Yellow sticky card offers composite attractiveness to western flower thrips and greenhouse whitefly

Abstract

Studies have reported differential attractiveness of yellow, white or blue sticky cards to Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood. This study was conducted to determine whether yellow or blue sticky card is better in attracting these greenhouse pests. Laboratory study that included choice and no-choice tests followed by a glasshouse study to compare composite attractiveness of color sticky cards to the greenhouse pests was conducted. F. occidentalis showed higher preference to blue and yellow sticky cards in laboratory, and blue captured the greatest number of F. occidentalis in glasshouse test. However, while the blue sticky card captured few T. vaporariorum, the yellow sticky card captured the greatest number of T. vaporariorum in both laboratory and glasshouse tests. Since yellow sticky card received composite affinity of both pests, placement of yellow sticky card, rather than blue or yellow targeted to individual species, is recommended for monitoring greenhouse pests.