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Title: CAPTURE OF BEMISIA TABACI (HOMOPTERA: ALEYRODIDAE) AND DELPHASTUS CATALINAE (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE) ON THREE COLORS OF STICKY TRAPS

Author
item Simmons, Alvin

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2002
Publication Date: 7/21/2003
Citation: SIMMONS, A.M. 2003. CAPTURE OF BEMISIA TABACI (HOMOPTERA: ALEYRODIDAE) AND DELPHASTUS CATALINAE (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE) ON THREE COLORS OF STICKY TRAPS. JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGICAL SCIENCE. 38(3):481-484.

Interpretive Summary: Several colors of sticky traps are used to sample and control pests in greenhouse and field crops. Whiteflies are pest problems in vegetable and ornamental crops in greenhouses. Yellow is the color of sticky traps which are used the most to attract adult whiteflies. Growers sometimes buy and release beneficial insects such as lady beetles to feed on whiteflies and other greenhouse pests. A study was conducted to determine the impact that sticky trap color may have on the capture of a lady beetle, Delphastus catalinae, as compared with the B-strain sweetpotato whitefly. Cards of three commercial sticky traps (blue, yellow, and white) were tested. Overall, about eight times more whiteflies were captured than lady beetles. Also, more whiteflies and beetles were captured on the yellow sticky trap than on traps of other colors. Because of the high numbers of beetles that were trapped, the results suggest that sticky traps may be too counter productive in greenhouse crops when this lady beetle is used for pest control. Therefore, greenhouse growers should consider removing sticky traps during times that D. catalinae are released.

Technical Abstract: Several colors of sticky traps are used to sample and control insect pests in greenhouse and field crops. Whiteflies are important pests in greenhouse production of vegetable and ornamental crops. Because several colors of sticky traps are used in greenhouses for control and survey of insect pests, it is essential that such management tools do not significantly interfere with released biological control organisms. Yellow is the color of sticky traps that are used the most to attract whiteflies. Growers release beneficial insects such as coccinellids to feed on whiteflies and other greenhouse pests. A study was conducted to determine what impact that sticky trap color may have on the capture of a generalist coccinellid predator, Delphastus catalinae as compared with the B-biotype sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). Cards of three commercial sticky traps (blue, yellow, and white) were tested. Regardless of trap color, a higher percentage (P < 0.05) of the whiteflies were trapped as compared with the beetles. Overall, about eight times more whiteflies were captured than the beetles. Also, more whiteflies and beetles were captured on the yellow trap than on traps of other colors. Because of the relatively high incidence of beetle capture, the results suggest that sticky traps, especially yellow ones, may be too counter productive in greenhouse crops when D. catalinae is used for pest control. Thus, greenhouse growers who use D. catalinae for pest control may be best served if sticky traps are removed during release events.