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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #159073
Title: TRAP EVALUATION FOR THRIPS (THYSANOPTERA: THRIPIDAE) AND HOVERFLIES (DIPTERA: SYRPHIDAE)

Author
item CHEN, TIAN-YE - UOFAZ, PHOENIX, AZ
item CHU, CHANG CHI
item FITZGERALD, GLENN
item NATWICK, ERIC - UC EXT HOLTVILLE CA
item HENNEBERRY, THOMAS

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/28/2004
Publication Date: 10/1/2004
Citation: Chen, T., Chu, C., Fitzgerald, G.J., Natwick, E.T., Henneberry, T.J. 2004. Trap evaluation for thrips (thysanoptera: thripidae) and hoverflies (diptera: syrphidae). Environmental Entomology. pp. 1416-1420

Interpretive Summary: Various trap types were evaluated for catching western flower thrips and hoverflies. More thrips were attracted to blue sticky cards compared with yellow or white cards. Numbers caught on blue cards were increased 2.0-2.5 times when cards were equipped with blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The numbers of thrips caught per cm^2 on blue sticky cups were 2.1 to 3.8 times more than on blue sticky cards. Blue LEDs increased the efficacy of blue sticky cards for catching thrips and may be useful for monitoring and thrips control in greenhouses. The higher trap catches and reduced costs indicated that blue sticky cups would be the better choice for thrips monitoring and control. Hoverflies, which are natural enemies of aphids and some other pests, were also found to be attracted to blue sticky cards. Nylon-screen cages developed to prevent hoverflies from reaching blue sticky cards effectively excluded them from the traps. When monitoring and catching thrips, nylon-screen cages could be used to prevent predaceous hoverflies and other natural enemies from being caught.

Technical Abstract: Various trap types were evaluated for catching western flower thrips, Franklinella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae). More thrips were attracted to blue sticky cards compared with yellow or white cards. Numbers caught on blue cards were increased 2.0-2.5 times when cards were equipped with blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The numbers of thrips caught per cm2 on blue sticky cups were 2.1 to 3.8 times more than on blue sticky cards. Blue LEDs increased the efficacy of blue sticky cards for catching thrips and may be useful for monitoring and thrips control in greenhouses. The higher trap catches and reduced costs indicated that blue sticky cups would be the better choice for thrips monitoring and control. Hoverflies, which are natural enemies of aphids and some other pests, were also found to be attracted to blue sticky cards. Nylon-screen cages developed to prevent hoverflies from reaching blue sticky cards effectively excluded them from the traps. When monitoring and catching thrips, nylon-screen cages could be used to prevent predaceous hoverflies and other natural enemies from being caught.