Besides yellow boards, there are also blue boards to catch insects and keep them from harming plants. You can read here which pests are caught with them and how the blue panels can be used successfully.

In a nutshell

  • Blueboards work just like other sticky traps
  • they are easy to use and harmless
  • only catch thrips
  • for other animals yellow plates are better

What are blue boards?

An adhesive board consists of either a piece of cardboard or plastic coated with an adhesive. It is blue so that the right harmful insects are attracted. The adhesive is weather-resistant, does not drip and lasts for a long time because it does not dry out. The panels are often perforated to make them easier to attach. As an alternative, there are the panels as plugs that are simply plugged into the ground. The only pests that are reliably attracted to the color blue are thrips.

Thrips (Thysanoptera)

  • also called thrips
  • very many different types
  • each specialized in a few plant species
Source: xpda, Thysanoptera P1300642b, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Look

  • a few millimeters in size, partially winged
  • Body elongated, brownish
  • Larvae even smaller whitish to greenish
  • are often found on the underside of the leaf
  • like a dry, warm environment, so more common in summer
  • Larvae pupate in the soil

damage picture

  • Thrips suck plant juices
  • Shoots and leaves wither and wither, shimmering silvery
  • Plant has stunted growth
  • brown traces of droppings on leaves and substrate

Pros & cons of blue boards

Benefits:

  • are odorless
  • very safe to use
  • ready for immediate use
  • without insecticides
  • good infestation control
  • also for indoor plants

disadvantage:

  • the color blue does not have a sufficient effect on other insects
  • not all animals are caught
  • it takes time for the pest population to decrease
  • no immediate effect, animals die slowly

Notice: Before using adhesive panels, you should safely determine the pests, only then you can choose the right color.

Instructions for using the blue boards

  1. Separate the affected plants from healthy plants.
  2. The adhesive boards work best in a closed space, i.e. in the room or in the greenhouse.
  3. Since thrips are winged, the best way to catch them is to fly over the plants.
  4. Take the blue boards out of the packaging at the unglued area and pull a cable tie, a piece of wire or something similar through the holes. Then hang directly above the plants. Distance about 5 to 10 cm.
  5. As the plants grow, hang the plaques higher accordingly.
  6. A panel is sufficient for pure stock control and early detection for about 20 m², for combating it should only be 5 m².
  7. If the boards are so full of insects that they no longer stick, exchange or remove them.
  8. Dispose of the blue panels in normal household waste.

Usage Notes

As with all glue traps, it cannot be ruled out that other animals and thus also beneficial insects will stick to the glue with the blue ones. You reduce this risk if you only use the boards indoors.

  • Only apply beneficial insects if they move by crawling
  • Cut sticky traps with scrap foil and punch holes for hanging
  • then peel off the foil

The blue stickers are not suitable for catching the larvae, as they do not fly. With a bit of luck, if you place the slabs directly on the substrate, catching will still work. However, it is important to ensure that as little soil as possible sticks to the panels. The boards come in different sizes, but that doesn't mean that larger boards deliver better results. The animals often only fly to the edge and stick there.

Blue Plate Marks

The usual manufacturers of plant protection products usually only have the classic yellow boards. You will look in vain for blue signs on brands such as Neudorff or Substral.

windhager

This brand offers many systems and options that help against pests. This also includes the blue adhesive boards. They are equipped with a protective film and have a hanging wire, so using them is child's play.

IVOG biotechnical systems

This manufacturer offers its blue charts with an option for documenting the degree of infestation. You can number the boards and enter the number of thrips caught on the accompanying control slip.

frequently asked Questions

Why are glue boards different colors?

Harmful insects are attracted by different colors. For some animals, color doesn't work at all; there, for example, special scents have proven themselves as attractants.

Do Blue Boards also work against other pests?

Thrips are particularly attracted to the color blue. This does not apply to other pests. Most like the color yellow and so the classic yellow panels work better.

Are there other control measures against thrips?

A treatment with soapy water can be successful if the plant tolerates it. Plant broths or neem oil can also help. In addition, predatory mites eat thrips. You can buy these beneficials.

Can glue boards be made by yourself?

The blue background is plain. A blue cardstock that is punched and laminated is sufficient for this. The problem is likely to be a suitable adhesive. While sugar solution is recommended and non-toxic, it may attract other pests.

Category:

Garden maintenance