COLLECTION OF FALL ARMYWORM (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) ADULTS AND NONTARGET HYMENOPTERA IN DIFFERENT COLORED UNITRAPS

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to determine the effectiveness of different colored pheromone-baited traps in capture of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, males and nontarget Hymenoptera. Plastic Universal Moth Traps (Unitraps) of different colors were baited with commercial sex pheromone and were placed in peanut and corn fields in northern Florida. In one study, standard-colored (green canopy, yellow funnel, white bucket) traps collected more moths than all-white or all-green traps. More Sphecoidea were found in white traps while more Vespoidea were collected in standard traps. In another study, trap capture was compared among standard, all-white, and standard traps with buckets painted two different yellow colors. Results showed that there were few differences in capture among traps with different colors, however, contrasts between traps with yellow buckets or traps with white buckets suggested more moths could be captured in yellow-bucket traps. Very few Hymenoptera were collected, although more Apoidea were found in white traps.