Bollworm control with pheromones

Work at the Central Cotton Research Institute in Pakistan has shown that using sex pheromones to disrupt cotton bollworm mating may offer a non-toxic alternative to chemical control. Three bollworm species, Pectinophora gossypiella, Earias vittella and E insulana, cause serious losses in cotton crops, and chemical control has proved problematic, particularly because of the adverse effects on beneficial insects and the difficulty in timing applications accurately. Sex pheromones - the chemicals released by insects in minute amounts to attract a mate offer easier control of the pest and the preservation of beneficial insects as well as avoiding the possibility of pesticide resistance building up. The major pheromones of each of the three species are formulated together and applied by hand at the pin square stage by means of rope or twist ties. The level of disruption achieved can be measured by reductions in pheromone trap catches. In the experiments so far, the new control technique has proved so effective that researchers also report an almost complete lack of moth flying activity following one simple application. Results suggest that more than 99% disruption can be achieved for P. gossypiella and E. vittella, with 89.5% for E. insulana. This is taken as evidence that a significant lowering of reproductive rates should be attainable in the not too distant future. For more details, contact: Central Cotton Research Institute Old Shujabad Road Multan PAKISTANWork at the Central Cotton Research Institute in Pakistan has shown that using sex pheromones to disrupt cotton bollworm mating may offer a non-toxic alternative to chemical control. Three bollworm species, Pectinophora gossypiella, Earias vittella..