hostvolatilebaited

Host volatile baited refers to a lure strategy in entomology that uses host plant volatile organic compounds to attract herbivorous insects to traps for monitoring and management. The concept relies on semiochemicals that plants emit when stressed or damaged, which insects use to locate suitable hosts. In practical HV-baited systems, these host volatiles are formulated as synthetic blends and released from traps or lures to draw pests into monitoring devices or controlled environments. Often these blends are combined with other attractants, such as sex pheromones or kairomones, to increase specificity and trap efficacy.

Applications of host volatile baited strategies include monitoring pest populations, early detection of invasions, and integration into pest management programs. Traps deployed with HV-baited lures help quantify arrival times and population dynamics, enabling timely and targeted interventions. In some approaches, HV-baited traps are used as components of attract-and-kill or push-pull strategies, contributing to reduced reliance on broad-spectrum pesticides and improved sustainability of crop protection.

Components and considerations involve the selection of appropriate host volatiles for the target pest, the design of release devices to maintain stable emission rates, and the choice of trap type (such as sticky, funnel, or delta traps). Release rate, environmental stability, and crop phenology influence performance, and local optimization is often required.

Advantages of HV-baited traps include improved specificity, earlier detection, and the potential to lower chemical inputs. Limitations encompass variability due to weather and crop context, potential non-target captures, and the need for ongoing adaptation to different pest species and ecosystems.

Examples of research and application exist in crops such as apples for codling moths and in field crops for Helicoverpa species, as well as in stored-product pest work using commodity-related volatiles. See also: semiochemicals, kairomones, pheromones, integrated pest management.