Evaluation of Four Color Sticky Traps for Monitoring Whitefly and Thrips on Okra Crops at Tando Jam, Pakistan

Abstract

Okra, (Abelmoschus esculentus L.), is a warm-climate annual vegetable crop belonging to the family, Malvaceae. Whiteflies and thrips, because of their sucking actions, are the most destructive insect pests of this crop, and the most common means of controlling infestation is through the use of chemicals. A field experiment was designed to determine the attraction of whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci Genn.) to four different colors of sticky traps in okra crops during the late Rabi season in 2012. After 21 days of plant germination, empty 1.5 L Pepsi bottles covered with yellow, green, purple, and black sheets of sticky paper were randomly placed in the crop field, two meters between and 60 cms above the plants. Results showed that yellow sticky traps were the most effective for monitoring and managing whiteflies and thrips in okra crops at subtropical climate conditions. The other colors were less highly attractant. This study found that using yellow-colored sticky-traps as an alternative for okra crop protection is less expensive and less hazardous than using chemical pesticides.