Color Preference of Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) with Reference to Aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) and Leafminers in Hawaiian Lettuce Farms

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to determine color preference of thrips, aphids, and leafminers in lettuce farms at Kula, Hawaii. White traps caught significantly more thrips than the 14 other colors tested. Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) was the predominant thrips species trapped. More adult and larval thrips were associated with plants with tomato spotted wilt disease than with healthy plants during later weeks of lettuce growth. Number of aphids and leafminers trapped did not indicate any conclusive preference of these insects for a particular color.