Performance of light traps in the capture of tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Tomato leafminer moth Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is an important pest of the tomato plant. Light traps can play an influential role in reducing the pest population. Different light colors, three trap sizes, and three installation heights were evaluated under laboratory conditions. The light colors were white, yellow, green, red, blue, and blacklight blue (BLB). The traps, transparent containers of three sizes were ۸.۵, ۱۰.۵, and ۱۴.۵ cm in diameter and ۱۵, ۱۹, and ۲۶ cm in height, respectively. The trap installation heights were ۵۰, ۷۵, and ۱۰۰ cm above the plants’ canopy. The BLB color proved significantly more attractive to T. absoluta, followed by yellow and white colors. The light traps captured more males than females and more mated females than virgin ones. Both of the larger traps (۱۰.۵ cm d × ۱۹ cm h and ۱۴.۵ cm d × ۲۶ cm h), and higher installed ones (۱۰۰ cm and ۷۵ cm above the plants), captured a significantly higher number of moths compared to the smaller trap size and lower installation height. Accordingly, for mass trapping of moths, light traps with BLB source of light, with ۱۰.۵ cm in diameters and ۱۹ cm in height, and installation at ۷۵ cm above the canopy is recommended in greenhouses.

کلیدواژه ها:

Tomato leafminer ، non-chemical control ، BLB light ، insect trapping ، greenhouses