Attraction of thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae and Aeolothripidae) to colored sticky cards in a California avocado orchard

Yellow, white, and blue sticky cards were tested in an avocado orchard for their attractiveness to Scirtothrips perseae, Frankliniella occidentalis and Franklinothrips orizabensis. Clear pieces of plastic coated with adhesive were used as controls to determine rates of random interception of thrips independent of color. Yellow was most attractive to S. perseae and white cards captured mostly F. orizabensis and F. occidentalis. Capture rates on blue cards declined across the course of four trials for S. perseae and F. occidentalis; this trend was not observed for F. orizabensis. Cardinal direction of traps did not significantly effect capture rates of thrips suggesting south westerly prevailing winds did not influence patterns of aerial dispersal. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.