How can pheromones be used to control insects?
Various systems for applying and releasing synthetic pheromone into an orchard have been devised. One of the simplest, and the one that is registered in Canada and currently being used throughout Washington, is a reddish brown plastic dispenser that looks something like a garbage bag “twist tie” (Fig. 1). This dispenser also known as a Shin-etsu Rope, is sold under the trade name ISOMATE-C+ (South Valley Sales and Growers Supply). The Isomate-C+ dispenser is a hollow, sealed tube that contains about 200 milligrams of liquid pheromone. Upon exposure to warm air or sunlight the dispenser heats up and pheromone is released as a gas through the plastic wall of the tube. When numerous dispensers are releasing pheromone into the air of an orchard they create a cloud of pheromone. In order for MD to be effective, the pheromone cloud must be maintained above a critical concentration during variable weather conditions for several months. Years of research have been spent developing release devi
