Definition and role in the reduction of phytosanitary products : this method is based on the use of traps containing or not containing a chemical attractant in order to collect pests in order to greatly limit their population and their progeny. Mass trapping can also be used as a monitoring method for detecting flight periods and monitoring populations. Different types of traps exist: pheromone traps (compounds involved in communication between individuals of the same species produced by insects or resynthesized by humans), parapheromone traps (chemically different synthetic substances, however having the same effect sex pheromones), food bait traps, chromatic traps, light traps… Pheromones most often attract only male pests (eg vegetable flies).
Against which pests? Some aerial pests such as vegetable flies, thrips, coffee berry borers.
On which crops? Open-field and greenhouse market gardening.
When ? Place traps before pests appear. For cucurbits, place them when planting.
In what conditions ? Distribute the traps well in the plot. A high density increases trapping efficiency (up to a certain threshold) but an optimal arrangement can be found depending on the pest and crop concerned. For more efficient pest collection, several trapping techniques can be used simultaneously: association of pheromones with food attractants or coupling with colored traps.
Regulations : check that the attractants and pheromones used are authorized by the regulations on the site: http://e-phy.agriculture.gouv.fr/ section “Phytosanitary products”. The authorization of a molecule for monitoring does not replace that for mass trapping.
Working time : slight increase to be expected for installation, monitoring, regular cleaning of traps and/or replacement of products. The working time depends on the number of traps but above all on the ease of finding them between each operation.
Compatibility of alternative techniques with each other :
Crops
