Pheromone trap

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Chamaesphecia empiformis (Sesiidae) on a red rubber septum pheromone lure

A pheromone trap is a type of insect trap that uses pheromones to lure insects. Sex pheromones and aggregating pheromones are the most common types used. A pheromone-impregnated lure is encased in a conventional trap such as a bottle trap, delta trap, water-pan trap, or funnel trap. Pheromone traps are used both to count insect populations by sampling, and to trap pests such as clothes moths to destroy them.

Sensitivity

Pheromone traps are very sensitive, meaning they attract insects present at very low densities. They are often used to detect presence of exotic pests, or for sampling, monitoring, or to determine the first appearance of a pest in an area. They can be used for legal control, and are used to monitor the success of the Boll Weevil Eradication Program and the spread of the spongy moth. The high species-specificity of pheromone traps can also be an advantage, and they tend to be inexpensive and easy to implement. This sensitivity is especially suited to some investigations of invasive species: Flying males are easily blown off course by winds. Rather than introducing noise, Frank et al. 2013 find this can actually help detect isolated nests or populations and determine the length of time necessary between introduction and establishment. (Although any trap can answer the same questions, high sensitivity such as provided by pheromone traps does so more accurately.)[1]

However, it is impractical in most cases to completely remove or "trap out" pests using a pheromone trap. Some pheromone-based pest control methods have been successful, usually those designed to protect enclosed areas such as households or storage facilities. There has also been some success in mating disruption. In one form of mating disruption, males are attracted to a powder containing female attractant pheromones. The pheromones stick to the males' bodies, and when they fly off, the pheromones make them attractive to other males. It is hoped that if enough males chase other males instead of females, egg-laying will be severely impeded.[2]

Some difficulties surrounding pheromone traps include sensitivity to bad weather, their ability to attract pests from neighboring areas, and that they generally only attract adults, although it is the juveniles in many species that are pests.[3] They are also generally limited to one sex.

Types

Pheromone traps are available in a variety of physical formats depending on the target pest, crop environment, monitoring objective, and whether the goal is surveillance or mass capture. Trap systems may be broadly categorized by capture style, deployment purpose, and level of automation.

Delta Traps

Delta traps are among the most widely used monitoring traps in agriculture. They typically consist of a triangular enclosure containing a sticky liner and a pheromone lure suspended inside. Flying insects enter through open sides and become adhered to the liner surface.

Delta traps are commonly used for the capture of moth species in orchards and vineyards. These are tools critical for biofix determination and degree day modelling, as well as seasonal population monitoring. Delta traps are generally considered monitoring traps rather than mass capture systems due to their limited holding capacity. They are typically low cost and have strong compatibility with image based automated monitoring systems.

Wing Traps

Wing traps are a subtype of sticky monitoring trap that use two horizontal “wing” panels surrounding a sticky insert and lure. They are lightweight, inexpensive, and commonly used for lepidopteran pests. Compared with enclosed delta traps, wing traps are often more exposed to weather and debris contamination.

Bucket Traps

Bucket traps, also called funnel traps or universal moth traps, use a funnel entrance that directs insects into a holding chamber or bucket below the lure.

Bucket traps are commonly used for larger moth species, higher population densities, longer deployment intervals, and applications requiring retained insect specimens. Unlike sticky traps, bucket traps leverage capture chambers with or without insecticide. Because they can hold substantially larger numbers of insects than sticky traps, bucket traps are often preferred for high pressure pest environments.

Funnel Traps

Funnel traps use a downward funnel geometry to guide insects into a collection chamber while limiting escape. They are commonly used for beetles, weevils, and forestry pests.

Manual vs. Automated Trap Systems

Manual Traps

Manual traps require field personnel to inspect traps physically and record counts. Although they have a low upfront cost, they are labour intensive and result in delayed response time, and potential variability between scouting personnel assessments.

Automated Traps

Automated traps integrate technologies such as embedded cameras, cellular or satellite connectivity, onboard sensors, solar power systems, and cloud analytics and AI detection models. These systems transmit daily or near real time images to automate insect counting and support remote scouting. Automated systems are increasingly used in precision agriculture and large scale commercial deployments where labor efficiency and temporal resolution are critical.

Automated monitoring traps, where integrated cameras capture and transmit images remotely for AI assisted counting and analysis, are commercially available from companies including CropVue, Trapview, xFarm, and Scoutlabs.[4][5][6][7]

Monitoring vs. Mass Capture

Monitoring traps are intended to detect pest presence and estimate population trends to support insect management decisions.

Mass capture systems are intended to reduce pest populations directly by trapping large numbers of insects. These devices offer higher capacity and may contribute to mating disruption or suppression programs.

Mass trapping effectiveness varies significantly by species, pest pressure, landscape conditions, and deployment density.

Targets

Though certainly not all insect pheromones have been discovered, many are known and many more are discovered every year. Some sites curate large lists of insect pheromones.[8] Pheromones are frequently used to monitor and control lepidopteran and coleopteran species, with many available commercially.[9] Pheromones are available for insects including:

References

  1. Grayson, Kristine L.; Johnson, Derek M. (2017-10-17). Woodcock, Ben (ed.). "Novel insights on population and range edge dynamics using an unparalleled spatiotemporal record of species invasion". Journal of Animal Ecology. 87 (3). Wiley: 581–593. doi:10.1111/1365-2656.12755. ISSN 0021-8790. PMID 28892141. (KLG ORCID: 0000-0003-1710-0457).
  2. "Pheromone Traps - Using Sex as Bait". www.thenakedscientists.com. 5 November 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  3. R. Weinzierl, T. Henn, P. G. Koehler and C. L. Tucker (June 2005). "Insect Attractants and Traps, ENY 277". University of Florida. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.547.6340. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. "CropVue Technologies". CropVue. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  5. "Trapview". Trapview. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  6. "xFarm Technologies". xFarm Technologies. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  7. "Scoutlabs". Scoutlabs. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  8. "The Pherobase: Database of pheromones and semiochemicals". Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  9. "Lures". ISCA Technologies. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  10. "F.A.W. PheroLure ®". Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  11. "Pheromones". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2019.