Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for - Aseanipm ...

Section 4 • Integrated Insect and Rodent Pests Management
Exercise No. 4.06 137
USE OF YELLOW STICkY TRAPS AS A MANAGEMENT
STRATEGY FOR POTATO LEAF-MINERS
BaCKGroUND aND raTIoNalE
The potato leafminer, Liriomyza huedobrensis, has only
recently invaded Southeast Asia. The first leafminer
infestation in potato was reported in Indonesia in 1994.
Farmers there said that they had not seen the pest before,
although it was probably there for several years earlier. It is
likely that it came in from cut flowers or other ornamental
foliage that is frequently moving into that country.
Interestingly, this pest has fairly recently been found in
several other countries (e.g., Sri Lanka, Israel, Madagascar, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand),
and is spreading all over areas where it was not found before. Other vegetable crops are attacked
but damage is usually not severe 138 . In the Philippines, the Department of Agriculture’s Cordillera
Administrative Regional Field Unit reported a major infestation of leafminers in potatoes in
Buguias, Benguet. A validation conducted with field facilitators in September 1999 indicated that
leafminers were not a major pest, but it seems that in this municipality, the build-up of this pest is
reaching alarming proportions 139 .
Several yellow traps (e.g., made of different materials and shades of yellow colors) were seen
installed in many infested areas. Substantial numbers of adult leafminer catches were also observed
on these trap materials, with more catches on brighter yellow shades. Interaction with farmers
showed that, so far, only yellow traps worked among non-pesticide control strategies introduced in
those infested areas.
It is also interesting to note a number of innovations shared on the use of yellow traps during
interactions with farmers. For instance, some claimed that better result was obtained when each plant
was installed with yellow soft drink straw dipped in grease oil. Others confirmed the effectiveness
of using yellow flaglets with grease oil to sweep adults as we have observed in some fields, which
they said complemented these installed yellow traps.
137 Adapted from Callo, Jr., D.P., L.B. Teofilo, and H.A. Tauli (eds). 2002. Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for Vegetable IPM, Volume II. SEAMEO
Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. pp195-201.
138 Shepard, B.M., Carner, G.R., Barrion, A.T., Ooi, P.A.C, and van den Berg, H. 1999. Insects and Their Natural Enemies Associated with Vegetables and
Soybean in Southeast Asia. Quality Printing Company, Orangeburn, South Carolina, U.S.A. pp57.
139 Callo, Jr., D.P. 2000. Travel report of leaf-miner infestation in Buguias, Benguet from 05-08 January 2000. ASEAN IPM Knowledge Network Center,
SEAMEO Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, College, Laguna, Philippines. pp2-5.
195
when is this exercise most
appropriate?
ɶ In FFS, TOT, and VST
sessions, when there are
early infestation signs
of potato leaf-miners in
learning field; and
ɶ When farmers want to
learn from other farmers
their innovative practices
in using yellow sticky trap
materials against potato
leaf-miners.