بررسی اثر شکل هندسی تله‌های زرد بر جذابیت مگس سفید گلخانه‌ای Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) در گوجه‌فرنگی گلخانه‌ای

The greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), discovered in England in 1856 has become a global threat to greenhouse crops, particularly tomatoes. This polyphagous pest, damages plants by feeding on their sap, causing chlorosis and reducing photosynthesis. Additionally, it transmits plant viruses and other pests like mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus. Control strategies include chemical pesticides, but challenges like resistance development and environmental concerns have prompted the search for sustainable alternatives. This tiny insect is now well established in various parts of Iran. One promising approach involves colored sticky traps, with recent research focusing on geometric designs. In this study various two-dimensional (2D) (circle, triangle and rectangle) and three-dimensional (3D) shapes (cylinder, cone and cube) were evaluated on tomato plant in greenhouse. The study was conducted in completely randomized block design with six treatments (2D and 3D traps) and four replicates in a tomato greenhouse in Bajgah, around Shiraz, Fars province. Circle and cube traps were most effective in attracting whiteflies. However, there was no significant difference in attraction between 2D and 3D traps. The effectiveness of trap shape has been highlighted in previous studies with circular traps often outperforming others. It may be due to their resemblance to host plants. However, findings vary depending on factors like insect species and experimental conditions. The current research suggests that trap shape (and not essentially its dimension), is critical in attracting whiteflies. This reinforces the importance of trap design in greenhouse pest control. Further research could explore additional trap shapes and their efficacy in diverse environments.