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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wapato, Washington » Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #158033
Title: INFLUENCE OF TRAP COLOR ON THE CAPTURE OF CODLING MOTH (LEPIODOPTERA:TORTRICIDAE),HONEYBEES, AND NON-TARGET FLIES

Author
item Knight, Alan
item Miliczky, Eugene

Submitted to: Journal of British Columbia Entomological Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/9/2003
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Knight, A.L., Miliczky, E.R. 2004. Influence of trap color on the capture of codling moth (Lepiodoptera:Tortricidae),honeybees, and non-target flies. Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia. 100:65-70.

Interpretive Summary: Optimizing trap design is vital in developing a useful monitor system for codling moth. The primary objective of our study was to evaluate the attractiveness of several trap colors for honeybees in order to develop a trap more selective for codling moth. In addition the influence of trap color for codling moth and contamination of traps by nontarget species were measured. Our studies found that orange, red, and green traps caught fewer honeybees than white traps. Capture of large flies was significantly greater in these darker traps in one test and not different in a second test. Green traps caught the greates number of codling moth, nearly 5-fold more moths that the standard white trap.

Technical Abstract: The primary objective of our study was to evaluate the attractiveness of several trap colors for honeybees in order to develop a trap more selective for codling moths. In addition the influence of trap color for codling moth and contamination of traps by non target species were measured. Significant differences were found in the mean capture of codling moth, honeybees and large flies. Significantly more honeybees were caught in the unpainted white traps and the painted white and cream than the orange, red, and green traps. Red and orange trap caught significantly more large flies than the other colors in one test and no differences were found in a second test. Significant differences in the catch of codling moth occurred among trap colors. The lowest mean catches were in the unpainted and white traps and these were not significantly different from the cream and red traps. Catch was higher in the orange versus the white and unpainted traps. Mean moth catch in the green trap was significantly different from the unpainted, white and cream traps. The green delta trap again caught significantly more moths that the unpainted trap in a second test. We hypothesize that the dark green traps may blend better into the orchard canopy that white traps and interfere less with moth orientation to these traps.