Optimal height of installing sticky traps for monitoring fungus gnats

Abstract

Agricultural sticky traps are used for forecasting flying insects, including fungus gnat adults. Forecasting using sticky trap is an important measure to determine pesticides or environmentally friendly control means. Sticky traps of various colors can be installed easily and quickly. The yellow sticky trap is most effective for forecasting fungus gnat adults. In addition, they are used for control purposes by mass trapping. We tested the optimum installation height of yellow sticky traps to forecast and control the fungus gnat adults effectively in the cultivation of mushroom and horticultural plants. The number of captured fungus gnat adults was highest on the second floor for button mushroom and oyster mushroom, 100 cm above the floor for sawdust shiitake mushroom, 20 cm under the floor for hydroponic strawberry, and 20 cm above the floor for hydroponic tomato. This suggests that sticky trap height should be installed differently depending on the cultivation type or environment for effective forecasting and control of fungus gnat adults.