The use of bug vacuums and research conducted on the optimization of these for lygus bug management has improved the efficiency of these machines from 2-3% to over 15% uptake.

Optimization of these bug vacuums, including the addition of front plates, identification of the ideal ground and wind speed has led to widespread adoption for lygus control, reducing insecticide applications industry-wide.

For the recommended best management practices, see our production guideline:

Best Management Practices to Improve Bug Vacuums (English)

Buenas Prácticas de Manejo para Mejorar las Aspiradoras de Insectos (en Espanol) (en Espanol)

Pruebas de aspiradoras durante la temporada de crecimiento de 2017 en el área de Salinas / Watsonville.

California strawberry growers have included bug vacuums in their fields as part of their integrated pest management strategy (IPM) for the control of Lygus bug. Recently, a new, more efficient double-barrel bug vacuum has been shown to increase Lygus bug uptake by 2.3 times that of conventionally used vacuums. This is a result of the new vacuum’s increased airflow. Thank you to C&N Tractors for working with the California Strawberry Commission and the Cal Poly Strawberry Center on the fabrication and field testing of the double-barrel bug vacuum. Continue reading for design details that can be used for fabrication.