Field evaluation of a pheromone lure and trap designs for monitoring Lygus hesperus Knight (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Authors: NIETO, DIEGO - Driscoll'S; Hagler, James; Machtley, Scott; Zilnik, Gabriel; HALL, DAVID - University Of Greenwich

Submitted to: Bulletin of Entomological Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/2025
Publication Date: 11/26/2025
Citation: Nieto, D.J., Hagler, J.R., Machtley, S.A., Zilnik, G.L., Hall, D.R. 2025. Field evaluation of a pheromone lure and trap designs for monitoring Lygus hesperus Knight (Hemiptera: Miridae). Bulletin of Entomological Research. p. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485325100679.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007485325100679

Interpretive Summary: The lygus bug is a pest of cotton, strawberries, and many other crops. An effective monitoring method for the early detection of lygus could improve its management. A new lure for lygus can attract male lygus bugs. ARS scientists in Maricopa, Arizona, partnered with a strawberry producer (Driscoll's) to compare the effectiveness of previously used white delta sticky traps with red cylindrical sticky traps. This work took place in strawberry fields in California and in cotton fields in Arizona. In strawberry fields, we found the red cylindrical trap baited with the lure captured more male lygus bugs than the baited white delta traps. The baited red cylindrical traps captured more males than the unbaited traps after one week of exposure in cotton fields. However, this difference was not observed at two weeks in the field. The lower trap captures during the second week may be due to high temperatures in the cotton fields. High temperatures likely shorten the lure's effectiveness. More research is needed to clarify the lure's longevity in the field. Aspects of trap design (such as color, adhesive, and shape) may also enhance the capture of lygus and improve the efficiency of the lure-baited traps.

Technical Abstract: Lygus hesperus is an economically important pest of many crops. An effective monitoring method for the early detection of L. hesperus could improve its management. A recently developed pheromone lure has been shown to attract L. hesperus males, however, fewer males were captured than expected. It is unknown whether this sex difference was an effect of pheromone responsiveness, or the type of trap used. Thus, we compared the efficacy of the previously used white pseudo delta sticky traps to red cylindrical sticky traps in strawberry fields in California and cotton fields in Arizona. Collections were made one and two weeks after trap deployment. In strawberry, pheromone baited traps captured more L. hesperus males than unbaited traps. More males were collected from baited red cylindrical sticky traps compared with either type of unbaited trap. In cotton, baited red cylindrical traps captured more males than unbaited traps after one week of field exposure, but not after two weeks of deployment. Overall, red cylindrical traps caught more L. hesperus males than white pseudo delta traps. Diminished trap captures during the second week of monitoring may be attributed to high temperatures in cotton that likely shortened the lure’s longevity and windy conditions in both strawberry and cotton that may have decreased the effectiveness of the trap’s adhesive. Additional work to clarify the lure’s field longevity and distinguish various elements of trap design (e.g., color, adhesive, and shape) may further increase the operational effectiveness of pheromone-baited traps for L. hesperus.