sufficient properties of "snatch" that insects are caught and held at the first touch.
Given the wide range of climates under which insects are trapped, this cannot be achieved with a single product formulation. Consequently Oecotak is offered in three formulations:
Oecotak A2 for use in lower temperature conditions - only available as a special
order
Oecotak A5 the standard adhesive for use in temperate zones
Oecotak A10 the tropical standard
Oecotak is offered in quantities of 1 litre, 5 litres or 200 litres.
Where Oecotak is to be used for local production of trapping surfaces it can be difficult to get the glue to "flow" at lower ambient temperatures. To assist with this the 1 litre and 5 litre containers are plastic and the adhesive can be heated by placing the container in water and heating the water (bain-marie) until the glue 'melts'. Alternatively, place the container in a warm place for some time before use.
Rollertrap
Rollertrap is a continuous roll of yellow or blue plastic film, coated on both sides with Oecotak insect trapping adhesive, giving a large trapping area.
It is intended for use in trapping large numbers of insects, particularly in protected cropping, but will have applications in outdoor crops where dust is not a significant problem. It is the cheapest form of yellow/blue sticky trap available when comparing trapping area.
Oecotak insect trapping glue is a non-drying adhesive specially formulated for the trapping of flying insects. The colour of Rollertrap has been selected as being a very attractive colour for insects, which become entangled and held in the glue when seeking to land on the trap.
Rollertrap is generally supplied in rolls of 100 metre lengths. The film on
which the glue is placed is either 15cm or 30cm in width. We have recently introduced
a new version of the rollertrap using rolls 30cm x 20m which we call Easytrap.
A roll is suspended horizontally on a frame. A length of approximately 40cm
of the plastic film is pulled down and held in place over the frame with 2 pegs.
This gives a trap similar to conventional plastic sticky traps which can be
used for monitoring or to help control the pest if enough traps are used. The
frame is very mobile, with 2 hooks to hang it in the desired position, it can
be easily moved around the glasshouse to where it is needed most, ie if there
is an outbreak of whitefly in one corner of the glasshouse, the traps can be
concentrated here.
Overall, a very versatile, effective sticky trap which is very competitively
priced.
Uses & Applications
Inside:
Short sections of Rollertrap can be cut off and hung vertically by wrapping the top edge onto itself around a wire. The Easytrap also suits this application. Alternatively, a complete roll can be suspended the length of a glasshouse. The following illustrations show some applications:
Easy Trap in a glasshouse Rollertrap in a glasshouse
Outside:
Rollertrap can be used outside where there is a structure that it can be attached to, for example in a vineyard. The plastic film can be wrapped around vertical supports or pinned in position with staples or tacks. It may be necessary to use a cardboard or thicker plastic overlay between the staple and the film to avoid the film splitting in windy conditions. NB the adhesive may become saturated with dust and debris more quickly when used outside.
Precautions
Oecotak insect trapping glue is very sticky. It may be cleaned from the hands by the use of a good quality proprietary hand cleaner and from other surfaces using white spirit.
In cold conditions the adhesive can make Rollertrap difficult to unroll. When this occurs, it is best to keep the product in a warm place overnight prior to use. When warm the Oecotak adhesive becomes slightly softer and the Rollertrap is then much easier to unroll.
The Oecos Funnel Trap
The Oecos Funnel Trap is a robust plastic trap of three interlocking sections:
a lid
a funnel section
a catching bucket
The lid is umbrella shaped with a central hole which carries a tight-fitting
cap. The cap is used at the attachment point for some pheromone dispensers/lures
while others are contained in the plastic basket provided.
When assembled the top is distant from, but connected to, a funnel-like section. The special separation of the two parts allows the pheromone to be released below the umbrella-like top. The funnel in turn locks onto the bucket-like base.
Insects attracted to the trap fly around the pheromone lure until exhausted and then fall down the funnel and into the collection bucket. Most insects, and certainly all moths, find it impossible to fly out of the bucket and within the bucket they may be killed by the use of some water containing a small amount of detergent or soap, or trapped with our moth walls.
The traps are offered in two colour types:
the all green trap for field or forestry use
a brightly coloured trap - green lid/yellow funnel/clear bucket for easy identification
in the crop
The brightly coloured trap is easy to find in all locations but is attractive
to some beneficial insects, particularly bees, in field use.
Mothwalls
Single side sticky traps which line the inside of the bucket of the funnel trap to catch the moths when they enter the trap. The traps are coated with our drystick glue, covered with silicone coated paper for easy handling.
The Oecos McPhail Trap
The Oecos McPhail Trap is a robust plastic trap of two interlocking sections:
a clear top
an inverted yellow funnel base
Insects enter the trap through the inverted funnel base attracted by attractant/pheromone
inside the trap. The trap is usually used for flies and wasps.
Once inside the trap, insects remain held by the attractant and by the light entering through the clear top. Within the trap the insects may be killed by the use of a slow vaporising insecticidal strip, or drowned in a small amount of water which can be contained within the inverted funnel. To help avoid evaporation of this water a very small amount of detergent or oil can be added.