Can I actually control insects by using pheromone traps?
No, the pheromone traps are a great tool for insect monitoring but will not control insect pests. Sex pheromones used to attract insect into the trap are the composition of chemicals that mimics the natural molecules actually released by one gender moths to attract the opposite sex individuals. Therefore, only one sex of moths (males or females) is attracted to the traps. In our specific orchard ecosystem, traps are competing with the female moths in attracting male moths, but since normally there are a lot of more wild moths than traps, there is a strong possibility that mating occurs anyway, and female moths will still be able to deposit viable eggs. Therefore traps are excellent tool for moths monitoring but not the control. Since I spray my orchard with pesticides anyway then I do not need traps: With a wide adoption of new generation of softer, more selective insecticides (i.e., methoxyfenozide, spinosad, novaluron, or neonicotinoid compounds) that are highly species specific in t
