Selectivity of Whitefly Traps in Cotton for Eretmocerus eremicus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a Native Parasitoid of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

Authors

K. A. Hoelmer, Phoenix Plant Protection Center, c/o Irrigated Desert Research Station, U.S. Department of Agriculture, APHIS, PPQ, 4151 Highway 86, Brawley, CA 92227
W. J. Roltsch, Phoenix Plant Protection Center, c/o Irrigated Desert Research Station, U.S. Department of Agriculture, APHIS, PPQ, 4151 Highway 86, Brawley, CA 92227
E. C. Chu, Phoenix Plant Protection Center, c/o Irrigated Desert Research Station, U.S. Department of Agriculture, APHIS, PPQ, 4151 Highway 86, Brawley, CA 92227
T. J. Hekneberry, Phoenix Plant Protection Center, c/o Irrigated Desert Research Station, U.S. Department of Agriculture, APHIS, PPQ, 4151 Highway 86, Brawley, CA 92227

Date of this Version

1998

Comments

Published in Environ. Entomol. 27(4): 1039-1044 (1998).

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, nonsticky 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 Bellows & Perring [=Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) B-strain 1 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 of E. 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.