Mating Disruption
Mating Disruption is the method through which by using technically produced pheromones it causes the loss of male ability to locate the female an thus no mating occurs. Implementation of the mating disruption technique generates both a reduction in the total number of couplings (as a result of sensorial inhibition, the masking of natural olfactory traces and competition between synthetic and natural pheromones) and a delay in mating (with a consequent reduction in overall fertility of the female).
The combination of these two effects leads to a reduction in the overall reproductive capacity of the target insect and consequently a reduction in the population.
Mating commences with the release of a specific pheromone by the female. When received by the male, this pheromone causes the male to move in a zig-zag flight against the wind towards the source of the pheromone.
In addition to the biological features of the target insect, 3 groups of factors influence the effectiveness of the mating disruption technique:
- Pheromone dispenser characteristics
- Concentration of the pheromone in the field
- Features of the treated area and other application aspects.