Role of trap colors and exposure time of pheromone on trapping efficacy of males of the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917) (Lepidoptera:Gelechiidae)

Field studies were conducted in two sites (Saheline and Chott-Mariem) in the Centre-East of Tunisia in 2012 and 2013 to evaluate the influence of different colors of pan water traps and age of pheromone dispenser on capture of males of the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta. Three experiments were setup using colored traps (white, yellow, orange, red and green) in a randomized block design with four replicates. The first trial was conducted during the period from November, 2012 to February, 2013, the second between December, 2012 and April, 2013 and the third during April to May, 2013. Results indicate, in all experiments, that there is no significant difference in male capture according to trap color. However, in the third trial, green colored traps captured, respectively, more than 5-fold, 4-fold, 4-fold and 2-fold for red, orange, yellow and white colored traps. The experiments aimed to determine the effect of pheromone aging on male trapping, results revealed a significant difference between aged lures and control. Fresh lures captured from 2 to 13-more moths than weathered pheromone capsules.    Key words: Aging lure, color, fresh lure, pan water trap, pheromone, Tunisia, Tuta absoluta.