Over the years, modern science has come up with a stunning range of solutions to everyday pest problems. Many of these are conventional and even boring, but others capture the imagination of the public. We’re betting that you’re not familiar with an offbeat yet effective means of controlling structural pests and other unwanted insect visitors: beetle pheromones.
What Are Pheromones, Anyway?
Pheromones are biological compounds that animals excrete to attract mates, communicate or perform other important tasks. Human pheromones exist mainly to strengthen ties between mates and family members, but other animals use these chemicals for different purposes. Although some pheromones are associated with strong odors, many of these compounds are odorless and can’t be detected by the human sensory system.
Origins and Application
According to groundbreaking research, the female Asian longhorned beetle—an invasive species that has devastated structures and foliage across wide swathes of the United States—secretes a powerful sex pheromone that attracts males to specific locations. In the wild, these females secrete the substance from glands in their skin. However, the compound can also be extracted from live beetles or produced synthetically under controlled laboratory conditions.
How Do Beetle Pheromones Work?
Secreting the pheromone is only half of the equation. Under normal circumstances, males who follow the compound’s scent will find waiting, “eligible” females at its source. However, beetles aren’t smart enough to realize when a trap has been set for them. Using a synthetic version of the beetle pheromone as “bait,” scientists may be able to lure male beetles to their deaths by replacing waiting females with a beetle-killing fungus. It sounds like science fiction, but fact is sometimes stranger than fantasy.
Are They Appropriate in Your Home?
Beetle pheromones haven’t been shown to have any ill effects on humans, and the fungus that scientists have used on beetle populations can’t infect humans. While every pest control measure comes with some drawbacks, the “beetle pheromone solution” appears to have relatively few weaknesses. While this pest control method isn’t a common/household practice yet, it could potentially be the next big thing.
San Antonio Pest Control: Modern Solutions to Age-Old Problems
Although we don’t use beetle pheromones as part of our pest control program here at ABC, the fact that beetle pheromones are effective at controlling pests proves that science really can be stranger than fiction! Keeping up to date on cool pest science gives us a glimpse into what the future may hold. If you’d like to learn more about how to keep pests where they belong, call a pest control specialist at ABC Home & Commercial Services in San Antonio today.