Speaking of insect sticky traps, they essentially exploit insects' "preferences" for certain colors to set up traps. They require no pesticides, do not harm natural enemies, and can be hung in fields to work effectively-suitable for tea gardens, vegetable plots, and orchards. But the question is: which colors do different pests prefer? How should we choose? Today, we share the results of an experiment conducted in a tea garden.
From April to June 2020, we collaborated with Sichuan Agricultural University, the Technology Center of Huangpu Customs in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, and the Rural Center of Hubei Academy of Scientific and Technical Information for a joint experiment in Qianwei County, Leshan City, Sichuan Province. The experiment used insect sticky traps in 25 colors prepared using CMYK color mixing technology. The traps were replaced every 7 days to observe which colors attracted which insects.
The results showed: Leafhoppers(Cicadellidae)-a major pest in tea gardens-most preferred Trap No. 6, with an average of 390 individuals captured per trap. Diaspididae most preferred Trap No. 13, with 275 per trap. Thripidae showed a strong preference for Trap No. 14, capturing 107 per trap. The commonly used Trap No. 1 worked best for Cecidomyiidae, capturing 318 per trap.
Of course, not every color of insect sticky trap can be used at will. Some colors inadvertently harm beneficial insects-for example, Trap No. 12 and Trap No. 20 tended to capture natural enemies such as Bethylidae. Trap No. 10 was unfriendly to Chrysopidae. In contrast, Trap No. 6 and Trap No. 14 had much less impact on natural enemies, making them good choices for "precision trapping."
Therefore, to control leafhoppers, use Trap No. 6; for thrips, use Trap No. 14; for Cecidomyiidae infestations, Trap No. 1 can be used in combination. Using several colors together can effectively suppress pests while minimizing harm to "friendly forces." Choose the right colors, and sticky traps become the most worry-free "green sentinels" in the tea garden.
The above experimental results are published in * Plant Health and Medicine * under the title "Study on the Trapping Effect of Different Color Trap Boards on Insects in Tea Gardens."
