TPO 
2) 
July 1956 ARS-33-28 
an 
bin ibs MENT FAS 
United States Department of Agriculture fi ey eer 
Agricultural Research Service 
( EK 
v AUG 271956 ™ 
orev cena a 
ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL CERTAIN COTTON, CORN, AND 
VEGETABLE-CROP INSECTS WITH LIGHT TRAPS 
By L. W. Noble, P. A. Glick, and Wedy Eitel 
Entomology Research Branch z 
Light traps were found ineffective in controlling the pink bollworm 
where eight traps were used at widely separated points with only one 
trap per field (Pfrimmer et al. 1955). In 1955 an opportunity to observe 
the effects of a large number of light traps used against this insect, as 
well as other insects on cotton, corn, and a number of vegetable crops, 
was afforded through cooperation with growers who operated the traps 
at Batesville, Tex. An experiment was also conducted at Brownsville, 
Tex., with a light trap operated for pink bollworm control in a large 
cage. 
Field Experiment 
In the large-scale experiment at Batesville, growers operated 142 
light traps on five adjacent farms comprising a block of approximately 
3,000 acres. This acreage, called the trap area, was compared with 
check fields outside of the area. The traps were of the electric-grid 
type with two 15-watt black-light fluorescent lamps (fig. 1). As can be 
noted from the photograph, the grids sometimes became clogged with 
dead insects, thereby tending to lose effectiveness through shorting. 
Changes in design would be needed to assure destruction of insects 
attracted. Insects collected in four “indicator” traps of a different 
type were examined to determine the seasonal abundance of the more 
important species. Counts were made in representative fields of the 
trap and check areas. Crops observed were corn, cotton, and a number 
of vegetables. 
1/ Conducted in cooperation with the Texas Agricultural Experiment 
Station and the Agricultural Engineering Research Branch. 
2) Others helping to obtain the records were Ben H. Richardson of 
the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and L. M. Carter and Harold 
Sattler of the Agricultural Engineering Research Branch. 
