Effect of sticky traps on non-target insect fauna in mango orchards

Studies were conducted at ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru to assess the number and proportion of non target insects and other arthropods getting killed through sticky traps in mango orchards. Five yellow sticky traps were erected in a mango orchard of about 2000 m2 consisting of varieties ‘Alphonso’ and Totapuri during flowering period. Among the insects trapped during the peak flowering stage, majority belonged to the Order Hymenoptera (35.26% in each trap), distantly followed by Hemiptera (including leafhoppers) (26.88%) and Diptera (26.08%). Results clearly indicate that erecting a large number of sticky traps more than that required for pest monitoring, could affect pollinators and natural enemies. Hence in mango orchards, sticky traps should be used only for monitoring pest populations and mass trapping approach through sticky traps is not advisable.