Efficacy and persistence of fluon on black panel traps using brush on and spray application

Black panel intercept traps are used extensively for surveys of wood-boring beetles. Panel traps are typically treated with Fluon®, a liquid fluoropolymer suspension that substantially increases trap catch by preventing insects from landing on panels. Most traps are treated with Fluon® as a liquid dilution applied by brush. This process is messy and results in substantial waste. Fluon® can also be applied as an aerosol spray, which is easier and less wasteful. However, it is not known if brush and aerosol Fluon® are equally effective as a trap treatment. We tested for differences in capture of wood-borers between traps to which Fluon® was applied with a brush, traps treated with aerosol Fluon®, and untreated control traps. We also compared capture of wood-borers by traps to which brush and aerosol Fluon® had been freshly applied and traps treated two years prior. There was no significant difference in trap catch between brush and aerosol Fluon® when freshly applied. However, aerosol-treated traps declined in effectiveness after one year, capturing significantly fewer beetles than any treatment other than control. Our results suggest that aerosol Fluon® is a good alternative to brush treatment, although yearly reapplication is likely necessary to maintain trap effectiveness.