A pheromone is a substance produced by a living organism to communicate with other members of the same species. There are different types of pheromones, the most common are the following: track pheromones (to locate a food source), aggregation (to find individuals of the same species), alarm (for warning any sort of danger) and sex pheromones (to attract adults of the opposite sex for mating).
Their research has led to the synthesis of attractants and pheromones of insects which are subsequently used in studies of monitoring, mass trapping and mating disruption. Excellent pest management systems which are effective and environmentally friendly due to their specificity, low toxicity and scarce ecological impact.
These techniques, of easy management and monitoring, allow the measurement of the existing infestation, reduce the pest population level with the corresponding mating reduction and determine accurately the need and correct time of applying conventional treatments, avoiding thus unnecessary treatments.
WHAT IS A PHEROMONE COMPONENT?
A pheromone component is each of the chemical products present in a pheromone blend. In some cases, only one pheromone component can elicit the attraction of the target insect.
An attractant is a substance that attracts an insect pointing a potential feeding source or a suitable place for ovipositing.
A formulate is a pheromone or an attractant dispenser of several types. There are various sorts of formulates according to their corresponding use and application in the field:
- Monitoring: Detects the presence of the insect and indicates the level of infestation and evaluate the most suitable treatment and time of application
- Mass trapping: The objective is to capture the highest number of insects in a trap to reduce or eliminate other phytosanitary treatments
- "Attract and kill”: similar to the previous technique, but without the collection of insects in the trap
- Mating disruption: Consists on the deployment of a high number of pheromone dispensers in the field creating an atmosphere which impedes the encounter between both sexes
Traps are devices which, by the use of pheromones or attractants, allow the capture of a high quantity of insects selectively, with no impact to the environment.