Trap Color Research Articles

How far should adjacent pan traps be placed for bee sampling?

AbstractAmong several methods of active and passive sampling bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), pan traps, also known as bee bowls, are commonly utilized for their efficiency and as a means of avoiding collector bias. When comparing pan‐trap samples using traditional statistical methods, the assumption of independence among samples needs to be met. To determine the necessary distance between pan traps to obtain independent samples, we investigated spatial dependence in bee catches using pan traps at four sites. At each site, a regular grid of pan traps was laid out, with each sample having two colors of fluorescent trap (i.e. blue and yellow). These trap pairs were separated by 10 m, with 100–109 points in the grid. In addition, five points within the grid were chosen randomly, and an additional 40 traps were placed at 2 m and 4 m from the five sample points to sample bees at a minimum 2 m trap distance. Traps collected bees for five consecutive days and bees were counted for each point and each trap color. Bee count data were analyzed using geostatistics to determine the spatial dependency in trap catches for yellow traps, blue traps, and both colors combined. The highest value of the range parameter of the semivariogram found across the four sites and pan trap colors was 17 m for blue traps. From this, we recommend a conservative minimum distance of 17 m between adjacent pan traps to obtain spatially independent samples for optimizing sampling plans when independent samples are necessary.

Comparison of catch efficiency of wire mesh fish traps operated along the coast of Thoothukudi, South-east coast of India

Aim: The study designs and fabricates traps with diverse wire mesh colors and shapes for field experiments. It also collects detailed catch data to assess their catch efficiency and determine the most effective design. Methodology: Experimental fish traps were fabricated utilizing four distinct colors (Light green, Dark green, White and Orange) and three different shapes (rectangle, square and circle). Fishing trials were conducted in selected fishing villages of Thereshpuram, with the traps operated fortnightly from June 2022 to May 2023. The catch rate per trip (CPUE) was calculated using the Total catch (in numbers) divided by the Unit Effort (White, 1987). An economic analysis of trap fishery was also performed based on gross revenue and total cost (Geetha et al., 2014). Results: The traps' overall catch per unit effort (CPUE) was recorded at 0.48Nos hr-1. Siganus canaliculatus emerged as the dominant species among the fishes trapped, constituting 16% of the total catch. Regarding trap color, the highest CPUE was observed with traps of dark green color (0.63 Nos hr-1), followed by light green (0.51 Nos hr-1), white (0.49 Nos hr-1) and orange (0.38 Nos hr-1). Economically, the performance of the trap fishery was evaluated using indicators such as operating cost/year, fixed cost, gross revenue and profit cost ratio. The success of the trap fishery was further emphasized by a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 3.50. Interpretation: Dark green-colored, square-shaped traps show promise in significantly enhancing fishermen's profits due to their higher catch per unit effort (CPUE) compared to other colors. Moreover, dark green traps may offer ecological advantages by blending into natural surroundings. This study highlights their potential and provides practical insights for fishermen to make informed gear choices, considering factors like color and shape. Key words: BCR, Color, CPUE, Shape, Trap

Trap colour strongly affects the ability of deep learning models to recognize insect species in images of sticky traps.

The use of computer vision and deep learning models to automatically classify insect species on sticky traps has proven to be a cost- and time-efficient approach to pest monitoring. As different species are attracted to different colours, the variety of sticky trap colours poses a challenge to the performance of the models. However, the effectiveness of deep learning in classifying pests on different coloured sticky traps has not yet been sufficiently explored. In this study, we aim to investigate the influence of sticky trap colour and imaging devices on the performance of deep learning models in classifying pests on sticky traps. Our results show that using the MobileNetV2 architecture with transparent sticky traps as training data, the model predicted the pest species on transparent sticky traps with an accuracy of at least 0.95 and on other sticky trap colours with at least 0.85 of the F1 score. Using a generalised linear model (GLM) and a Boruta feature selection algorithm, we also showed that the colour and architecture of the sticky traps significantly influenced the performance of the model. Our results support the development of an automatic classification of pests on a sticky trap, which should focus on colour and deep learning architecture to achieve good results. Future studies could aim to incorporate the trap system into pest monitoring, providing more accurate and cost-effective results in a pest management programme. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of trap bait and colours, and number of entry holes in monitoring of Drosophilidae (Diptera) species in a fig orchard

The study's objective was to evaluate how the capture rate of bottle traps is influenced by their color, number of entry holes, and bait liquids.For this purpose, yellow, blue, green, red, black, white, and transparent (colourless) traps were tested. Apple cider vinegar, grape vinegar, white wine, yeast, and water (control) were used as bait liquids. The number of entry holes was 2, 4, 6, and 8 holes per trap on the side of the bottle traps. The experiments were conducted in a randomised block design with three replicates in a fig orchard (variety Bursa Siyahı) with 437 trees in Aydın province from September 2018 to March 2019. In total, 48 traps were mounted on the experimental trees (1 trap per 1 tree), and counting of the drosophilid individuals in the traps was performed weekly. Red-coloured traps attracted the highest number of drosophilid individuals, followed by yellow-coloured. Regarding different baits, grape vinegar attracted the most drosophilid individuals, followed by white wine. Concerning the number of trap entry holes, the highest number of individuals were caught in traps with the highest number of holes, 8. In all traps, Zaprionus tuberculatus Malloch, 1932 was the species caught in the highest numbers, followed by Drosophila subobscura Collin, 1936 and Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931). Z. tuberculatus was mostly caught in traps containing grape vinegar, while D. subobscura and D. suzukii were mainly caught in traps containing white wine. In our study, the red-coloured traps containing vinegar with 8 entry holes were the most effective in monitoring drosophilid populations.

Effect of Commercial Trap Design and Location on Captures of Diocalandra frumenti (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) on Palm Trees.

Diocalandra frumenti (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) is a weevil present in the Canary Islands, affecting economically important palms such as Phoenix canariensis H. Wildpret and its hybrids, for which there were no trapping tools. The larvae cause the main damage by burrowing galleries in the rachis of the leaves, causing premature drying and collapse. To develop an effective trap, six trials were carried out to evaluate the effect of trap type, design, colour, height, distance and location of the trap in relation to the palm tree on D. frumenti captures. This study confirms that the Econex® trap, green in colour, without a cover and with two ventilation holes of 2.5 cm in diameter, diametrically opposite each other and at 1 cm from the top of the base of the trap, baited with sugar cane and water, and placed between the first and second ring of green leaves of the palm canopy, is efficient in capturing D. frumenti. These results establish a basis for future research focused on the development of a specific trapping system based on semiochemicals to serve as a tool for detection, monitoring and mass trapping of D. frumenti.

Exploring market-available pheromone lures and traps for monitoring Anthonomus testaceosquamosus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The hibiscus bud weevil (HBW), Anthonomus testaceosquamosus Linell (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a significant threat to tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) in Florida, USA, since its invasion in 2017. As a regulated pest in the state, early detection is crucial. Based on the success of pheromone-based monitoring programs for other weevil pests, such as the boll weevil, cranberry weevil, and pepper weevil, this study explores the potential use of these pheromone lures for early detection of HBW. To account for differences in efficacy based on trap color, height, and design, different pheromone lure sizes (4 mm, 10 mm, full-size), trap types (Yellow sticky trap, Japanese beetle trap, Boll weevil trap), and heights (0 m, 1.1 m) were also tested in this study. In laboratory assays, males and females exhibited higher attraction to full-size cranberry weevil lure discs than other lure size-type combinations. In semi-field trials, yellow sticky traps baited with cranberry weevil lures captured more weevils than Japanese beetle or boll weevil traps baited with cranberry weevil lures, while trap height did not influence HBW capture. In semi-field, 4-choice bioassays, yellow sticky traps baited with cranberry weevil lures captured more HBW compared to yellow sticky traps baited with pepper weevil, boll weevil, or unbaited traps. Further research is required to thoroughly evaluate the cranberry weevil lure's efficacy in capturing HBW. Our study suggests the potential for utilizing yellow sticky traps baited with lures for early HBW detection and highlights the importance of selecting the appropriate lure, trap type, and height for optimal efficacy.

Influence of sticky trap color, host plant species, and weather factors on the population dynamics of thrips species in Southern Ghana.

It is essential to correctly identify and keep track of the abundance of thrips species on infested host crops to understand their population dynamics and implement control measures promptly. The current study was conducted to evaluate the performance of sticky traps in monitoring thrips species in exporters' eggplant and chili farms and to assess the impact of weather factors on thrips population dynamics. Thrips species were monitored using blue, yellow, and white sticky traps on chili and eggplant farms in Tuba, respectively, in 2020 and 2021. Each field was divided into 8 blocks, and in each replicate, all colors representing 3 treatments were randomly tied to stakes at the center of the respective crop. Data loggers were installed to record hourly weather variables. Three thrips species [Thrips parvispinus Karny (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), Franklinella schultzei Trybom (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)] were identified from both farms and the different species showed varied attractiveness to trap color for both seasons, with white proving more attractive to T. parvispinus. The population dynamics of the species varied significantly with the season and weather but not with the crop. Optimum temperatures (28-31 °C) and relative humidity (60%-78%) showed a positive linear relationship between the trapped insects with temperature and RH, while extreme temperatures (35 °C) negatively affected their abundance. All sticky trap colors attracted several nontarget organisms; however, yellow colors had higher populations, including the predator, Orius insidiosus. White sticky traps are recommended for inclusion in the country-wide monitoring for thrips, especially T. parvispinus.

Capturing of Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) Male Moths by Sex- Pheromone Traps in Response to Trap Color, Direction and Height at Potato Fields

Capturing of Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) Male Moths by Sex- Pheromone Traps in Response to Trap Color, Direction and Height at Potato Fields

Monitoring adult Delia platura (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) in New York State corn fields using blue and yellow sticky cards

Abstract The seedcorn maggot, Delia platura (Meigen; Diptera: Anthomyiidae), is a polyphagous pest that feeds on decaying organic matter, seeds, and seedlings of several crops, including corn (Zea mays L.; Poaceae). In corn and soybeans, D. platura is a sporadic pest. To make recommendations as to which sticky trap color is more effective at trapping D. platura, we sampled 52 corn fields in four regions across New York State with blue and yellow sticky cards. More adults were caught with blue (77.6 %) than yellow cards (22.4 %). The same pattern was observed when all individuals were combined and separated by females and males. The higher captures with blue sticky cards were consistent across space and time, indicating the effectiveness of trapping adults and monitoring them at a regional scale.

Enhancing Buprestidae monitoring in Europe: Trap catches increase with a fluorescent yellow colour but not with the presence of decoys.

This study investigated the efficacy of various traps differing in colour (green or yellow), presence or absence of decoys (dead Agrilus planipennis) or design (commercial MULTz or multifunnel traps, and homemade bottle- or fan-traps) for monitoring European Buprestidae in deciduous forests and pear orchards. Over two years, we collected 2220 samples on a two-week basis from 382 traps across 46 sites in Belgium and France. None of the traps proved effective for monitoring Agrilus sinuatus in infested pear orchards (17 specimens captured in 2021, 0 in 2022). The decoys did not affect the catch rates whatever the trap model, colour, buprestid species or sex. The fluorescent yellow traps (MULTz and yellow fan-traps) tended to be more attractive than the green traps (green fan-traps and, to a lower extent, multifunnel green traps). Most Agrilus species showed similar patterns in mean trap catches, with the exception of Agrilus biguttatus, which had the largest catches in the green multifunnel traps. Finally, we observed a high variation in catch rates between localities: the site explained 64% of the catches variance, while the tree within the site and the type of trap explained only 6-8.5% each. In many sites, we captured very few specimens, despite the abundance of dying mature trees favourable to the development of Buprestidae. For the early detection of non-native Buprestidae, it therefore seems essential to maximise the number of monitoring sites. Due to their cost-effectiveness, lightweight design, and modularity, fan-traps emerged as promising tools for buprestid monitoring. The study's findings extend beyond European fauna, as a preliminary trial in Canada suggested that yellow fan-traps could also improve captures of non-European buprestid species and catch species of interest such as Agrilus bilineatus (a species on the EPPO A2 list of pests/pathogens recommended for regulation in the EU).

Bee Assemblage in the Southern Chihuahuan Desert: The Role of Season, Year, and Trap Color in Abundance.

Recognizing how populations fluctuate over time is a crucial factor in determining the environmental elements affecting population persistence. However, the limited information on wild bee populations complicates the estimation of the impact of anthropogenic threats leading to changes in population size. To address this, we conducted a study capturing and monitoring nine species of wild bees through monthly samplings over four years. Tray traps were placed in permanent plots, and capture records were used to determine population size (N) and density (D). A generalized linear model (GLM) was employed to determine how the use of traps affected bee species captures. The families Apidae and Halictidae represented the most captures. Apis mellifera, the Lasioglossum (Dialictus spp.) complex, and Macrotera sinaloana exhibited the largest number of captures and highest population density. Most species (77.7%) showed a tendency to remain constant over the years and to have a higher number of captures in the spring months. Moreover, yellow traps were the most effective in capturing bee individuals. We suggest that the availability of essential resources and the reduction in environmental stressors positively affected the capture of wild bee populations.

Optimising the colour of traps requires an insect's eye view.

Colour is a critical property of many traps used to control or monitor insect pests, and applied entomologists continue to devote time and effort to improving colour for greater trapping efficiency. This work has often been guided by human colour perceptions, which differ greatly from those of the pests being studied. As a result, trap development can be a laborious process that is heavily reliant on trial and error. However, the responses of an insect's photoreceptors to a given trap colour can be calculated using well-established procedures. Photoreceptor responses represent sensory inputs that drive insect behaviour, and if their relationship to insect attraction can be determined or hypothesised, they provide metrics that can guide the rational optimisation of trap colour. This approach has recently been used successfully in separate studies of tsetse flies and thrips, but could be applied to a wide diversity of pest insects. Here we describe this approach to facilitate its use by applied entomologists. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Field Efficacy Testing of Sex Pheromone Trapping with Alternative Trap Desing-Lure Options for Brinjal Shoot and Fruit Borer in Srilanka

Collaborative field studies were carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of improved pheromone trapping system against brinjal shoot and fruit borer Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee in Sri Lanka. First field study comparing five alternative trap designs in two locations for eight weeks confirmed that moth catch was more in funnel trap with two holders (3.08), with the next being funnel trap with three holders (2.09). The catches in delta trap were intermediate (1.81), while other two funnel traps caught 1.05 to 1.84 moths. The differential efficacy of moth catches may be attributed to trap colour, shape, size and other features enhancing arrivals and/or minimising moth escape. The second field study was on pheromone loadings in lures which showed non -significant differences among 3, 5, 7 and 10 mg loadings. These studies confirmed the superiority of promising trap designs for trapping of the brinjal shoot and fruit borer moth in Sri Lanka. Scope for further research to identify more efficient trap designs and optimum pheromone loadings is indicated.

A predator breeding station for augmentative biological control of scolytine crop pests

The square-necked grain beetle, Cathartus quadricollis (Coleoptera: Silvanidae), is a predator of two significant crop pests in Hawaii: the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, in coffee and the tropical nut borer, H. obscurus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in macadamia nut. C. quadricollis is also a stored grain pest and is known to respond to its aggregation pheromone (i.e., quadrilure). Field tests were conducted in a macadamia nut orchard using sticky traps to identify the best lure dispenser and trap color based on captures of adult C. quadricollis. When quadrilure was released in different dispenser types, in combination with a fungal volatile blend released from a pouch, we found that a membrane-type quadrilure release dispenser (wafer) was superior to a red septa, gray septa, or open vial dispenser in attracting C. quadricollis. In subsequent tests, the combination of a quadrilure lure and a lure releasing a blend of fungal volatiles caught more C. quadricollis than the quadrilure lure alone. Also, we found that black sticky traps caught more C. quadricollis than did blue, green, red, yellow, white, or clear sticky traps. A predator breeding station consisting of a screened and sheltered enclosure containing food (250 g of cracked corn: cornmeal [4:1, w:w] mix) and the membrane-type quadrilure lure was developed to augment predator numbers in coffee and macadamia fields. In the laboratory, stocking a breeding station with 100 C. quadricollis resulted in production and dispersal of about 10,000 adults per station over a four-month period at 25 °C. In field tests, use of the quadrilure lure plus a fungal volatiles lure or the quadrilure lure alone were placed in breeding stations in a coffee field to attract naturally occurring wild adults for a five-week period, then returned to the laboratory where they both produced roughly 3,000 adults per station over a five-month period. The predator breeding station was an efficient way to multiply C. quadricollis numbers in the field and could be used to augment biological control of the coffee berry borer in coffee and tropical nut borer in macadamia nut.

TRIPS (THYSANOPTERA) ASOCIADOS AL CULTIVO DE ZARZAMORA Y ARÁNDANO EN LOS REYES, MICHOACÁN, MÉXICO

<p><strong>Background. </strong>Different species of thrips are listed as important pests in berries. They cause damage to leaves, flowers and fruits, which cause poor development and deformation of the berry, and loss of production; some species are associated with plant pathogens transmission. <strong>Objectives</strong>. To determine the species of thrips (Thysanoptera) associated with blackberry and blueberry and their seasonal abundance, in the producing region of Los Reyes, Michoacán, Mexico and to determine the most attractive sticky trap color to collect thrips.<strong> Methodology. </strong>The thrips were captured monthly through direct collection on the plants, and with sticky traps (yellow and blue), from April 2021 to August 2022.<strong> Results. </strong>1,615 specimens were obtained, all from Thripidae family, belonging to four genera and six species. <em>Frankliniella</em> and <em>Scirtothrips</em> were the most abundant genera and accounted 96% of the material collected. <em>F. occidentalis</em> was most abundant in blackberry var. Laurita and Elvira, and <em>S. dorsalis</em> in blackberry var. Dasha and blueberry var. Arana. <em>F. bruneri</em> and <em>F. minuta</em> and <em>Plesiothrips ayarsi</em> were first recorded as occasional species, and <em>Neohydatothrips gracilipes</em> as frequent in blackberry var. Dasha and Laurita. The sticky yellow traps caught more thrips. The greater abundance coincided with periods of sprouting and flowering of both crops.<strong> </strong><strong>Implications. </strong>The determination of thrips species that damage berries cultivation and their population fluctuation are fundamental for the implementation of an integrated management program.<strong> Conclusions. </strong>These results enrich the information of the Mexican fauna of Thysanoptera in berries, as well as the attraction to the color of certain traps and seasonal abundance.</p>

Sow Wild! Effective Methods and Identification Bias in Pollinator-Focused Experimental Citizen Science

A common debate on the value of citizen science projects is the accuracy of data collected and the validity of conclusions drawn. Sow Wild! was a hypothesis-driven citizen science project that investigated the benefits of sowing a 4 m2 mini-meadow in private gardens and allotments to attract beneficial insects. The use of researcher-verified specimen-based methods (pan traps, yellow sticky traps) and observational insect watches allowed investigation of potential bias in identification skills and sampling methods conducted by citizen scientists. For bumblebees and honeybees, identification of pan trap insect specimens was similar between researchers and citizen scientists, but solitary bees were possibly misidentified as social wasps or hoverflies. Key results of the Sow Wild! project differed between specimen-based and observation-only data sets, probably due to unconscious bias, such that incorrect conclusions may have been drawn if we had relied solely on observations made by citizen scientists without detailed training. Comparing the efficiency of sampling methods, insect watches produced the most insect observations overall. Yellow sticky traps collected more solitary wasps, social wasps, hoverflies and honeybees than pan traps. There was also variation in the abundance of insects caught according to the four pan trap colours. While all of these sampling methods can be successfully incorporated into citizen science projects to monitor a range of flying insects in urban landscapes, we recommend that verification of data by taxonomic experts is a valuable component of hypothesis-led citizen science projects, and increased training is required if target taxa include less conspicuous insect groups.

Worldwide tests of generic attractants, a promising tool for early detection of non-native cerambycid species

A large proportion of the insects which have invaded new regions and countries are emerging species, being found for the first time outside their native range. Being able to detect such species upon arrival at ports of entry before they establish in non-native countries is an urgent challenge. The deployment of traps baited with broad-spectrum semiochemical lures at ports-of-entry and other high-risk sites could be one such early detection tool. Rapid progress in the identification of semiochemicals for cerambycid beetles during the last 15 years has revealed that aggregation-sex pheromones and sex pheromones are often conserved at global levels for genera, tribes or subfamilies of the Cerambycidae. This possibly allows the development of generic attractants which attract multiple species simultaneously, especially when such pheromones are combined into blends. Here, we present the results of a worldwide field trial programme conducted during 2018–2021, using traps baited with a standardised 8-pheromone blend, usually complemented with plant volatiles. A total of 1308 traps were deployed at 302 sites covering simultaneously or sequentially 13 European countries, 10 Chinese provinces and some regions of the USA, Canada, Australia, Russia (Siberia) and the Caribbean (Martinique). We intended to test the following hypotheses: 1) if a species is regularly trapped in significant numbers by the blend on a continent, it increases the probability that it can be detected when it arrives in other countries/continents and 2) if the blend exerts an effective, generic attraction to multiple species, it is likely that previously unknown and unexpected species can be captured due to the high degree of conservation of pheromone structures within related taxa. A total of 78,321 longhorned beetles were trapped, representing 376 species from eight subfamilies, with 84 species captured in numbers greater than 50 individuals. Captures comprised 60 tribes, with 10 tribes including more than nine species trapped on different continents. Some invasive species were captured in both the native and invaded continents. This demonstrates the potential of multipheromone lures as effective tools for the detection of ‘unexpected’ cerambycid invaders, accidentally translocated outside their native ranges. Adding new pheromones with analogous well-conserved motifs is discussed, as well as the limitations of using such blends, especially for some cerambycid taxa which may be more attracted by the trap colour or other characteristics rather than to the chemical blend.

Attraction of Pest Insects, Neutral Insects and Natural Enemies to Coloured Sticky Traps in Vegetable Eco-Systems

Purpose: Sticky traps are effective for monitoring and managing insect pests. In addition to pest insects, beneficial insects are also caught in sticky traps. Hence, it is necessary to use traps to catch pest insects selectively. The attraction of different insect groups to coloured sticky traps was studied as an attempt to suppress the insect populations selectively in the field. Research Method: Sticky traps: yellow, blue, luminous green, white, and transparent (control) were set in the field for 24 hours, and the insects caught in traps were collected and identified by their ecological role: pests, beneficial and neutral insects as well as the taxonomic group in relation to the trap colour. Findings: Significant variation was found among the total numbers of insects attracted to different colour traps (χ2 =107 df=4 P<0.05). The highest number of insects was found in the luminous green trap (29.1%) followed by yellow (22.0%), white (18.8%), blue (17.9%), and transparent (12.2%). All colour traps attracted pest, beneficial and neutral insects. Data was inconsistent to specify trap colour to catch more pests and less beneficials. More dipterans (40.7%) were attracted to traps, and many of them were neutral. Blue-traps caught less number of neutral (29.1%) and beneficial insects (29.4%) compared with other coloured traps. Originality/ Value: The behavioral response of different insect groups to colour was demonstrated. As sticky traps catch both beneficial and pest insects, sticky traps should be used under careful monitoring.

Different Trap Types Depict Dissimilar Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Cotton Fields

Pheromone-baited traps have been widely used for the monitoring of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in order to time any control measures during the growing season. Different monitoring techniques may provide differential results regarding adult captures. However, studies on the comparative evaluation of the performance of different trap types on the captures of H. armigera are limited. To close this gap, in the present study, three different funnel traps (striped, green, and colored) were simultaneously evaluated in Central Greece, one of the main cotton-producing geographical zones in the European Union, in order to compare trap performance on the captures of H. armigera, as well as to depict the distribution of this species per trap in the study area. A differential performance of the different trap types tested, expressed as numbers of adults captured, was recorded. Specifically, the striped trap captured many more adult moths than the other two trap types. Given that the only difference among these traps was the color of the external trap surface, we hypothesize that trap color does matter in the case of H. armigera, and it is likely that brighter colors may be more attractive than darker ones.

Effectiveness of Pitfall Trap Colors in Monitoring Adults of Blister Beetle Meloe proscarabaeus Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Meloidae) in Faba Bean Fields at El-Farafra Oasis Egypt

The blister beetles Meloe proscarabaeus Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Meloidae), is a dangerous pest that threatens the agriculture of faba bean fields in El-Farafra Oasis, New Valley Governorate. In this study, an evaluation of the efficiency of different pit-fall trap colors for capturing adults of the blister beetles has been performed in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) fields. The experiment revealed that the green and red traps showed the highest number of captured beetles during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, which was highly significant to other traps’ colors. On the other hand, black, blue, gray, white, and yellow traps showed insignificant differences in the number of captured beetles. Concerning the sex of trapped beetles; it could be highlighted that the green trap attracted more female beetles than males with significant differences. Inversely, the red color trap attracted more males than females with significant differences. Approximately 40% of the captured beetle population was recorded in March, while only 11% were trapped in April. A Green pit-fall trap could be deemed a new estimating assay to suppress M. proscarabaeus adults in faba bean fields since the color trap variation affected the number of captured beetles. Therefore, color traps can be relied upon as an effective method in controlling beetles without the number of beetles reaching the limit of economic damage and in a manner that is safe for the environment