The Effect of Trap Color on Catches of and Three Most Numerous Non-Target Insect Species.

Black pheromone-baited traps are commonly used for monitoring , a vector of , although few studies have been conducted on its response to color (black, white, and clear). The objective of our studies was to evaluate the attractiveness of different colors to and non-target species: and predatory and . Laboratory tests of fifteen colors against immature and mature revealed some differences in their color preference. In two field tests, eight colors of coroplast vanes in cross-vane traps were compared with unpainted white (a reference (RF)). The first test confirmed the laboratory results, i.e., RF was slightly more attractive to than pastel yellow, reseda green, and cyan blue, but trap color had no significant effect on any of the insect species studied. In the second test, the attractiveness of RF was highest and significantly different from pure white (for all four species), light blue, and pine green (except ). Overall, the unpainted white traps appeared to be most effective in catching . spp. responded to the colors similarly to ; therefore, either trap design or lure composition should be modified to reduce their catches.