<style type="text/css">
.backSelectNormal
{
background-color:#FFFFdd;
}
.backSelectAlternate
{
background-color:#FFcc88;
}
</style>
<select> <option value="alternate colors" class="backSelectNormal">alternate colors</option> <option value="0" class="backSelectNormal">0</option> <option value="1" class="backSelectAlternate">1</option> <option value="2" class="backSelectNormal">2</option> <option value="3" class="backSelectAlternate">3</option> <option value="4" class="backSelectNormal">4</option> </select>