Traps Insect traps are used for detection and management purposes. While they usually capture a tremendous number of insects, a close examination of light trap collections shows that they attract both beneficial and harmful insects that would ordinarily not be found in that area. Those insects attracted, but not captured remain in the area, and the destructive ones may cause damage. Consequently, the use of a light trap in protecting the home garden is generally of little benefit and, in some instances, detrimental. They can be helpful to detect when a pest has become active or moves into an area.
Pheromone traps are for detection or sometimes for disrupting mating habits of insects.
The female produces and releases a chemical odor attractive to male insects of the same species. The male can detect the odor at low concentrations. The effectiveness of lures are reduced by rainfall, cool temperatures, and wind speed and direction. The scented lures can be damaged by heat or sunlight in shipment or during storage before they are used. Limited success has been achieved in insect control using pheromone traps.