Pheromones: a resourceful tool in modern urban pest management.

The impact of the anti-pesticide movement on the perceptions of people regarding chemicals has gained substantial momentum throughout the USA. The pest management industry is now caught in a dilemma with the responsibility of protecting human health and property on the one hand and the need to use more progressive strategies on the other. Progressive strategies include the judicious use of less toxic materials, environmentally compatible alternatives and patience. People have always desired a pest-free living environment and an insect-free food supply without the hidden fear of potentially hazardous chemical residues. This growing public sentiment has driven enterprising pest control companies to shift into using bio-rational pest control alternatives. At the forefront of these alternatives is monitoring for the presence or absence of insect pests using pheromones and traps. According to Phillips et al. (2000) innovative and effective alternatives to chemical insecticides are needed for stored product pest management. The current use of pheromones of stored product insects as monitoring tools does not represent a direct alternative to chemical control. However, pheromones are clearly an important component of decision-making methods, which indicates that these and other methods could be applied in practice. Pheromone technology has been significantly refined in both science and delivery, and with continued research, it will no doubt be a major player in bio-rational pest control strategies for a large group of pests.