Synthetically made pheromones are useful for what?

• A. monitoring, adult insects
• B. killing adults
• C. repelling all pests
• D. attracting birds

Answer: (A)

Synthetic pheromones are used to monitor pest activity by attracting adult insects into traps. Because these pheromones mimic the natural signals insects use to find mates, they lure the targeted adults without harming them. Counting and identifying what's in the traps provides information on which species are present, how many individuals there are, and how populations change over time, which helps guide when and where to apply other control measures in an integrated pest management plan. They aren’t pesticides themselves, so they don’t kill adults outright, and they’re not a universal repellent for all pests or used to attract birds. So, their primary usefulness is in monitoring adult insects.