Aerial application of SPLAT technology for insect management

The use of environmentally safe synthetic insect sex pheromones to manage damaging
agriculture pests has been proven to be effective for more than two decades. This strategy makes
it difficult for male members of targeted insect species to find females for mating, and thus keeps
pest populations under control. Mating disruption applications, however, have been limited
mostly to high­value­per­acre specialty crops because of the cost and time associated with
inefficient pheromone application techniques. Devices such as filaments, rubber septa caps, and
puffers are labor intensive, and must be placed in the field by hand. ISCA Technologies,
however, has modified a flowable matrix called Specialized Pheromone & Lure Application
Technology (SPLAT) for highly efficient sex pheromone applications by aircraft. Examples of
the use of this new technology show the diversity of possible application. Presently, U.S. Forest
Service aerial applications of SPLAT GM are used to help manage the gypsy moth, Lymantria
dispar dispar. Aerial applications of SPLAT LOBESIA are used to manage the European grape
moth, Lobesia botrana, in Argentinian wine vineyards. ISCA most recently used an aerial
application of SPLAT FAW, which uses a sex pheromone for fall armyworm (FAW),
Spodoptera frugiperda management. Clearly, aerial applications of sex pheromones using the
flowable SPLAT matrix will bring down the cost of mating disruption controls and allow this
environmentally safe method of pest management to be used for a much wider variety of crops
and growing situations.