Sticky traps are made of sheets or rolls of yellow, blue or other colored plastic, depending on the preference of the pest we are going to combat. These leaves are covered with an adhesive to which insects will stick.
# # # What are they used for? # # #
They are used to detect pests in crops and for mass captures, that is, to combat a pest problem. The mode of action of these sticky traps is based on the attraction of adult insects which remain stuck in the plastic; Capturing adults prevents them from reproducing and thus reduces the presence of larvae (immature stages of these insects), which are those that mainly feed on plants.
The height of the sticky traps should be similar to the height of the crop; Preferably, these sticky traps should be placed with one side facing where the sun rises.
# # # How sticky traps work # # #
As we mentioned before, these sticky traps are based on the attraction of certain insects to certain colors. Whiteflies (Diptera), thrips and aphids (aphids) have a preference for the color yellow. The blue color, for its part, is preferred by the sciarid fly, the green color for bedbugs, the burgundy red color for the green mosquito, etc... It can be used only as a chromatic attraction sticky trap, or also using a pheromone-based bait which, combined with the attractiveness of the color, increases the efficiency of captures.
Generally, yellow and blue sticky traps are placed with a density of 2 to 4 sticky traps per 1,000 m2 (in case of detection), and 1 sticky trap per surface of 5 to 25 m2 (in case of control). Parasites). In case they contain pheromones, both blue and yellow, they will be placed with a density of 1 to 2 sticky traps per hectare for detection and monitoring, and 10 to 20 sticky traps in case of control, since this sticky trap is activated . with a pheromone diffuser.
# # # How to make a homemade sticky trap # # #
As we said, the type of color chosen will depend on the problem insect. In general, the most used color due to the wide range of insects it attracts is yellow. For example, for whiteflies and thrips, the color yellow works very well.
If you are looking for a quick and economical solution, we will explain how to prepare your homemade sticky traps.
✅ First, get some yellow plastic.
Any empty yellow bottle will work, for example bottles of some brands of bleach, detergent or oil.
✅We are going to cut rectangles of approximately 15 cm by 10 (what if my bottle is not enough for this size? Well, you cut the strips to the size that your bottle allows. Because the size here does not have of importance)
✅We are going to make a small hole on one side so we can hang it on our plant or on a support.
✅Finally, we wet an absorbent paper in sunflower or olive oil (sunflower is preferable) and spread both sides of the plastic sheet.
And it's ready to hang!
Remember that you should hang it at the height of your plants, neither attached to the ground nor at the top of the plant. You just need to check it daily and keep it clean. You will be surprised when you see how it works!
To clean it, simply wash it with soap and coat it again with oil.Here is a video explaining how to prepare it step by step.
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Good luck catching it!
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