EFFECT OF ADHESIVE ON THE SPECTRAL REFLECTANCE OF INSECT TRAPS

Abstract

Sticky traps are commonly used for monitoring insects in studies of their ecology (Southwood 1966) and in programs to manage their numbers (Flint and van den Bosch 1981). These traps may intercept flying insects or may visually attract insects over a distance (Southwood 1966). The relative sensitivity of an insect eye to different wavelengths of light may differ among species (Wigglesworth 1972) and therefore color can affect the quality and magnitude of trap catches (Prokopy and Owens 1983; Southwood 1966). The effect of color on trap catches therefore is often the first step in evaluating trapping methods for use in monitoring insects. Insects attracted to and landing on colored traps are retained by paint- or spray-on adhesives that have been developed specifically for this purpose. This paper reports on the effect that one of these adhesives has on the spectral reflectance of colored traps.