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Title: Yellow sticky cards equipped with light-emitting diodes: a natural enemies compatible management tool for whiteflies (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and other greenhouse vegetable pests

Author
item Simmons, Alvin
item Chu, Chang Chi
item Henneberry, Thomas

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/18/2003
Publication Date: 4/1/2004
Citation: Simmons, A.M., Chu, C., Henneberry, T.J. 2004. Yellow sticky cards equipped with light-emitting diodes: a natural enemies compatible management tool for whiteflies (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) and other greenhouse vegetable pests. Journal of Entomological Science. 39(2):298-300.

Interpretive Summary: Whiteflies and other insect pests are economically important in vegetable and ornamental greenhouse production. Whiteflies and some other insects can be trapped by yellow sticky traps. Yellow sticky card traps were modified with lime green LEDs (light-emiting-diodes) to increase the capture of the B-biotype sweetpotato whitefly (also called silverleaf whitefly) and other pests. As compared with the standard sticky trap, the light-modified trap increased the capture of whiteflies and fungus gnats. The capture of thrips was not affected. Also, the light-modified trap had little or no effect on the capture of two beneficial insects (a parasite and a lady beetle). This LED is reusable and is low cost. The LED-modified sticky trap may be useful for greenhouse vegetable growers to improve whitefly management with little impact on released predators and parasitoids.

Technical Abstract: Whiteflies and other pests are problematic in vegetable and ornamental greenhouse production. Yellow sticky card traps were modified with lime green light-emitting diodes (LED) to increase the efficacy of capture of the B-biotype Bemisia tabaci (sweetpotato whiteflies) and other pests in greenhouse collard and melon crops. Compared with the standard yellow sticky card trap, the LED-modified trap resulted in an increase in capture of whiteflies and fungus gnats, Bradysis coprophila. Capture of the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) was not affected by the treatment. Parasitoids and predators are sold commercially to help manage greenhouse arthropod pests. The modified trap seemed to have little or no impact on the capture of an Erectomerus parasitoid of whiteflies and a coccinelid predator (Delphastus catalinae) of whiteflies. This work demonstrates the potential of using an LED-modified sticky trap for detecting, monitoring, and management of whiteflies in greenhouse vegetable crops.