Pheromone trapping is considered an easy method for controllung flying insects. Several studies have shown that mass trapping has been used either in long-term pest management [e.g. conling moth (Cydia pomonella), pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella), bark beetles, palm weevils, corn rootworm (Diabrotica spp.) and fruit flies], or in the eradication of invasive species [e.g. gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) and boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis grandis)]. The oil palm bagworm, Metisa plana, and most bagworm species has a free-flying, male aduly stage, as opposed to the female adault which is enclosed within the pupal bag and lies sessile to the leafleat undersurface. Thus, an alternative stretegy to control the population of the pest is by mass trapping the male adults, thereby curbing their chances of mating with the females to propagate the next generation.

Main Research: Norman Kamarudin