Influence of Colour and Height of Sticky Traps In Attraction of Thrips on Gladiolus

Abstract

Thrips are very cryptic in nature and difficult to trace and initiate control measure under field condition till damage symptom appears. Thrips generally move long distances by floating with the wind and get trapped on the sticky board while moving between rows of plants as traps are better indicators of thrips activity. Coloured sticky traps are used for mass trapping and monitoring. This study assessed the effectiveness of coloured sticky traps for mass trapping of Scirtothrips dorsalis (Hood) in gladiolus. The attraction of three colours blue, yellow, and white at four different heights (25, 50, 75 and 100 cm) was assessed. The number of thrips caught in the various coloured traps varied greatly, with the blue sticky trap attracting the most, followed by yellow and white. These findings suggest that blue-colored traps can be utilised for mass trapping and monitoring of thrips in gladiolus.