Response of Tortricid Moths and Non-Target Insects to Pheromone Trap Color in Commercial Apple Orchards

Authors: Myers, Clayton; KRAWCZYK, GRZEGORZ - PENN STATE UNIVERSITY; AGNELLO, ARTHUR - CORNELL UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of Entomological Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/16/2008
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: A number of various trap colors were evaluated to see if trap color has an effect on capture of pest species in sex pheromone traps that are commonly used for pest monitoring and IPM applications. Evaluations were carried out in New York and Pennsylvania to assess capture of the obliquebanded leafroller, oriental fruit moth, tufted apple bud moth, and codling moth, assessing two different trap designs, and a number of different trap colors. Capture of obliquebanded leafroller and oriental fruit moth in standard plastic delta-shaped traps was not affected by trap color, but capture of non-target flies and honeybees was decreased in red, yellow, orange, and green traps, when compared to white traps. This suggests that colored traps may be less attractive to non-target insects; and thus, be a preferable option to white traps because of reduced trap clutter and accordingly, less time and effort required for weekly cleaning, and also because appropriately colored traps are more readily located visually in the tree canopy. A separate study that assessed various colors of a novel four-sided plastic trap design also indicated that there was no effect of color on capture of tufted apple bud moth, codling moth, oriental fruit moth, or obliquebanded leafroller.

Technical Abstract: Pheromone traps are a widely used tool for monitoring pest activity in commercial apple orchards. Studies were conducted to evaluate delta-style traps painted with different colors (orange, red, yellow, green, blue, and white) for capture of obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) and oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck) as well as non-target muscoid flies and honeybees, Apis mellifera L. An additional study evaluated plastic, four-sided LepTrap(R) traps of various colors in comparison with a standard delta trap for capture of obliquebanded leafroller, oriental fruit moth, tufted apple bud moth, Platynota idaeusalis (Walker), and codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. Capture of obliquebanded leafroller and oriental fruit moth was not significantly affected by trap color. Capture of non-target flies and honeybees tended to be higher in blue and white (both painted and unpainted) delta-style traps in New York apple orchards, although there was some variability in this response by orchard site. There were no differences in capture of four pest species in Pennsylvania between colored, plastic LepTrap(R) traps and standard unpainted white delta-style traps. Given the observed differences in non-target capture, and the improved efficiencies of finding traps within tree canopies, we recommend using yellow, red, or orange delta traps for monitoring of obliquebanded leafroller, oriental fruit moth, and tufted apple bud moth.