Advances in Attract-and-Kill for Agricultural Pests: Beyond Pheromones

Abstract

Attract-and-kill has considerable potential as a tactic in integrated management of pests of agricultural crops, but the use of sex pheromones as attractants is limited by male multiple mating and immigration of mated females into treated areas. Attractants for both sexes, and particularly females, would minimize these difficulties. Volatile compounds derived from plants or fermentation of plant products can attract females and have been used in traps for monitoring and control, and in sprayable attract-and-kill formulations or bait stations. Recent advances in fundamental understanding of insect responses to plant volatiles should contribute to the development of products that can help manage a wide range of pests with few impacts on nontarget organisms, but theory must be tempered with pragmatism in the selection of volatiles and toxicants and in defining their roles in formulations. Market requirements and regulatory factors must be considered in parallel with scientific constraints if successful products are to be developed.

Zoophytophagous mites can trigger plant‐genotype specific defensive responses affecting potential prey beyond predation: the case of Euseius stipulatus and Tetranychus urticae in citrus

“…Whether T. urticae attraction could be the result of these volatiles masking E. stipulatus own odors deserves further research. Remarkably, the fact that upon T. urticae feeding, sour orange became repellent for conspecific mites, highlights the importance of considering the whole blend of volatiles and not single specific compounds when assessing this type of behavioral responses …”

Yeast volatomes differentially effect larval feeding in an insect herbivore

“…Semiochemicals and pathogens are widely and successfully used as stand-alone techniques (128, 129), but semiochemicals could be combined with pathogens into lure-and-kill strategies (57, 58, 130). Current use of insect semiochemicals is based on controlled release formulations of synthetic chemicals, while yeasts could be used for live production of insect attractants (5, 131)…”

“…Lack of environmentally benign, yet efficient control methods is an increasingly pressing issue in times of global change and increasing food insecurity (48-52). Yeast attraction of insects and their larvae for feeding (33, 44, 53-56) can be exploited for population control of herbivores (57, 58), as well as for improved crop pollination (59).…”

Drones: Innovative Technology for Use in Precision Pest Management

“…SPLAT is an inert matrix which can be infused with pheromones and/or pesticides and is applied as dollops (ISCA 2019a, b). Mating disruption relies on the release of pheromones, which interferes with mate finding (Miller and Gut 2015), while attract-and-kill involves an attractant and a killing agent (Gregg et al 2018). A combination of these methods effectively control various pests in a number of cropping systems, including blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and cranberry (Rodriguez-Saona et al 2010.…”