Monitoring whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) on sunflower with yellow sticky traps

Cotton whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Cen.), has assumed the status of a pest on sunflower (Helianthus annuus Linn.). Yellow sticky traps were used during kharif and rabi 1991–92 seasons to monitor the activity of whitefly at Coimbatore. Traps placed at a height of 30 cm from the ground level attracted more number of adults than those placed at 60, 90 and 120 cm height. The activity of whitefly was less during kharif season. In rabi, the population was on the increase, the maximum being in the fourth week of December (1904.6 whiteflies/trap/week). Thereafter, the population gradually declined.