Matteo Marchioro. 2021. Improved light traps for early-detection of alien insects travelling worldwide in shipping containers. Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity.

The attraction of light of different colors (white, infrared, ultraviolet, red) applied on sticky traps modified adding entomological glue and insecticide was tested on a Lepidoptera (Cadra cautella), a Diptera (Drosophila melanogaster), and two Coleoptera (Sitophilus zeamais and Tribolium castaneum) released inside a shipping container. Overall, insects showed attraction for all the colors except for infrared light. C. cautella showed no preference among white, ultraviolet or red; D. melanogaster preferred ultraviolet and white over red; beetles had a much greater attraction to red. Lastly, the stronger entomological glue improved catches of beetles whereas insecticide has no effect.