Relative trapping efficiencies of different types of attraction traps for three insect orders in an agricultural field

Abstract

Insect monitoring is an important step for adequate and sustainable management of crops. Attraction traps, which capture insects using colours and shapes, are one of the most popular methods for insect monitoring. Despite such popularity, there are surprisingly few studies that quantitatively compare relative trapping efficiencies for a wide range of insect taxa among different types of attraction traps in crop fields. Here, we compared trapping efficiency among seven attraction traps (three colours each of the pan and sticky traps and a yellow funnel trap) for Hymenoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera in crop fields of two cucurbitaceous species (Cucurbita maxima and Momordica charantia). We found wider usability of the traps than previously thought. Funnel traps that have been developed to capture Lepidoptera exclusively gathered Apidae (Hymenoptera), especially Bombus diversus diversus Smith, more than any other traps. Sticky traps, which are often applied to Diptera and Hemiptera, efficiently sampled many families of Hymenoptera and Coleoptera, as well as Diptera. Furthermore, across-trap comparison of the three colours clarified that colour effects on some insect taxa can vary depending on trap types. Our study demonstrated wider usability of the traps than previously known and directed effective trapping methods for future studies.