Intelligent pest management supplier Exosect’s Exosex SPTab solution has been selected as a finalist in the ‘Best Innovation in Non-Crop’ category in the Agrow Awards.
The awards ceremony, being held at the Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel, London on November 11, aims to reward innovation and excellence and recognise the achievements of those working in the crop protection and crop production industry.
Exosex SPTab, an environment-friendly method of pest control in food processing and storage environments, has been nominated for the category of ‘Best Innovation in Non-Crop’, which is specifically aimed at recognising innovation in the expanding non-food crop sector.
Exosex SPTab is a small tablet consisting of Exosect’s Entostat powder formulated with minute quantities of the female sex pheromone common to five of the major moth pests of food processing; Plodia interpunctella, Ephestia elutella, Ephestia Kuehniella, Ephestia figulilella, Cadra cautella.
It works by attracting male moths to the Entostat powder and female pheromone. As the male moths pick up Entostat powder, their pheromone receptors become overloaded with pheromone and they are unable to locate females. A male carrying Entostat powder will form a mobile pheromone dispenser, producing “false” pheromone trails, which attract additional males.
Contact between the males ensures that the Entostat powder and the confusion effect is automatically passed on - this process is called Auto-Confusion. The result is a state of sexual confusion among the male moth population, leading to effective mating disruption.
The product helps processors to reduce and eliminate insecticide sprays and consequently reduce subsequent down-time in production associated with fumigation and spray regimes.
No comments yet