Effect of release rate and odour cross-contamination for semiochemical baited traps used in thrips pest management

Abstract: To minimise the effects of a confined space and interference from plant floral odours found in greenhouses, two outdoor assays were undertaken to examine the effect of different release rates of methyl isonicotinate (MI), a common active ingredient of commercial thrips lures, on thrips capture in white water traps. There was a clear relationship between odour release and onion thrips capture: trap capture increased with increasing release rate. A possible effect of odour contamination between traps with different amounts of MI (including those with none) may be greater than previously thought and suggests that previous work may have underestimated the ability of semiochemicals to increase trap capture.