Yellow sticky traps

What are yellow sticky traps?

Yellow sticky traps was developed to monitor the insect population in the field. It attracts the flies and stick them to the yellow colored glue, which is monitored at regular intervals. Sudden increase in the number of trapped insect population is an alarm to adapt the measures for controlling the insect the field. Nowadays, yellow sticky trap is a good method to effectively control the population of white flies, thrips, winged aphids, leaf miners in the greenhouses. It has limited use for controlling the insect population in the fields. It comes under IPM (Integrated Disease or Pest Management), whereby reduction in the use of chemical pesticides is encouraged.


How does this work?

Yellow sticky traps are the of various shapes (rectangular, circular or in form the of tape) and sizes, that is painted with yellow oil paint and coated with glue, white grease or Vaseline. Most of the insects are attracted towards the yellow or bright yellow color. Insects when come in contact with the yellow trap, trapped in the glue, which is replaced from time to time. Thus, this controls the population of flies, thrips, aphids and leafminers.
Depending upon the size, one trap is effective in an area o 250 to 1000 square feet.

Yellow sticky trap
A self-made yellow sticky trap showing trapped insects

How to prepare your own trap?

Requirements

  1. Cardboard or plywood or empty tin can
  2. Yellow oil paint
  3. Glue/Wax/Grease/Vaseline
  4. Bamboo pole of long PVC pipe


Procedure

  • Apply yellow oil paint on the both side of the cardboard/plywood or outer surface of empty tin can and let them dried.
  • Coat this with the help of glue/wax/grease/Vaseline.
  • Fix this on the bamboo pole or PVC pipe.
  • Nail this in the field or greenhouse above the height of crops.
  • When enough insects are trapped, dip it into the warm water, and dry properly.
  • Again apply waxy coating and use.
  • Traps made by cardboard are of one-time use and should be thrown.

Advantages

  • This method is easy to use.
  • This has a low cost and is highly effective.
  • Yellow sticky traps are non-toxic.

Disadvantages

  • Yellow sticky trap has limited use in open field.
  • Useful insect pollinators are also trapped.


Content first created on 20-09-2020
last updated on 29-03-2021