MONITORING THE BROWN WATTLE MIRID, LYGIDOLON LAEVIGATUM REUTER (HEMIPTERA, MIRIDAE)

Sticky traps are the most practical and economical means of monitoring the brown wattle mirid, Lygidolon laevigatum Reuter. Of three types o f sticky traps that were compared, a cylindrical plastic trap made fro m a 21 plastic bottle was the least expensive but effective. Experimen ts with different colours and hues showed that the wattle mirid was po sitively phototaxic to yellow and its various hues. Paint was the most economical and practical solution to colouring the plastic trap. The most effective trap height was 2 m above the ground. Eight adults per trap was the economic threshold level. It is recommended that when thi s threshold is reached, sweep-netting of trees should be carried out t o substantiate the threshold. If sweep-net samples contain sir or more adult wattle mirids per tree, then control should be implemented.