The Effect of Color on Oviposition Rate of Wheat Midge,

Sitodiplosis mosellana (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

A. Hosseini Gharalari, M. A. H. Smith and S. L. Fox
Cereal Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, 195 Dafoe Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3T 2M9

Laboratory experiments with five colors indicated that red and black had a negative effect on
oviposition rate. Blue and yellow were the most attractive
INTRODUCTION
Wheat midge, a key pest in the Canadian Prairies, damages wheat kernels through larval feeding, which results in reduction of grain quantity and
quality. Color is one of the cues that often helps insects in finding their hosts’ habitat. The objective of the following experiment was to determine the
effect of red, black, blue, green and yellow on oviposition rate of wheat midge in the laboratory.

MATERIALS & METHODS

In the laboratory (20ºC, 80% R.H. and 16:8 (L:D) h), 10 tillers of the susceptible wheat line ‘Roblin’, were positioned at the corners of wooden cages.
Different color folders were stuck on the corners of the cage and behind the spikes. The insides of the cages were misted with water followed by
wheat midge release. Light source was above the cages. Four different replicated experiments with a three-night duration/replication were
conducted: a) red, blue, green and yellow; b) check, blue, green and yellow; c) check and black; d) check and red. Spikes were dissected and eggs
laid on each spikelet were counted. Data were log transformed and analyzed in SAS using Proc Mixed.
60 cm

60 cm
Check

RESULTS
Figure 1 - Mean (± SE) number of eggs/spike in ‘black vs. check’ Figure 2 - Mean (± SE) number of eggs/spike in ‘red vs. check’ Table 1 - Tukey test for 3-color experiment
experiment experiment
250 350 Differences of Least Squares Means
Mean number of eggs per spike

Mean number of eggs per spike

F = 6.71 F = 34.56
300
200 p = 0.0107 p = <.0001 Color Color Adj P
Average (Black) = 62 Average (Red) = 84
250
Average (Check) = 92 Average (Check) = 179
150
200 Blue Check 0.9756

100 150 Blue Green 0.0742

100
Blue Yellow 0.9954
50
50
Check Green 0.0248
Check Yellow 0.9147
0 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 Green Yellow 0.1273
Replication Replication

Figure 3 - Mean (± SE) number of eggs/spike in 3-color Figure 4 - Mean (± SE) number of eggs/spike in 4-color Table 2 - Tukey test for 4-color experiment
experiment experiment
300 450 Differences of Least Squares Means
F = 14.51
Mean number of eggs per spike

Mean number of eggs per spike

400
250
F = 3.26 p = <.0001
p = 0.0228 350 Average (Red) =90 Color Color Adj P
Average (Green) = 100 Average (Green) = 139
200 Average (Blue) = 114 300
Average (Blue) = 161
Average (Yellow) = 123 Average (Yellow) = 183 Blue Green 0.8524
250
Average (Check) = 137
150
200 Blue Red <.0001
100 150 Blue Yellow 0.9989
100
50
Green Red <.0001
50
Green Yellow 0.7790
0 0
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 Red Yellow <.0001
Replication Replication

CONCLUSIONS

Wheat midge can detect color. Red and black were deterrent. Blue and yellow were the most attractive.

Wheat midge probably uses color as a visual cue to detect ground and soil, and fly upwards to search for spikes of the host plants.

Color traps of blue and yellow would be more useful in management programs of this pest.