The Lure and Trap of Pheromones

Pheromone lures are usually placed in sticky traps suspended from ceilings, placed in a tent-like shape on a shelf or attached to some other structure. In general, the traps should be placed near potential pest harborages. They are specific to certain species and must be selected and placed accordingly.

For example, if you have a stored product pest beetle that doesn’t fly, traps need to be near the ground. If you have a large warehousing area where potential food sources are stored on pallet racks, placing some traps low and some high can help the pest management expert zero in on the problem area.

A recent study conducted by entomologists, Dr. Christian Nansen and Dr. Tom Phillips, WHO ARE THESE GUYS? indicates that the placement of the traps is very important to their effectiveness. The researchers placed pheromone traps at varying heights in storage sheds that simulated the back room of a small retail establishment and a larger warehouse, and recorded the number of Indian meal moths caught in the traps. In the smaller room, the traps near the ceiling captured the most moths. In the larger areas, traps placed near walls caught more moths overall compared to traps hanging freely.

Drs. Nansen and Phillips also found that attaching a horizontal “landing platform” to half of the traps that hung freely significantly increased total moth captures.

Pheromone traps are one tool in the arsenal of environmentally responsible pest management firms. Pest prevention is a key component of any food safety program. Food safety auditors and health department inspectors see pest infestations as critical violations. The fact is that if your facility has an unchecked pest infestation, it also has a food safety problem. But the excessive use of pesticides may also pose risks, making environmentally responsible pest management essential not only to human health and safety but also to the integrity of your brand.

References:

1. Mallis, Arnold. Mallis Handbook of Pest Control. Mallis Handbook & Technical, 2004.
2. Mallis, Arnold. Mallis Handbook of Pest Control. Mallis Handbook & Technical, 2004.

Judy Black, M.S., B.C.E., is technical director of the Pest Prevention Division for The Steritech Group, Inc. (Charlotte, N.C.). Reach her at 303-596-7868 or [email protected].