Sampling for adults of the planthopper Myndus crudus a vector of lethal yellowing of palms 1

Abstract Tests were made using coloured sticky traps to determine trap efficacy in catching adult Myndus crudus Van Duzee (Homoptera, Cixiidae) under field conditions. Blue traps caught more M. crudus adults than any of the other colour traps tested. Blue traps caught adults of both sexes during the day and night although significantly more adults were caught during the day. A sampling bias was shown in that blue traps caught significantly more males than expected from the field population. Blue sticky traps were more effective at sampling adult M. crudus populations than previous sampling techniques based on host plant attractiveness and should be considered for use in future sampling.