How to Use Sticky Cards

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Suzanne Wainwright-Evans

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Sticky cards can be a great tool for gardeners.

Yellow sticky cards can be a great tool for any gardener. They’re used to help monitor insect populations, as well as to collect insects for identification. They can also be used to a lesser degree for population control; however, they’ll only work for adult insects, as only adults will have developed wings, enabling them to fly into the cards. (Immature insects or mites would have to crawl onto the cards – a much less likely scenario.)

How do sticky cards work? As the adults are flying around, they “see” the yellow and are attracted to it, flying right into the card. They immediately begin to struggle and become trapped on the adhesive, often in a twister-like position, just like fly paper. From here you can use these stuck insects to help identify them. To do this you’ll need a magnifying lens from 5X-10X magnification. (They can be purchased through the Internet or at a hobby store.) Use the lens to help identify the parts that are visible. Once done, you can discard the card or put it back. Remember pests stuck on the card may be long gone, so keep the cards fresh. Change about once a week.

Fungus gnats are probably the most common pest that these cards are used for, but other pests can also show up on them. As you examine your cards, keep an eye out for insects like shore flies, whiteflies or even aphids. It’s very important to be able to tell them apart on the cards so you know what to target when developing your pest management program.

Common pests attracted to yellow sticky cards include:

Fungus gnats. These are small (2.5 mm), grayish to black flies often found buzzing around the soil of houseplants. Fungus gnats resemble tiny mosquitoes with long legs and long, skinny antennae. Their two wings (not four, like other insects) are shades of smoky gray. The larvae live in the soil, eating plant roots. Because the larvae are generally not above the soil line, they can be difficult to monitor. Don’t forget: Not only are these guys a visual pest problem, they can also spread plant diseases.

Facts

There are many different kinds of sticky cards on the market. Most can be purchased from your local garden center or on the Internet.
Most insects are attracted to yellow. One exception are thrips – they like blue, so blue sticky cards should be used if looking to trap them.

Tips

Vegetable oil or waterless hand cleanser will help remove the sticky card “sticky” on your hands.
Sticky cards have adhesive on both sides. You can peel off one side and lay it on the soil with that side up. The next week you can flip and peel off the other side after inspecting the card.

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Articles

All About Aphids
Aphids those commonly found insects in your garden are easily controlled with simple techniques.
All About Fungus Gnats
Learn how to identify what fungus gnats are, the damage they cause and how to control these pests that invade your houseplants.
All About Whiteflies
Learn how to identify if whiteflies are damaging your plants and how to control these garden pests.

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