The advantages of semiochemical-based attract and kill techniques in insect pest management

Introduction: Semiochemicals (chemicals impacting insect behavior) have been employed in species-specific, ecologically friendly insect pest control strategies through a wide variety of mechanisms, many of which do not require the application of conventional insecticides. These include mating disruption?application of sex pheromones in such a way that male insects are unable to locate a female mate, reducing the size of the pest population in the treated area over time?mass trapping, and repellency. However, semiochemical attractants can also be used in combination with small amounts of chemical toxicants, a strategy called attract and kill (A&K).