Exosect's Exosex OFM receives Italian registration

June 27, 2012 - PRLog -- Winchester, UK – Exosect, a leading provider of Intelligent Pest Management solutions, today announced that its Exosex OFM* mating disruption technology has received registration for commercial use in Italy.

Exosex OFM is a unique pheromone technology which controls Oriental Fruit moth, (Grapholita molesta), a major global pest of pome and stone fruit. It is specifically designed to control Oriental Fruit moth as part of an integrated pest management strategy and in doing so, assist growers in reducing insecticide residues.

Exosex OFM employs Entostat*, Exosect’s patented delivery platform, which delivers and disseminates minute quantities of oriental fruit moth female sex pheromone throughout the pest population, this in turn prevents mating and subsequent fruit damage. This product is one of a suite of mating disruption products which Exosect have developed using Entostat technology.

Exosect’s Managing Director, Martin Brown comments “Over many years we have worked hard to develop a range of pheromone based insect control products using Entostat technology as a unique delivery platform for pest control in agriculture and food manufacturing. It is fantastic news that Exosex OFM can now be made available to Italian growers as a valuable Integrated Pest Management tool for reducing insecticide use in their orchards”.



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Background information

*Exosex OFM requires only 25 dispensers per hectare each of which contain a synthetic female Oriental Fruit moth pheromone, which is formulated with Exosect’s unique and natural Entostat powder. The system works by luring males into the dispensers using the female pheromone, once they enter, the Entostat* powder adheres strongly to the bodies of the male. The sensors of the coated moths are overwhelmed which means that they are unable to detect females, and therefore do not mate.  They also act as a false lure for other male moths and the mating cycle is disrupted, resulting in fewer caterpillars emerging to cause fruit damage. The technique is simple and helps to reduce the use of chemical spraying. The Exosex technology has been developed for Codling moth in apples and pears, Oriental Fruit moth in stone and pome fruit, Grape Vine moth in vines, Yellow Stem Borer in rice, Light Brown Apple moth is soft fruit, Stored Product moth (five species) in food manufacturing and commodity storage, and clothes moth for the heritage sector.

*Entostat powder is the platform technology for Exosect’s entire range of products. Derived from a natural ‘food grade’ wax which is sustainably  harvested from palm trees, Entostat powder acts as a delivery system for a wide range of chemistry.
As the name suggests “Entostat” powder exhibits electrostatic properties. Even through very slight movement, it develops an electrostatic charge. Insects similarly develop an electrostatic charge as they fly through air or walk across physical surfaces. When placed in contact with insects, the powder adheres to them and can be passed from one insect to another through direct contact. This patented platform enables the use of very low doses of active ingredient and has potential applications in many sectors including agriculture (agrochemical and biological formulation and reformulation, seed treatments, bio-control), apiculture, public health and animal health.