Sticky Traps
pbff
Posts: 433
Hi everyone,
I'm interested to learn your thoughts about sticky traps.
I only ever used one once, found that it caught a couple of hoverflies and never used one again for that reason.
However, I was quite surprised by the amount of people who I have talked to who do use them, even those who have an interest in wildlife gardening.
A couple of weeks ago I visited a small nursery. Inside their two polytunnels they had yellow sticky traps suspended, probably about thirty of them per tunnel. On each trap there was at least one bumblebee and on over half of the traps there were three or four bumblebees, all dead or dying. From the ones that could seen properly, they seemed to be mostly White-tailed bumblebee, Buff-tailed bumblebee and Carder bees. There were also hoverflies on the traps. There were actually very few pest species present.
Ironically, many of the plants that were in the tunnels were being marketed as beneficial to pollinators.
I know that sticky traps are useful in monitoring pest populations, enabling the early identification of flying pest problems, giving a guide time for introduction of biological controls and indeed providing a method of control in themselves.
However, I believe that their benefits outweigh their limitations, especially where they are used on such large scales in situations where pollinators have access.
If greenhouse/tunnel openings were covered with fine screening instead of being left wide open, a lot of pollinator deaths could be avoided, and sticky trap packaging ought to state this.
What do you think about their use?
Posts
I tried them once in the tomato greenhouse, as you said, a few hoverflies, couple of bees, not a white or green fly in sight, which was what it bought them for, so no, I wouldn't use them again,
I wouldn't use them, everything in the garden is about natural balance and predation for me.
Lyn and Mark, good for you!
I have three threads running at the moment upon this subject and treehugger posted on the one in Wildlife Gardening about the use of insectivorous plants instead.
http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/wildlife-gardening/sticky-traps/1000854.html
Its interesting to hear everyone's ideas and opinions.
Not until slugs fly.
I think slugs do fly, either that or they're very good at long jump, however do they get from the wall into the hanging baskets?
Perhaps slugs have super-powers...
They are quite amazing how they will scale another plant or structure, then free fall onto the plant of their choice, especially the Dahlias.
I have to admire their skills, even if they are maddening!
I remember seeing a photo in one of the gardening magazines, of a small bird (possibly a wren),that had flown into a greenhouse and got stuck on one of those sticky traps. The poor thing couldn't get free and died an agonising death. I have never used one since.
That's interesting AnniD - well, horrifying actually.
I had never thought of birds coming to grief on these monstrous traps.
Once something gets stuck to that glue, it just doesn't come off again, no matter what.
Last edited: 07 July 2017 08:43:16
I don't and won't use sticky traps in the greenhouse for the same reasons given above.
I have just re-read my original post and realised there is an error in the text.
It is meant to read "However, I believe that their limitations outweigh their benefits"
Here I am, campaigning for people NOT to use these awful things in places where pollinators have access, but sounding through my writing like I think they are good!
It's about time I proof-read my posts a bit more carefully, before I actually hit 'Post'.