Fight Stink Bugs

Fight Stink Bugs

Rick Worthington
Rick Worthington
For stink bugs to attract a mate or to communicate that they have found food, they use their own chemical language: pheromones.

Virginia Tech researchers have discovered insights into this chemical language, which can be used to develop alternative pest controls.

"We have gained a deeper understanding of how stink bugs synthesize pheromones, and this knowledge may allow us to produce pheromones in expendable food crops -- also called 'trap crops' -- to lure the bugs away from cash crops."

Our recent paper provides valuable insight into our understanding of how insects synthesize complex sesquiterpene compounds that are typically used as pheromones. The work could pave the way in the future for plants to manufacture insect pheromones, which could be utilized in pest surveillance and pest management strategies, such as attract and kill."

These new environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives to insecticides could save farmers millions of dollars.

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