How can pheromones be used in pest management?

Pheromones play a versatile role in pest management because they can be utilized both as attractants and as repellents. As attractants, they are often employed in traps to lure specific pests for monitoring or population reduction. This can help in identifying pest presence and density, which aids in timely management decisions.

Additionally, pheromones can be used to disrupt mating behaviors through techniques such as mating disruption. By saturating an area with synthetic pheromones, pests can become confused, preventing them from finding mates and consequently reducing future generations.

Using pheromones as repellents is also feasible. Certain pheromones can deter pests from specific plants or areas, making them useful for minimizing pest damage without relying solely on chemical pesticides. This dual functionality enhances integrated pest management strategies by targeting pest behaviors, which can lead to more sustainable and environmentally friendly pest control solutions.

The other options are limited in their scope: while some may imply pheromones only as repellents or restrict their use to mating disruption, they overlook the broader applicability and benefits of using pheromones in multiple ways within an integrated pest management framework.