Application of visual and olfactory perception in monitoring and control of aphids

Abstract

Knowledge of the structure and function of sensory system of aphids, as well as understanding of their behavior, enabled the development of different methods of aphid collection, flight monitoring and control. The first methods used for collecting aphids were the colored water traps, most commonly of yellow color. Methods based on olfactory perception in order to reduce the abundance of aphids in the field have been developed later. These methods are mainly based on sowing different plant species, such as border crops, trap crops and intercropping. Chemicals, such as pheromones and essential oils, have also found practical application.