Colour preferences of New Zealand thrips (Terebrantia: Thysanoptera)

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Abstract
The preferences of several adult New Zealand terebrantian thrips species for the colours: white (low ultra violet), yellow, green, blue, black and red, were examined in simple field bio-assays. The flower-inhabiting species Thrips obscuratus (Crawford) and Ceratothrips frici (Uzel), were most attracted to white and yellow traps, respectively, colours associated with the flowers of their host plants. The polyphagous flower and foliage inhabiting Thrips tabaci L. was most attracted to yellow traps, while the grass inhabiting Limothrips cerealium (Haliday), was equally attracted to all coloured traps. The use of coloured traps in pest management is discussed.