Light traps have been widely used for controlling underground pests. However, very little is known regarding the relationship between trapping effect and antioxidant enzymatic activities using light irradiation in underground pests. Thus, we determined the trapping effect of three light sources of the frequoscillation pest-killing lamp on two species of cockchafers, Serica orientalis Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) and Anomala corpulenta Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Rutelidae), and evaluated the effect of the same three light sources on the activities of their antioxidant enzymes. The catches of S. orientalis were significantly higher compared to A. corpulenta using light source A in peanut fields in China. After irradiation by light source A, the malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferases (GST) in S. orientalis were significantly and marginally significantly lower compared to A. corpulenta. Taken together, these results indicated a weaker antioxidant enzyme activity response to light stress and a larger quantity of trapping catches using light irradiation in cockchafers. Thus, we proposed a potential negative relationship between trapping effect and antioxidant enzymatic activities in response to light irradiation in cockchafers.
Keywords: Anomala corpulenta Motschulsky; Antioxidant enzyme systems; Light irradiation; Serica orientalis Motschulsky; Trapping catches; Underground pests.