Improvement of CC traps for catching Frankliniella occidentalis

Variable numbers of western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), were attracted in a cotton field to sticky cards reflecting different wavelengths of blue color light. The highest numbers were captured on blue sticky cards reflecting 458 nm compared with 446 nm and 444 nm wavelength light reflectances. WFT catches were improved in CC traps by putting pieces of Hot Shot No-Pest Strips (dichlorvos) in blue base trap tops as killing agents. The increased catches occurred because of higher thrips mortality and retention in traps as opposed to increased trap attractiveness. Catches were higher for the modified commercial dichlorvos dispenser traps with vertical blue stripe modifications (Blue-D) compared with blue base CC traps with dlchlorvos cubes.