Pheromone Technologies Pave a Way to Reduce Stored Product Pests
The pheromone technologies and products developed at Insects Limited in the United States provide PMPs with powerful tools.
Challenges of Tracking Down Stored Product Pests
Tracking down the source of a stored product pest (i.e., Indianmeal moth, warehouse beetle, cigarette beetle, flour beetle, etc.) is a daunting task when looking at a distribution center (DC), food production warehouse, seed facility or any large space holding dried food goods, grain, cereals or textiles. The pheromone technologies and products developed at Insects Limited in the United States provide powerful tools that utilize the insect’s biology to help locate the infestation “needle” in the proverbial “haystack” of a large storage space.
Understanding Insect Communication: Alarm, Aggregation, and Sex Pheromones
Insects use chemical scents to communicate with each other when they are startled (alarm pheromones), when they are happy and well-fed (aggregation pheromones), or when it comes time to attract a mat (sex pheromones). They also are attracted to food odors or kairomones that advertise a place to eat for the insects.
Innovative Solutions from the Center for Stored Product Protection
The staff of entomologists at Insects Limited work diligently in the new Center for Stored Product Protection lab to ask the research colonies of insects raised in their facility which pheromone blends or food scents will work best to attract the most problematic stored product pest insects.
Tailored Traps for Effective Monitoring
The best results from professional monitoring systems come when the entomologists from the Center for Stored Product Protection take one of the tested attractant Bullet Lures and combine it with a trap that is specifically designed to match the physiology of the insect being monitored. For example, moths often prefer to fly directly into a hanging trap (i.e., NoSurvivor brand diamond traps) while many species of beetles are more apt to crawl into a pitfull trap on the floor (i.e., All Beetle Trap from Insects Limited).
Importance of Early Detection in Pest Management
Pest management professionals need assistance when handed the formidable task of locating a single infested bag or pallet in a warehouse space that may be capable of holding nearly 10,000 pallets. The USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture reported in 2023 that between 20-40 percent of global crop production is lost to pests annually (1).
If a source of stored product moths or beetles can be detected early enough, the infested material can be removed or treated before the infestation spreads to other areas of the warehouse or other products held in these large storage areas. Early detection is essential when it comes to preventing damage and complaints.
Leveraging Pheromone Monitors for Reduced Product Loss
The attraction and design of the professional monitoring systems designed by Insects Limited offers the best means of detecting pest populations early enough to reduce product loss and eventual customer complaints.
The role that pheromone monitors play is pivotal in providing a professional and innovative solution to these unique pest situations.
(1) https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/blogs/researchers-helping-protect-crops-pests#:~:text=Between%2020%25%20to%2040%25%20of,is%20lost%20to%20pests%20annually
Insects Limited, an Insect Pheromone Company
Insects Limited, Inc. researches, tests, develops, manufactures and distributes pheromones and trapping systems for insects in a global marketplace. The highly qualified staff also can assist with consultation, areas of expert witness, training presentations and grant writing.
Insects Limited, Inc. specializes in a unique niche of pest control that provides mainstream products and services to protect stored food, grain, museum collections, tobacco, timber and fiber worldwide. Please take some time to view these products and services in our web store.
