Evaluation of sticky traps to manage eucalyptus gall wasp, Leptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae).

The recent outbreak of the invasive gall wasp, Leptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle has threatened the productivity of the existing eucalyptus plantations and has become a constraint in the expansion of the plantations throughout India. In the present study among the different coloured sticky traps evaluated, yellow trap was most effective in trapping the pest (146.83/trap) followed by green (67.33), white (66.33), blue (49.08) and red (48.92) which were on par with each other. The results indicated that yellow sticky traps can be used both for monitoring the pest in general and mass trapping it in nursery and under protected cultivation. Among the three sticky materials used with or without eucalyptus oil, insect gum with and without oil trapped 192.00 and 169.25 wasps respectively followed by petroleum jelly with oil (122.25/trap). Automobile grease (with or without eucalyptus oil) trapped the lowest number of wasps (54.25 to 56.25/trap). Among the different shapes evaluated, flat trap with glue on both sides (176.53/trap) was significantly superior to all other traps evaluated followed by sphere trap (92.27/trap), flat trap glued only on one side (75.07/trap) and cuboid trap (67.33/trap).