Monitoring pest populations with pheromone-baited
traps is one of the most useful applications derived from basic research
in chemical ecology. Using attractant semiochemicals (behavioral chemicals)
is also wide spread and common in pest management systems. The idea is
that the more insects in the area the more likely they will encounter
the pheromone and be attracted a few meters. Thus, the trap catch is proportional
to the insect density and the time the trap is exposed. By comparing the
trap catches with other sampling of the insect densities, one can estimate
the insect population based on catches on pheromone traps. Later, one
need not sample the insect population, which is laborious, but rather
simply place a few pheromone-baited traps and monitor the population size
indirectly.
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Simulation of Monitoring
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Java applet of Monitoring
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Effective Attraction Radius (EAR)
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Java applet EAR
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Moth Pheromones
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Java applet Moth Chemicals
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Questions concerning these program areas can be directed to: john.byers@ars.usda.gov
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