Bio Control Research Lab develops technology to trap pests

Bangalore, Oct 18 (UNI) Bio Control Research Laboratories (BCRL) of Pest Control (India) Ltd has developed a technology for trapping pests on a mass scale from crops using sex pheromones.

BCRL Vice President K P Jayanth told reporters here today that it had developed four types of traps for luring the insects.

''Pheromone synthesised in the laboratory are supplied in the form of pheromone lures and when used along with suitable traps, it attract male insects,'' he said.

Dr Jayanth said adult female insects that were ready for mating emit species specific chemical odours called pheromones to attract males.

Sex pheromones in traps could also be used as devices for managing population of target pests in a given area, he explained, adding that by mass trapping male insects, majority of females in the field would remain unmated and lay unfertile eggs.

The company had begun producing aggregation pheromone lure for Red Palm weevil, a pest which attacked coconut trees, oriental fruit flies and melon fruit flies, he said.

One of the four traps Fero-T, consisting of a funnel base, a canopy and a transparent sleeve, was used for trapping big moths, he added.

UNI