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Introduction: Insects in stored food environments

Storage facilities for grains, dried fruits, and processed foods are vulnerable to infestation by various insects, including Plodia interpunctella (Indian meal moth), Tribolium castaneum (red flour beetle), and Sitophilus spp. (weevils). These pests reduce food quality and pose hygiene risks. Sex pheromones are a powerful tool for monitoring and managing insect populations in these sensitive settings.

Target pests and their pheromones

Many storage pests communicate via sex pheromones. Key species include:

• Plodia interpunctella – females emit a pheromone to attract males.
• Ephestia kuehniella – a common flour moth species with pheromone-based lures.
• Tribolium castaneum – responds to aggregation pheromones enhanced with sex attractants.

Application methods

1. Monitoring traps

Sticky traps baited with synthetic sex pheromones help:

• Detect early infestations.
• Determine pest population trends.
• Decide the best timing for control measures.

2. Mass trapping

In high-risk storage environments, multiple pheromone traps can reduce male populations, thus lowering reproduction rates.

3. Mating disruption

Though less common in storage settings, this technique is under research for species like Plodia interpunctella, where the air is saturated with pheromone to confuse males and prevent mating.

Benefits in food storage management

• Non-toxic and safe for food environments.
• Allows early detection without product contamination.
• Can be integrated into IPM (Integrated Pest Management) programs.

Conclusion

Sex pheromones offer a highly effective, residue-free method to combat insect pests in food storage facilities. Their use ensures safer products and supports sustainable pest management. The next article will explore sex pheromones in insect control programs for public health, especially mosquitoes and flies.

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