EFFECT OF TRAP DESIGN AND COLOR IN EVALUATING ACTIVITY OF TABANUS ABACTOR PHILIP IN TEXAS ROLLING PLAINS HABITATS

The ability to monitor Tabanus abactor Philip was enhanced in a study conducted in the Texas Rolling Plains in 1994. Redberry juniper, Junip erus pinchoti Sudw., honey mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa Torr., and a mixture of the two were determined to be preferred habitats after exam ining four different habitat types based on dominant vegetation in the area. Brown boards on the ground and white buckets in the air, both c oated with Tanglefoot(R) stickum, were used to capture the flies. Thes e two types of traps can be successfully used to determine fly emergen ce, fly concentrations, and numbers of flights during a season. Color was determined to be a visual attractant in two separate tests using s ticky traps, and the location of the traps on the ground or in the air was critical when selecting color. Brown and red colors were signific antly more effective at ground level than in the air, while cyan and w hite colors were significantly more effective in the air than at groun d level. Color within trap type can be used to trap flies more efficie ntly. Female flies were trapped more efficiently on bucket traps in th e air, and male flies were trapped more efficiently on board traps at ground level.