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Lepidopteran Pheromones Fact Sheet
Related Information
Information related to this page:Issued: 09/01
On This Page
- Description of the Active Ingredient
- Use Sites, Target Pests, And Application Methods
- Assessing Risks to Human Health
- Assessing Risks to the Environment
- Regulatory Information
- Additional Contact Information
- Female moth mating pheromones approved as pesticides
Summary
Lepidopteran pheromones are used to disrupt the mating behavior of certain moths whose larvae destroy crops and trees. Data indicate that these compounds do not present any known risks to humans or the environment.
- Description of the Active Ingredient
- Use Sites, Target Pests, And Application Methods
- Use Sites: Wide variety of places where plants grow, such as agricultural
and residential sites and forests.
- Target pests: Specific moths whose offspring harm crops.
- Application Methods: There are two major ways to disperse lepidopteran pheromones:
- Using dispensers that slowly release the pheromone over a period of weeks. The dispensers are often attached to trees or to stakes in the field.
- Using ground or aerial spray equipment.
- Assessing Risks to Human Health
- Assessing Risks to the Environment
- Regulatory Information
- Additional Contact Information:
Pheromones are volatile chemicals produced by a given species to communicate with other individuals of the same species to change their behavior. For example, various species use pheromones to attract a mate, to mark territory, or to warn others of danger. Pheromones are usually effective in tiny amounts.
The lepidopteran group of insects includes butterflies and moths. All of the lepidopteran pheromones that EPA has approved for pesticide use are chemicals produced by female moths to attract a mate. The pesticide products contain synthetic versions of these naturally occurring compounds. Sometimes the relative amounts of several pheromone chemicals in a pesticide product determine which specific pests are controlled.
When the pesticide product releases pheromone into the air where males are looking for females, the males become confused and cannot easily locate the females. As a result, many of the females do not mate and lay eggs, and there are many fewer offspring than usual.
A list of the currently approved lepidopteran pheromones is attached
Based on low toxicity in animal testing, and expected low exposure to humans, no risk to human health is expected from the use of these pheromones. During more than 10 years of use of lepidopteran pheromones as pesticides, no adverse effects have been reported.
The safety record for lepidopteran pheromones has allowed the Agency to conclude that consumption of food containing residues of the pheromones presents no risk. In addition, these pheromones can be used experimentally without a permit on up to 250 acres, versus the 10-acre limit imposed on other pesticides.
Adverse effects on non target organisms (mammals, birds, and aquatic organisms) are not expected because these pheromones are released in very small amounts to the environment and act on a select group of insects.
As of November 1999, EPA had registered (licensed for sale) approximately 20 moth mating pheromones as pesticide active ingredients and more than 60 individual pesticide products containing these active ingredients. See below for examples).
Ombudsman, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (7511P)
Office of Pesticide Programs
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20460
Female moth mating pheromones approved as pesticides
| Pests Controlled | Use Sites | Chemical Name of Pheromone (OPP Chemical Code) Note: When 2 or more pheromones are listed in a cell, various mixtures of the pheromones have been approved for use against the pest) |
CAS Number |
|---|---|---|---|
Artichoke plume moth |
Artichokes |
(Z)-11-Hexadecenal (120001) |
53939-28-9 |
Beet armyworm |
Alfalfa Cotton Strawberries Vegetables (various) Tobacco |
31654-77-0 35153-15-2 |
|
Blackheaded fire worm |
Cranberries Fruit |
(Z)-11-Tetradecenyl acetate (128980) |
20711-10-8 |
Codling moth |
Fruit Nuts |
Lauryl alcohol (001509) Myristyl alcohol (001510) (E,E) -8,10-Dodecadien-1-ol (129028) (Z) -11-Tetradecenyl acetate (128980) |
112-53-8 112-72-1 33956-49-9 20711-10-8 |
Codling moth |
Fruit Nuts Ornamental trees / shrubs Uncultivated agricultural areas |
(E,E) -8,10-Dodecadien-1-ol (129028) |
33956-49-9 |
Diamondback moth |
Manufacturing use |
34010-21-4 |
|
Douglas fir tussock moth |
Douglas fir trees |
(Z)-6-Heneicosen-11-one (129060) |
54884-65-4 |
Eastern Pine Shoot Borer |
Forest trees Woodland trees |
(E)-9-Dodecen-1-ol acetate(119004) |
35148-19-7 |
Grapeberry moth |
Grapes Vine fruit |
(Z)-9-Dodecenyl acetate (129004) |
16974-11-1 |
Grapeberry moth |
Grapes |
(Z)-11-Tetradecenyl acetate (128980) (Z)-9-Dodecenyl acetate (129004) |
20711-10-8 16974-11-1 |
Gypsy moth |
Forest trees Ornamental evergreen trees and shrubs |
cis-7,8-Epoxy-2-methyloctadecane (114301) |
29804-22-6 |
Hickory shuckworm |
Fruits Nuts Uncultivated agricultural areas |
(E,E) -8,10-Dodecadien-1-ol (129028) |
33956-49-9 |
Hickory shuckworm |
Fruit Nuts |
Lauryl alcohol (001509) Myristyl alcohol (001510) (E,E) -8,10-Dodecadien-1-ol (129028) (Z) -11-Tetradecenyl acetate (128980) |
112-53-8 112-72-1 33956-49-9 20711-10-8 |
Koa seed worm |
Fruit Nuts |
(Z)-8-Dodecen-1-yl acetate (128906) (E)-8-Dodecen-1-yl-acetate (128907) (Z)-8-Dodecen-1-ol (128908) |
28079-04-1 38363-29-0 40642-40-8 |
Leafrollers (various) |
Cranberries Fruit |
(Z)-11-Tetradecenyl acetate (128980) |
20711-10-8 |
Macadamia nut borer |
Fruit Nuts |
(Z)-8-Dodecen-1-yl acetate (128906) (E)-8-Dodecen-1-yl-acetate (128907) (Z)-8-Dodecen-1-ol (128908) |
28079-04-1 38363-29-0 40642-40-8 |
Navel Orangeworm |
Orange |
71317-73-2 |
|
Obliquebanded leafroller |
Fruit |
Lauryl alcohol (001509) Myristyl alcohol (001510) (E,E) -8,10-Dodecadien-1-ol (129028) (Z) -11-Tetradecenyl acetate (128980) |
112-53-8 112-72-1 33956-49-9 20711-10-8 |
Omnivorous leafroller |
Fruit (deciduous) Grapes Kiwi Nuts |
(E)-11-Tetradecenyl acetate (129019) (Z)-11-Tetradecenyl acetate (128980) |
33189-72-9 20711-10-8 |
Oriental fruit moth |
Fruit Nuts |
(Z)-8-Dodecen-1-yl acetate (128906) (E)-8-Dodecen-1-yl-acetate (128907) |
28079-04-1 38363-29-0 40642-40-8 |
Oriental fruit moth |
Fruit Nuts |
(E)-5-Decenyl acetate (117703) (E)-5-Decen-1-ol (078038) (Z)-8-Dodecen-1-yl acetate (128906) (E)-8-Dodecen-1-yl-acetate (128907) (Z)-8-Dodecen-1-ol (128908) |
38421-90-8 56578-18-8 28079-04-1 38363-29-0 40642-40-8 |
Pandemis leafroller |
Fruit |
Lauryl alcohol (001509) Myristyl alcohol (001510) (E,E) -8,10-Dodecadien-1-ol (129028) (Z) -11-Tetradecenyl acetate (128980) |
112-53-8 112-72-1 33956-49-9 20711-10-8 |
Peach twig borer |
Fruit Nuts |
(E)-5-Decenyl acetate (117703) (E)-5-Decen-1-ol (078038) (Z)-8-Dodecen-1-yl acetate (128906) (E)-8-Dodecen-1-yl-acetate (128907) (Z)-8-Dodecen-1-ol (128908) |
38421-90-8 56578-18-8 28079-04-1 38363-29-0 40642-40-8 |
Peach twig borer |
Fruit Nuts Agricultural crops (unspecified) |
(E)-5-Decen-1-ol acetate (117703) (E)-5-Decen-1-ol (078038) |
38421-90-8 56578-18-8 |
Pink bollworm |
Cotton |
7,11-Hexadecadien-1-ol acetate (114103) |
50933-33-0 |
Pink bollworm |
Cotton |
(Z,E)-7,11-Hexadecadien-1-yl acetate (114101) (Z,Z)-7,11- Hexadecadien-1-yl acetate (114102) |
53042-79-8 52207-99-5 |
Sparganothis fruitworm |
Cranberries |
(E)-11-Tetradecen-1-ol acetate (129019) |
33189-72-9 |
Tomato pinworm |
Eggplant Tomato Vegetables (fruiting) |
(Z)-4-Tridecen-1-yl acetate (121901) (E)-4-Tridecen-1-yl acetate (121902) |
65954-19-0 72269-48-8 |
Western Poplar Clearwing moth (Paranthrene robiniae) |
Poplars White Birch Willows Locust |
(E,Z)-3,13-octadecadien-1-ol (Z,Z)-3,13-octadecadien-1-ol |
66410-28-4 66410-24-0 |