WSDA Insect Traps

WSDA utilizes numerous different traps as part of its work to look for over 100 priority invasive pest that could threaten Washington's environment, farms, and gardens. Learn about some of the traps we use below. 

If a WSDA trap has been placed on your property, please do not disturb it. If you have a question about the trap or would like it removed prior to the end of the trapping season, please contact the pest program at pest@agr.wa.gov or 1-800-443-6684. If visible on the trap, please provide the trap number when asking about a specific trap. Thank you for helping protect Washington's environment from invasive pests! 

Apple maggot is established in Western Washington and in some Eastern Washington counties. WSDA traps for apple maggot around threatened orchards and in pest-free areas to ensure that Washington's iconic apple-growing regions and orchards remain pest-free. Thanks to the collaborative work with WSDA, the apple industry, county pest boards, and researchers, apple maggot has never been detected in Washington commercial apples. 

The yellow sticky-card traps are placed in the field from about June - October each year and are checked regularly throughout the season. 



 

To trap for invasive moths, WSDA uses a pesticide-free, pheromone based trap. These traps can attract spongy moths and members of the flighted spongy moth complex from up to a mile away. The moths are attracted to the scent inside and when they land, the sticky surface prevents them from escaping. The traps are usually triangular and are green, orange, or brown. INVASIVE MOTHS HAVE BEEN DETECTED IN WASHINGTON STATE. These traps are critical for continued early detection and our ability to continue to keep these moths from establishing in Washington like we have since 1974. 


 

Japanese beetle traps come in two forms - bag traps and cup traps. They have a pheromone lure that attracts the beetles. When the beetles land on the slippery surface, they fall into the cup or bag and cannot escape. 

Japanese beetle traps are set from May through October and are checked regularly throughout the season. 

Cup trap:



Bag trap: 

The northern giant hornet, also known as the Asian giant hornet or "murder hornet", was first detected in Washington State in December of 2019. Since then, WSDA has trapped for the hornets in order to detect them, eventually catch a live hornet, and tag and track it back to the nest so the nest can be eradicated. 

There are two types of traps used - detection traps and live traps. Detection traps are used to first detect the hornets in an area. Once detected, live traps are deployed in order to capture live hornets that can be tagged. 

Both traps have a combination of orange juice and rice wine, which attracts hornets but dissuades bees from entering. 

Detection trap:



In addition to these traps, WSDA is working with USDA to deploy experimental traps. 

WSDA looks for exotic wood-boring insects each year - which includes bark beetles, long horned beetles, jewel beetles, and wood wasps - using three different types of traps. Traps may be placed at varying times of year depending on insect activity. 

Multi-funnel trap: 



Cross vane panel trap: 



Purple prism trap: