Evaluation of thrips (Thysanoptera: Tripidae) monitoring with commercial acrylic traps of different colors in a commercial chrysanthemun crop

Abstract

A trial was carried out in a commercial chry­santhemum crop in Madrid (Cund.), to moni­tor a thrip population, by using sticky acrylic boards of different colors, white, yellow and three blue tonalities. The traps area was 96.774 cm² and they were divided into 15 squares of 6.4516 cm² each one (3 columns and 5 rows) and they were distributed within the greenhouse in the chrysanthemum crop, cultivar Polaris. The blue tonality with a wavelength of 440 nm and 53.52% reflectance was the most effec­tive for capturing adult thrips and it was the least affected by environmental factors. The trap side located outwards recorded the larg­est capture, suggesting that thrips migration occurs mainly from the outside towards the in­, side of the greenhouses. The light blue tonali­ties excites a greater thrip's attraction than the dark ones. Yellow color attracts better other insects like leafminers and whitefly adults. Fi­nally, analysis of the results showed that it is sufficient and representative to read just one column of the trap (5 squares), which facili­tates and reduces the monitoring costs.