Ent 222: Uses of Pheromones in Pest Management

What is a pheromone?

a secret//excreted chemical signal that causes a behavioural response in members of the same species

What is Bombykol?

A Silk moth pheromone

First pheromone identified

>500,000 silk moth females used to isolate this pheromone

Discorded by Butendant et al. in 1959

What are the 5 kinds of pheromones?

Sex pheromones:

Alarm pheromones:

Trail-marking pheromones:

Aggregation pheromones

Epideictic pheromones:

What are sex pheromones?

Pheromones produced by one sex to attract members of opposite sex for mating; most important type of pheromone in pest management

What are alarm pheromones?

Pheromones released during danger; triggers attacks or retreat behavior. Common in bees, ants and aphids.

What are trail marking hormones?

Pheromones that indicate food or resources to other colony members. Common in ants and termites. Found in gregarious lepidopteran larvae.

What are aggregation pheromones?

Pheromones that induce aggregation; produced by one or more sexes. Both males and females respond to the signal.

What are epideictic pheromones?

Pheromones that ilicit dispersal away from food or oviposition site.

How are pheromones used in IPM?

Monitoring pest populations

• Sampling and detection of pests

• Predicting population densities

Managing insect pests

• Mating disruption

• Attract and kill

• Mass trapping

What are pheromone traps mainly used for?

~80% target moth

~10% target beetles

~10% target bees, flies, and cockroaches

What species are monitored by the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network with pheromones?

Diamondback moth : monitoring influx of pests

Bertha armyworm: determining optimal spraying time

What species are monitored by the CFIA with pheromone traps?

Spongy moth

Spotted lantern fly

Invasive wood borers

Invasive bark beetles

What is mating disruption?

A technique that interferes with pheromone communication between males and females. Works by flooding the environment with sex pheromones, confusing males and preventing successful mating

What are the 4 main strategies for mating interuption?

1. Sensory adaptation or habituation of the peripheral and central

2. False trail following: which wastes time and energy

3. Camouflage: masking the females pheromone plume

4. Alteration of the response period; resulting in a behavioural mismatch

What are the three most widely used methods for mating pheromone application?

1. Sprayable formulation: microencapsulated bead (MECs) : protect and pheromone and control. Laminate flakes: slow release pheromone.

2. Rope or Twist-tie dispenser: simple devices for pheromone release. Provide continuous controlled release over time. Can be placed directly.

3. Pheromone Puffers: automated devices that release pheromone at interval.

What are some factors for successful mating disruption?

Orchard selection: Consider pest population level, orchard size and structure

Area-wide pest management: coordinate with nearby orchards

Orchard Location: affect pheromone effectiveness

What are the benefits of mating disruption in IPM?

1. Conservation of natural enemies

2. Reduced pesticides

3. Reduced secondary pest outbreaks

4. Can combine with other control methods

What are some current limitations of mating disruption?

Timing is crucial

Use high value crops

Use in perennial crop

Size and shape of crop field

Impractical for large scale agricultural setting

What is pheromone based attract and kill?

Incorporation of killing agents into synthetic sex pheromones formulation. Capitalize on the false trail following mechanism. Males removed from the population.

What is a key example of pheromone based attract and kill in use?

Oriental Fruit moth: Key pest of stone and pome fruits world

Restriction on organophosphate insecticides

Development of OP resistance in some populations

Alternative to mating disruption

What is an example of a pheromone based attract and kill formulation?

LastCall™OFM

• Attract and kill formulation

• 0.16% OFM pheromone

• 6% permethrin

• Protection of non-targets

• Safety in formulation, in application