Potentiality assessment of solar based  LED light trap as pest management tool in tea (Camellia sinensis L.)

Abstract

Insect pest is a very common problem in tea garden where they caused a huge loss in each year. The study was conducted to measure the potentiality of a solar based LED light trap as an eco-friendly pest management technology in the tea garden of Bangladesh. The results showed that the highest number of insects from Coleoptera (3526) and Hemiptera (557) orders were captured under the solar based LED light trap while it was lowest in Hymenoptera (47) and Orthoptera (3). The study results also indicated that in an average of 9 days, total captured insects (number) were 725, 244, 146, 112, and 85 at 6-7, 7-8, 8-9, 9-10, and 10-11 pm, respectively while it was 656, 1004, 566, 3970, 602, 489, 680, 620 and 3222 at 1st to 9th days, respectively. Hence, the average decreasing rate with time (hourly) was computed at 66.34, 40.16, 23.29, and 24.11% compared to the 1st hour (6-7 pm). The average captured pattern of the insects compared to the 1st days was decreased or vice-versa. From 6.00 pm to 11.00 am, the initial light intensity was measured at 28 lux which raised up to 245 lux at 8.00 pm after that it down drastically. Light intensity has a positive relation with insect capture. Most of the Coleopteran and Hemipteran insects were captured under low light intensity in the early evening (6.00 pm). Therefore, the study suggested that the solar based LED light trap might have the potential to reduce a great number of tea pests in the tea garden.

Keywords

• Tea ecosystem
• Insect-pest
• Solar energy
• Biological control
• Hazardous chemical