Evaluation of colour traps to monitor insect vectors of sugarcane white leaf phytoplasma

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the attractiveness of various colour sticky traps and light tarps at sugarcane field in Phandon village, Kumpawapi district, Udon Thani Province, Northeast region of Thailand for the insect vectors of sugarcane white leaf phytoplasma, the leafhoppers Matsumuratettix hiroglyphicus (Matsumura) and Yamatotettix flavovittatus Matsumura to. In sticky traps experiment, yellow, blue, white, green, orange and colorless (control) were used. A higher number of the putative vectors, Matsumuratettix hiroglyphicus and Yamatotettix flavovittatus were trapped on blue and yellow as compared to white, orange, green and colorless (control) sticky traps. In light traps experiment, yellow, green, black light-blue and black color light sources were used. With regard to treatment colour light traps with black light-blue trapped significantly higher numbers of both leafhoppers followed by black, green and yellow traps. The light traps were found significantly more attractive to both species of insect vectors compared to sticky traps, as lower number of insect vectors were trapped on sticky traps. In conclusion, a trap with black light-blue colour was the best attractive equipment for monitoring the of insect vectors of sugarcane white leaf phytoplasma in sugarcane fields.