UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Yellow Sticky Traps (YSTs) serve as essential instruments in integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, effectively aiding in the monitoring and control of flying insect pests within agricultural and greenhouse environments. These traps take advantage of the powerful visual appeal that numerous insects possess for the color yellow, which mimics floral cues and reflects light at wavelengths that are particularly noticeable to insect photo-receptors. YSTs play a crucial role in spotting early infestations, pinpointing pest hotspots, and evaluating the relative abundance and movement of pests like whiteflies, thrips, aphids, and leaf miners. The incorporation of pheromones, kairomones, and UV-reflective coatings has significantly boosted their effectiveness. While YSTs offer affordability, environmental benefits, and user-friendliness, they also have drawbacks, such as the potential to capture non-target species and their restriction to the flying stages of pests. The implementation of high trap densities for mass trapping has proven effective in diminishing pest populations in controlled environments. Their involvement in decision-making and sustainable pest management is continually progressing alongside innovations in lure technology and trap design. This paper emphasizes the evolving significance of YSTs as both monitoring and management tools in sustainable pest control systems. However, challenges such as trap saturation, species misidentification, limited integration with automated technologies, and environmental sensitivity remain areas for further research and innovation.