Phototaxis of Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) to light-emitting diodes in Colombia

Frankliniella occidentalis (Insecta: Thysanoptera) is a cosmopolitan species considered a major pest of ornamental, horticultural, and fruit crops. Colored traps with artificial or sunlight sources are used to monitor populations and manipulate adult behavior as a control alternative. In paired controlled trials, phototaxis of F. occidentalis was assessed at 21 wavelength combinations of 397 nm (violet), 462-463 nm (blue), 527-534 nm (green), 589-595 nm (yellow), 609 nm (orange), 628 nm (red), and white (432-618 nm) using low-cost light emitting diodes (LEDs). Females at one to two days of emergence and with four to five hours of starvation showed attraction and shorter response time to the (violet) and (yellow) combination (FP= 14, FN= 1) with an average response time of 2.763 +/- 1.350 min (minimum response at 0.583 min and maximum of 4.417 min), compared to blue-green, green-violet, yellow-red, red-violet combinations. The results contribute to standardization processes for the design, implementation, and use of light traps in monitoring and control systems for Colombian populations of F. occidentalis in the context of integrated pest management.