Response of sucking insect complex to various colors of sticky traps in okra crop

The present research investigations were carried out to see the response of sucking insect complex to various colors of sticky traps in okra crop at Latif farm, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam from 01-08-2011 to 14-11-2011. The purpose of study was to develop IPM strategy against sucking complex pests of okra through various colors of sticky traps. For this purpose, yellow, green, blue, maroon and white colored sticky traps were tested for attraction of pests of okra. Results revealed that among all colors, yellow sticky traps attracted maximum mean number of jassids 1.22, 1.21 and 1.16 per trap installed at 1, 2 and 3 feet levels above the ground level followed by green color traps 0.92, 0.86 and 0.89. Similarly, mean number of thrips 0.94, 1.07 and 1.12 were maximum on yellow color trap followed by green color traps 0.88, 1.01and 0.96 per trap. As such, maximum mean number of whiteflies 1.44, 1.17, and 0.94 per trap were attracted on yellow color traps followed by green 1.05, 0.86 and 0.83 per trap. White colored sticky traps attracted the least number of pests. The result further showed that maximum mean number of jassid (0.90) captured comparatively was higher on 1ft level above the ground as compared to 2 and 3 ft. heights of colored sticky traps; however they were statistically non-significant. Thrips captured on different heights of traps indicated that maximum mean number of thrips (0.95) was recorded on 2 and 3ft as compared to 1 ft above ground level and were statistically different at (P less than 0.05). The results further showed that the maximum mean numbers of whiteflies were recorded at 1ft (0.94) than (0.87 and 0.82) per traps installed at 2 and 3ft level. The rain occurred from August 28 to Sept 18, 2011 which drastically reduced whitefly and thrip population, but the jassid population was not affected due to rain up to end.