Efficiency of a sticky trap for censusing the natural enemy fauna of spider mites [Tetranychidae]

In pear orchards, we studied the efficiency of a sticky trap method for censusing the natural enemy fauna of the spider mite Tetranychus kanzawai. When compared to beating and direct observation methods, the sticky trap captured a larger number of insect predator species. The sticky trap was particularly useful for censusing Stethorus japonicus and Orius spp. when the density of the spider mite was low in the orchards. The sticky traps with synthetic plant volatiles slightly, but significantly increased the number of Orius spp. captured in the trap when compared with the traps without the chemicals.