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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Insects and Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #284904
Title: Visual responses of adult Asian citrus psyllid (Hemiptera: Liviidae) to colored sticky traps on citrus trees

Author
item SETAMOU, MAMOUDOU - Texas A&M University
item SANCHEZ, ANDRIAN - Texas A&M University
item Patt, Joseph - Joe
item SUMMY, ROD - University Of Texas

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Behavior
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2014
Publication Date: 5/1/2014
Citation: Setamou, M., Sanchez, A., Patt, J.M., Summy, R. 2014. Visual responses of adult Asian citrus psyllid (Hemiptera: Liviidae) to colored sticky traps on citrus trees. Journal of Insect Behavior. 27:540-553.

Interpretive Summary: Asian citrus psyllid is a tiny insect that transmits citrus greening (or huanglongbing), a deadly disease for which there is no cure. The detection and monitoring of Asian citrus psyllid is dependent upon the use of colored sticky card traps that are hung from citrus tree branches. There is a need to improve the efficiency of these traps in capturing Asian citrus psyllid. In this study, the effects of five colored sticky traps in capturing adult Asian citrus pysllid were evaluated in citrus orchards. Trap catches of Asian citrus psyllid were monitored fortnightly on blue, green, red, white and yellow sticky cards placed on three citrus varieties during the most active flight period of the insect from April to July in south Texas. Statistical evaluation of average trap catches of each color produced three separate groups: yellow traps caught significantly more psyllids than the other four traps; red and green traps caught significantly more psyllids than blue and white traps, which were not significantly different. Although the number of psyllids captured on all trap types significantly increased with time during the trapping period, the performance of traps did not change with time. Trap catches were also significantly influenced by the citrus species; traps placed on lemon trees captured more psyllids than those placed on sweet orange and grapefruit, suggesting that plant preference exhibited by Asian citrus psyllid may influence the performance of traps. The ratio of trap reflectance between the red and blue portions of the visible spectrum was significantly correlated with total trap catches in all citrus species studied. Thus, this index was a good indicator of the attractiveness of adult Asian citrus psyllid to colored traps.

Technical Abstract: The effects of five colored sticky traps in capturing adult Diaphorina citri were evaluated in citrus orchards. Trap catches of D. citri were monitored fortnightly on blue, green, red, white and yellow sticky cards placed on three citrus varieties during the most active flight period of the insect from April to July in south Texas. Evaluation of mean trap catches of each color by repeated measures analysis of variance produced three separate groups: yellow traps caught significantly higher D. citri adults than the other four traps; red and green traps caught significantly more psyllids than blue and white traps, which were not significantly different. Although the number of adult psyllid captured on all trap types significantly increased with time during the trapping period, the performance of traps did not change with time. Trap catches were also significantly influenced by the citrus species; traps placed on lemon trees captured more D. citri than those placed on sweet orange and grapefruit, suggesting that plant preference exhibited by D. citri may influence the performance of traps. The ratio of trap reflectance between the 680-700 nm and the 430-450 nm was significantly correlated with total trap catches in all host species studied. Thus, this index was a good indicator of the attractiveness of adult D. citri to colored traps.