Bangor 30th August, 2012
Controlled release of volatile fine chemicals used in crop protection
Owen Jones
AgriSense / Suterra
Pheromones
& Other Semiochemicals
The principal component of the sex pheromone of the Citrus Moth and the Olive Moth
Z -7- tetradecenal (Z-7-14:ald)
» Nesbitt, B.F., Beevor, P.S, Hall, D.R., Lester, R., Sternlicht, M., and Goldenberg, S. (1977). Identification and synthesis of the female sex pheromone of the citrus flower moth, Prays citri. Insect Biochem. 7:355-359.
Pheromone Dispenser
Each Vial contains 1 mg of the pheromone
Delta Trap in Olive Tree
Control of Release Rate by Easily Available Means
VialsMatrix System
(Septa)
Sachets and Plastic
Pouches
The Lure Technology – Early Days
Types of Delivery Systems Employed
LaminatesMatrix systems Reservoirs
Extrusions
Pheromone reservoir layer
Impermeable top layer
Impermeable backing layerAttractant incorporated into
structure of device
Attractant mostly stored in enclosed lumen
Laminate
More Advanced Lure Technology
Membrane systems
Release Rate Profile
days days
Per
cen
t re
mai
nin
g
Zero OrderFirst Order
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Ca
tch
/tra
p/w
ee
k
Weeks
Season trap catch for hypothetical insect
Detection threshold
Damage threshold
Generation peaks?
Interpreting the Information
Pheromone Monitoring
Pheromone Lures for over 1000s of species
Semiochemicals now come from many sources
1-octen-3-ol» An important flavour chemical in mushroom soup – is also an
attractant for mosquitoes and midges 4aS7S7aR-nepetalactone (cis,trans)
» Extracted from Nepeta cataria and used in many aspects of aphid pest management
para - menthane–3,8–diol» Extracted from lemon Eucalyptus citriodora and also synthesised
- is a good repellent for biting insects
Formulations of novel Semiochemicals
Nepetalactone in controlled release polymer dispensers
R-octenol and ammonia dispenser for mosquitoes
Control of Moth Pests with Sex Pheromones
Mating Disruption
Pheromones are released to interfere with the ability of male insects to locate females of the same species, thereby disrupting mating and controlling the damage to crops inflicted by the hatching larvae.
The Principal of Mating Disruption
Matrix Systems for Controlled Release
Frustrate PBW•Control of Pink Bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella in cotton•250 devices/ha applied once•Lasts 3-4 months
Selibate CS• Control of Chilo
suppressalis in rice• 40-100 devices/ha
applied once• Lasts 3-4 months
Reservoir Systems for Controlled Release of Pheromones
- Dispensers
Dispensers(Single or Double)
Twist-tie Ropes
Ampoules(Single or Double)
Reservoir Systems for Controlled Release of Pheromones
– Micro-Encapsulated Formulations.
Polymer Skin
Nucleus [active ingredient: component(s) of pheromone]
Formulations for:Pome Fruit Codling Moth
Cydia pomonella
Stone Fruit Oriental Fruit Moth Grapholita molestaPeach Twig BorerAnarsia lineatella
Vegetables Diamond Back Moth Plutella xylostella Beet Army Worm Spodoptera exigua
Reservoir Systems for Controlled Release of Pheromones
– Micro-Encapsulated Formulations
Reservoir Systems for Controlled Release of Pheromones
– Timed Release Aerosol Delivery
Deployment Strategies
A large number of low-dose point sources » CheckMate Microencapsulated formulations
50 - 100 million caps / ha per application
350 ng pheromone / capsule» Ecopom and Ecodian
2,500 point sources / ha applied 2 to 3 x
20 g A.I. per ha per application» Ecotape
4,000 point sources / ha
12 g A.I. Per ha.
Continuous self adhesive tape
Hand-Applied Dispensers» Isomate twist ties, RAK ampoules, and CheckMate membrane dispensers» 250 to 1000 dispensers per ha» 80 – 200 g A. I. per ha / season
Puffers» 2 to 3 per ha» 110 g A.I. per ha / season
Deployment Strategies
Situation Today and in the Future
Market for pheromone-based control products is about $200 million world-wide currently but growing at over 10% per annum
780,000 ha treated in 2010 with pheromone-based products
It has taken nearly 35 years to get to its current size. It is still under 3% of the world-wide Insecticide Market
($9 Billion) This is just the mating disruption market – in the future
there will be markets for repellents, arrestants, dipersal or alarm pheromones, attractants for beneficial insects and many more – All Requiring Controlled Release