Interrupting moths' sex lives

Hygiene Group operates throughout the UK where it is a supplier of specialist hygiene contract cleaning services to the food, drink and pharmaceutical industries.

The company is now using pheromone technology to confuse male tropical warehouse moths, whose larvae can chew through foil wrapping.

The biological solution which uses insect pheromones in place of traditional pesticides is part of a long-term trial in conjunction with Exosect Ltd, a research and development company which specialises in environmentally friendly insect pest control.

An electrostatically charged food grade wax powder soaked in female moth pheromone is used to attract male moths, which become covered in female pheromone.

Other male moths then try to mate with the female pheromone-covered males, disrupting mating and egg-laying cycles.

Hygiene Group pest control division manager Dave Maxwell said: It's called Auto-Confusion, and where we've introduced it we've seen tropical warehouse moth numbers decline.

It's not a standalone solution, but is highly effective when used alongside regular cleaning processes, and without it there would have to be more cleaning done with pesticide sprays.

Hygiene Group has been using the process for three years, passing its findings and data back to Exosect, and expects to continue the trial for another year. It is the only hygiene management services provider using the process in the chocolate production environment.

The warehouse moth ephestia cautella is a significant pest in flour mills, dried fruit and food processing plants in Australia. The females lay up to 350 eggs in their short, 18-day lives.