Flight behaviour of Prostephanus truncatus and Teretrius nigrescens demonstrated by a cheap and simple pheromone-baited trap designed to segregate catches with time

The storage pest Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Histeridae) and its predator Teretrius nigrescens (Lewis) (Coleoptera: Histeridae) are both known to disperse by flight. The pattern of flight activity of the two beetles in Ghana, across 11 months of the year, was investigated using a novel flight trap that separates catch at 3-h intervals. Prostephanus truncatus showed most flight activity around dusk with a smaller peak around dawn. Teretrius nigrescens had a strong diurnal peak. There were considerable differences in catch of both species during the year and when catch was low the peaks in activity were also less distinct.