OPEN ACCESS | Published on : 23-Jun-2026 | Pages: 100-111 | Doi : https://doi.org/10.37446/edibook252025/100-111
Insects utilize information-carrying molecules known as pheromones for intraspecific communication. These pheromones are essential for mate-finding and reproduction, oviposition, defence, and social organization. It has been found that interfering with pheromone-mediated sexual communication is one of the most benign and sustainable approaches to insect pest management. Consequently, pheromone-mediated mating disruption (MD) has emerged as one of the most innovative pest management strategies. By disrupting chemical communication between male and female insects, this technique suppresses mating and population growth without directly killing the target pest, thereby reducing dependence on conventional insecticides. The success of mating disruption is reflected in its adoption across more than one million hectares worldwide. Success stories have been widely reported in orchard and vineyard production systems, particularly in apple and grape crops, for the management of various lepidopteran moth pests. In annual crops, the area-wide management of cotton pink bollworm through MD technology represents one of the most notable examples of successful pest suppression. Recent advances in pheromone delivery systems, such as passive dispensers, microencapsulated formulations, SPLAT technologies, aerosol puffers, and next-generation biodegradable formulations, are expected to provide significant advancements in transforming area-wide pest management approaches in the near future. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of pheromone-mediated mating disruption against insect pests. It comprehensively discusses the evolution and mechanisms of mating disruption, pheromone formulations and delivery systems used in MD programmes, successful examples of the technology's application against major insect pests, and a case study on the area-wide management of cotton pink bollworm are critically examined.
Pheromones, Mating disruption, Dispensers, orchard pests, cotton pink bollworm, Area wide Pest management
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