PHEROMONE - AGRICULTURE
News: Pheromone
deters migratory locusts from cannibalism
What's in the news?
● Swarming
migratory locusts - which threaten food security across the globe - avoid being
eaten by other locusts by producing a smelly pheromone called
PHENYLACETONITRILE (PAN),
according to a new study (Science).
Key takeaways:
● The
discovery of an anti-cannibalistic
signaling pathway in locusts could provide a target for locust management
strategies.
● Among
species of locusts, cannibalism is common, and cannibalistic interactions have
been implicated in the formation of damaging swarms.
Pheromones and Agriculture:
Pheromones:
● Pheromones
are chemicals used by insects and
other animals to communicate with each
other.
Secreted by:
● Animals,
with their heightened senses and
vomeronasal organ (also known as the Jacobson’s organ), are known to
secrete pheromones to trigger many kinds of behaviours, mainly those of sexual arousal, raising an alarm, signaling
a food trail, warning another animal to back off, and bonding with an offspring.
● Insects
send these chemical signals to help attract mates, warn others of predators, or
find food.
Significance of Pheromones:
● Attracting
mates
● Informing
the availability of food
● Determining
the path of travel
● Signaling
dangers, etc.
Pheromone trap:
● Using
specific pheromones, traps can be used to monitor
target pests in agriculture or in residential areas.
● By
constantly monitoring for insects, it may be possible to detect an infestation before it occurs.
● Early
detection of pest insects using pheromone traps can also lessen damage to agriculture and other plants.
● Each
pheromone is designed for a specific
insect. No trap will be effective for all insects.
● Lures
need to be replaced often to better trap new insects.