Madurai :

A unique pest-trapping equipment was the main attraction at the ongoing United Agri Tech, 2015 held at Tamukkam grounds in Madurai. The stall displaying the equipment stands out among hundreds of stalls that showcased various types of fertilisers, pesticides, seeds and technology for the benefit of the farming community.

At the stall of Barrix Agro Sciences, a specially designed pest trap that uses pheromones, a chemical substance produced by insects, became the focal point at the agriculture exhibition. It can be used to kill fruit flies (Tephrididae) in orchards and gardens. In this method, the smell of female flies is kept inside the trap to attract male flies. Once the flies are inside, they are killed with pheromones. The trap boxes are sold with various pheromones meant for different fly species. The pheromones should be changed every 15 days. These traps will not kill agriculture friendly insects, like honey bees or spiders, since the pheromones used in the traps will not attract them.

For other fly species that could not be trapped with the boxes, sticky sheets are used. When suspended in gardens, flies get attracted and stuck on the paste. The adhesive sheets last for 15 days.

Field officer of the company, D Jayakumar, said they have received an overwhelming response from the visitors. “We have sold out lot of trap boxes and adhesive sheets on the first day. We have been receiving many enquiries from farmers”, he said.

Tirunelveli deputy director of horticulture, B David Raja Beulah, who designed solar traps for pests, said the pheromones traps are effective. “These traps will come in handy for certain pests that can not be handled with pesticides. Specific pheromones should be used to trap male flies. If the male flies are killed, female flies can not reproduce, and pest attack on crops is prevented,” said he David. The exhibition that commenced on June 25 will be held till 28.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / TNN / June 28th, 2015