Seasonal Abundance; Damage; and Comparison of Different Heights, Orientations, and Directions of Yellow Sticky Traps for Sampling of \u3ci\u3eLiriomyza Trifolii\u3c/i\u3e (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in Cotton

Abstract

This study was done to determine the optimum height, orientation, and direction of yellow sticky traps for sampling of Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in cotton fields. Leaf infestation rates for the whole plants, as well as for each of three plant regions, and number of mines per infested leaf were also determined. Traps were placed at 25 cm above the plant canopy and 30 cm above the ground at two orientations (horizontal and vertical) and two directions (east-to-west and north-to-south) for each height and orientation in Aydin province, Turkey. Horizontally oriented traps captured more flies than vertically oriented traps. More flies were captured 25 cm above the plant canopy than 30 cm above the ground. The upper sides of horizontally oriented traps had the highest capture rates. Direction of traps did not significantly affect capture rate. The infestation rate of leaves was highest (14.1%) the first week of August and generally higher lower on the plant (79.4-100%). No mines were found in the upper region (top third) of the plants. No adults emerged from reared mines. These results are useful in development of sampling protocols to aid growers in making decisions and could be used as an additional component in Integrated Pest Management against L. trifolii in cotton fields