Pure and Applied Chemistry

Abstract: Methods for crop protection based on semiochemicals show advantages over methods based on conventional insecticides. Applications of semiochemicals for insect pest management have, however, been limited. Some recent studies carried out in an interdisciplinary research program by five research groups in Sweden are presented. In spite of the chemodiversity in nature, it is striking that many simple and common compounds are important as chemical signals. This paper focuses on some examples of such simple signals, which are now used for monitoring and suppression of pest insects.