About 200 recent papers published since 1990 on trap cropping for insect pest management were examined for patterns concerning pest insect characteristics that might explain the variable results obtained. Over 60 species of insects have been subject of these investigations. The highest number of papers considered noctuids, mainly Helicoverpa spp, followed by papers on the aleyrodids Bemisia spp, and the curculionid Anthonomus grandis. Proportionately the highest number of trap cropping publications claiming at least some degree of success were those on Plutella xylostella, followed by those on Lygus spp., Nezara viridula and related stink bugs, and Phyllotreta flea beetles. The lowest degree of success in trap cropping was in the case of aphids, followed by Bemisia spp. and Leptinotarsa decemlineata; however, for some of these insects only a few publications are available. Additionally, in a number of cases only one or two papers on a particular pest species exist, but these claim a good result. Pooling all the data, in general trap cropping studies with Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Heteroptera as targets seem to have provided encouraging results, while Homoptera in particular appear to be difficult to control with this tactic. Ecological and life-history traits of the target pest in the most and the least successful trap cropping cases will be examined, and possible reasons for the variable success will be speculated upon.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Noctuidae Helicoverpa
Species 2: Homoptera Aleyrodidae Bemisia (Whitefly)
Species 3: Coleoptera Curculionidae Anthonomus grandis (Boll weevil)
Keywords: Trap crop
Back to Symposium: Trap Cropping--Using Insect Behavior, Plant Biology, and Landscape Management to Control Insect Pests
Back to Symposia
Back to The 2003 ESA Annual Meeting and Exhibition