ATTRACTIVENESS OF COLOR TRAPS TO STROBILOMYIA SPP (DIPTERA, ANTHOMYIIDAE)

We field-tested two sticky traps used to monitor populations of Strobilomyia spp. developing in the French Alps: a bright yellow horizontal trap and a bright yellow vertical trap with purple stripes. Fluorescent yellow traps captured significantly more flies than nonfluorescent yellow traps. Males of Strobilomyia melania Ackland were trapped significantly more often than females of other Strobilomyia species regardless of sex. Significantly more males were trapped per week when males were removed daily rather than weekly. Spectral patterns of the colors used in this experiment changed only slightly after 1 wk of exposure to sunlight and did not affect the daily captures of flies.