Laboratory study on effect of color on oviposition rate of wheat midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Diptera : Cecidomyiidae)‎

Abstract EN

Studying the effect of host color on insect behavior can be useful for managing crop pests.

Wheat spikes were exposed to wheat midge in the laboratory for oviposition (20±3ºC, 70% R.H.

and 16:8 h L:D).

Different color folders were attached to corners of a 60-cm cubic cage.

Then, 10 wheat spikes were placed in front of each folder and 40 midges were released inside each cage.

In the four-choice test, wheat midges oviposited more on spikes with yellow (183±24) background followed by blue (161±11), green (139±8) and red (96±8).

In the threechoice test, wheat midges oviposited more on the control (140±16) treatment followed by yellow (123±13), blue (114±10) and green (100±12).

Wheat midges oviposited more on the black treatment (62 ± 7) than the control (92 ± 10) in a two-choice test.

In the other two-choice test, wheat midges oviposited more on the control (179 ± 16) compared to red (84 ± 11).

The results showed that the color contrast between wheat spikes and background was important for oviposition on wheat spikes.

Red and black backgrounds were deterrent; however, yellow and blue backgrounds were not