Trapping Tomato Psyllid, Bactehcera cockerelli (Sulc) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), in Greenhouses

Tomato (potato) psyllid, Bactericera (=Paratrioza) cockerelli (Sulc) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) has emerged as an important and potentially limiting pest of greenhouse-grown tomatoes in Colorado and effective methods of monitoring have not been developed for the crop. To better assist detection of tomato psyllid in greenhouses a series of trials were conducted to evaluate optimal trap design and placement. Eighteen different colors were evaluated as were effects of shading, orientation to sunlight and height of trap placement. Color trap trials indicated that neon-green, neon-orange and standard yellow were most attractive to psyllids. Traps hung near the top of tomato plants (150-cm) caught significantly more psyllids than lower placed traps (30-cm). Traps partially shaded caught more psyllids than traps that were fully exposed to the sun. Traps oriented to the north caught more psyllids than traps oriented to the south; there were no differences between east and west orientation. This information can improve tomato psyllid pest management by providing monitoring methods that effectively trap adults.