Integrated Pest Management - Pheromone Lures / Traps

In our Agriculture for Everybody blog series, as part of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM), we will discuss Pheromone Lures / Traps in this blog and their need for it.


Which crops need Pheromone Traps?

1. Generally, high density crops like cereals, millets, pulses, flowers, vegetables etc require Pheromone Traps
2. Even Coconut and similar crops require Pheromone Traps

How many Pheromone Traps are required per acre?

1. Each crop requires different number of Pheromone Traps and hence follow the recommendations for that particular crop

What should be the height of the Pheromone Traps?

1. Generally, it is advised that the Pheromone Traps be placed atleast 1 ft above the crop canopy

What should be the orientation of the Pheromone Traps?

1. For best results, it is advised that the Pheromone Traps be placed in upright position

What is the distance between the Pheromone Traps?

1. Optimally, the Pheromone Traps should be of equi-distance from one another

When to replace the Pheromone Traps?

1. Optimally, the Pheromone Traps should be replaced at specific intervals for getting optimum performance from trap

What problem is solved by Pheromone Traps?

1. Pheromone Traps acts as a warning sign on the build up of the pests
2. Pheromone Traps control the next generation of pests as the parents are destroyed

Do we require different Pheromone Traps?

1. Yes.  Each pests has its own Pheromone Traps and Lures

What are the different varieties of  available Pheromone Traps?

1. American Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera)
2. Armyworm / Ear cutting caterpillar (Mythimna separata)
3. Beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua)
4. Brinjal Fruit & Shoot Borer (Leucinodes orbonalis)
5. Cigarette Beetle (Lasioderma serricorne)
6. Cocoa Pod Borer (Conopomorpha cramerella)
7. Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella)
8. Coffee White Stem Borer (Xylotrechus quadripes)
9. Cucumber moth (Diaphania indica)
10. Diamond Back Moth (Plutella xylostella)
11. Groundnut Leaf Miner (Aproaerema modicella)
12. Melon Fruit Fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae)
13. Oriental Fruit Fly (Bactrocera dorsalis)
14. Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella)
15. Pink stem borer (Sesamia Inferens)
16. Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus)
17. Rice Yellow Stem Borer (Scirpophaga incertulas)
18. Rhinoceros Beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros)
19. Spiny Bollworm (Earias insulana)
20. Spotted Bollworm (Earias vittella)
21. Spotted stalk borer (Chilo partellus)
22. Sugarcane Early Shoot Borer (Chilo infuscatellus)
23. Sugarcane Internode Borer (Chilo sacchariphagus indicus)
24. Sugarcane White Top Borer (Scirpophaga excerptalis)
25. Tobacco Caterpiller (Spodoptera litura)

Note: For a complete list, refer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheromone_trap