Environmental Entomology (1998) 27, 1039-1044

K.A. Hoelmer, W.J. Roltsch, C.C. Chu and T.J. Henneberry (1998)
Selectivity of whitefly traps in cotton for Eretmocerus eremicus (Hymenoptera : Aphelinidae), a native parasitoid of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera : Aleyrodidae)
Environmental Entomology 27 (4), 1039-1044
Abstract: Yellow sticky traps are widely used for monitoring and management of whiteflies and certain other pests and have also been used to monitor their natural enemy activity. A new, non sticky whitefly trap (CC trap), standard yellow sticky cards, and clear colorless sticky cards were evaluated in cotton Gossypium hirsutum L.) to compare their attractiveness to Eretmocerus eremicus Rose and Zolnerowich, an aphelinid parasitoid of Bemisia argentifolii Bellos and Perring [= Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) B-strain] that is indigenous to southwestern U.S. deserts. The CC traps caught an average of 264 adult whiteflies during 24-h test periods compared with 523 adult whiteflies on yellow sticky traps. The colorless sticky cards trapped only 37 whiteflies per card during the same period. The CC traps caught an average of 0.4 adult E. eremicus over a 24-h period compared with 26.6 adult E. eremicus trapped by yellow sticky cards. Colorless plastic sticky cards trapped an average of 1.1 parasitoids per card, demonstrating that E. eremicus was strongly attracted to the yellow sticky cards. Thirty-nine percent ofE. eremicus trapped on yellow sticky cards and 42% trapped on colorless sticky cards were female. CC traps caught the lowest numbers of other arthropods. On average, <1 individual of any other species was captured per CC trap in each 24-h period. Yellow sticky traps caught the greatest number of other arthropods; these included thrips, flies, cotton leafperforator (Buccalatrix thurberiella Busck) moths, small beetles, and other parasitic wasps. Clear sticky traps caught a similar mixture of species but in lower numbers. These results demonstrate that CC traps are highly selective for whitefly, while preserving parasitoid populations. CC traps may be especially useful in greenhouses where yellow sticky traps are frequently used in conjunction with releases of parasitoids.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Kim A. Hoelmer, Chang Chi Chu, William J. Roltsch

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
pheromones/attractants/traps
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Bemisia tabaci biotype MEAM1
Eretmocerus eremicus (parasitoid)	Bemisia tabaci biotype MEAM1