Effect of Colours and Shapes of Sticky Traps on Sucking Insect Pests in BT Cotton

A field experiment was conducted at Sukhna Ablu village, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab, to evaluate the effectiveness of colored sticky traps for managing sucking pests in Bt cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The BG II cotton hybrid, RCH 776, was sown on 13 May 2019 in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Self-made traps in yellow, blue, and white, with different shapes (rectangular, circular, and triangular), were compared with commercial traps. Traps were installed 50 cm above the crop caopy. The highest catches of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (85.66 adults/trap) and Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida) (56.33 adults/trap) were recorded on commercial rectangular yellow traps, while blue rectangular traps were most effective for Thrips tabaci (Lindeman) (18.33 adults/trap). Plots with commercial yellow rectangular traps yielded 29.18 q/ ha of seed cotton, comparable to sprayed plots (29.73 q/ ha), and significantly higher than self-made traps. This study highlights the significance of trap color and shape in efficient pest monitoring and management in cotton.