Week 3a Chemistry

I followed the Green Chemistry link and read the article "Mating Disruption as a Pest Management Tool in California's Wine Industry".  Field-testing was conducted to see if a pheromone spray would effectively control a vine mealybug infestation.  The results were promising because of two observations.  The vine mealybugs mating pattern was disrupted and natural predators were attracted to the pheromone.

Eradication isn't accomplished with this method.  The method works by maintaining an ecological balance of controls, ie diminished pest populations and healthy predator populations.  A food source and ecosystem has to be maintained for the predators to stick around.

Previous to the unruly infestation, a method of control was being tested with the use of a pheromone applied to sticky traps.  The idea here is to eradicate the pest population entirely - the pheromone attracts the male vine mealybug to an untimely sticky demise.

Truth be told, I was just on Amazon buying pheromone moth traps for the bit of problem I have at my home with those miserable creatures.  Same idea and application.  Perhaps I will follow up with a post and disclose the results of that venture.  In any case, my choice to buy these traps over ones that utilize a pesticide in part relates to my positive experience with similar tactics, as well as my belief in the tenets of green chemistry.

Comments

  1. Nucleus NutritionMay 28, 2019 at 4:35 AM

    This method of pest control is definitely a move in the right direction. I am glad you brought this topic up. As far as the vine mealybug infestation goes, this is a symptom of ecological imbalance caused by monocropping. I do not know much about making vineyards successful, but perhaps additional plants can be incorporated for pest management through competition. Permaculture has solutions for this.

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