What are pheromone traps used for?

• A. Monitoring
• B. Killing flying insects
• C. Killing insects
• D. Trapping mosquitoes

Answer: (A)

Pheromone traps are used to monitor pest populations by attracting a specific insect species with synthetic pheromones and capturing individuals to measure activity. This gives you data on presence, abundance, and timing of flight or mating, which helps you decide when to implement or adjust control measures and evaluate how well those measures are working. They’re a surveillance tool in IPM, providing early warning and trend information, rather than a method intended to eliminate large numbers of insects. Other control methods—like insecticides, biological controls, or barriers—are used when management becomes necessary, while pheromone traps guide the timing and effectiveness of those actions.