ABSTRACT

Studies initiated in 2002 to determine the feasibility of using traps to detect cotton fleahopper movement into cotton were continued in 2003. Malaise traps and two colors of sticky traps (yellow, white) were evaluated in five cotton fields. Both colors of sticky traps were positioned at three heights (ground level, 1, and 2 m above the soil surface) on the field border, and in the field interior just above the plant canopy on the 30^th row. Malaise traps were positioned only on the field border. Captures by malaise traps were substantially higher than the previous year, but were still inconsistent as a result of trap blockage by large insects or spider webbing. These occurrences probably limit the value of malaise traps for monitoring fleahopper movement. Sticky traps, however, show considerable promise for this use. In general, infield sticky traps captured more fleahoppers than border traps, and yellow sticky traps tended to capture more fleahoppers than white traps, regardless of trap location. Differences in captures between trap colors and heights were less pronounced than in 2002, but peaks in captures at the 2-m trap height appeared to be related to discrete mass movement events of fleahoppers. Our results suggest sticky traps placed in the field interior are more useful for detecting the presence of fleahoppers in cotton fields, while traps at 2-m height on the field border may be useful for detecting mass migration events.