New Publication in Nature Scientific Reports: Haze of glue determines preference of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) for yellow or blue traps

The article has been published in Nature Scientific Reports by Robert W. H. M. vanTol, JolandaTom, our colleague Monika Roher, Anne Schreurs and Coby van Dooremalen (see our TEAM page for more information).

Summary

"In a wind tunnel we compared the colour preference for western fower thrips to four types of colour plates (clear, white, blue and yellow) applied with two types of glue (difuse Stikem versus clear D41). Further the results for blue and yellow preference were validated in two greenhouses. In the wind tunnel, we found a clear preference of yellow over blue when a clear glue (D41) was used. However, with a more difuse (whitish) glue (Stikem) the preference for yellow over blue disappeared, whereby the attraction to yellow decreased (58%) while the attraction to blue increased (65%). In the greenhouses, we found similar efects as in the wind tunnel with a decrease in attraction to yellow (35%) and increase in attraction to blue (32%) for Stikem compared to D41. Light measurements showed an increase of 18% of blue, 21% of violet light, 8% of yellow and 9% of green light refected on the yellow Stikem trap versus the yellow D41 trap. On blue plates there was only 4% increase of blue light, 8% decrease of yellow light refected when Stikem glue was used compared to D41 glue. It is not yet clear if the change of light refection ratio blue/yellow caused by the glue type plays a role in the change of attraction. The refective properties of glue are so far an unknown factor in colour choice and may explain partially the diferent results on colour preference. A small review on thrips colour preference is discussed to determine possible other factors of infuence on colour choice."