Long-term insect surveillance and facility-level risk assessment to support integrated pest management in a fruit juice manufacturing facility

Abstract

Long-term insect surveillance is a critical component of industrial pest management in food manufacturing facilities. This study assessed the effectiveness of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program implemented in a fruit juice factory in Pathum Thani, Thailand, from January 2023 to June 2025. Weekly monitoring using 28 insect light traps and sticky boards was conducted across the facility. Capture data were aggregated on a monthly basis. To reduce the confounding influence of seasonal variation, temporal trends were assessed using same-period half-year comparisons. Diptera, particularly fruit flies, was predominant (85.7%), followed by Hemiptera (including former Homoptera) (7.9%), Hymenoptera (1.7%), and Coleoptera (1.3%). Other insects occurred at very low frequencies, collectively accounting for < 1% of the total captures. Temporal analysis using same-period half-year comparisons showed reductions of −19.1%, −28.0%, and −12.6%, followed by stabilization in 2025, with a distinct peak in November 2023 suppressed by corrective measures such as fogging, light management, and door control. The response followed a stepwise IPM framework with intensified actions only when required. Spatial analysis showed higher captures in Building 2 and the staff canteen than in Building 1. Risk classification showed most traps remained within acceptable thresholds, while persistent Level 3 risks were limited to Traps 10, 18, and 19 in Building 2. These results indicate a progressive reduction in insect captures across successive monitoring intervals under the implemented IPM program, followed by stabilization at comparatively low levels. The study provides a long-term dataset and a practical framework for facility-level insect risk assessment, supporting evidence-based pest management in industrial settings.