As clothes moths attack, Leeds Castle brings out the big guns

July 18, 2012 - PRLog -- Winchester, UK – Intelligent Pest Management Company, Exosect, today announced Leeds Castle as the latest heritage site to deploy its unique pheromone system, Exosex CLTab*, to manage clothes moths.

Set in the heart of Kent, Leeds Castle is one of the UK’s most historic sites. Dating back 1000 years, as well as being privately owned it has housed kings and queens including Henry the VIII. In the Second World War it was transformed in to a hospital for wounded soldiers and was also secretly used as a site for weapons research to counter the feared German invasion. The castle has hosted some of the world’s most prestigious governmental meetings and international conferences, including a G8 Summit.  However, it is now playing host to less welcome visitors.

Exosex CLTab was first developed 7 years ago in response to a request for help from the Royal Opera House in London, who was struggling with a clothes moth infestation that was threatening its antique costumes worth in excess of £10k a piece.  Having developed pheromone mating disruption technologies to control insect pests in agriculture as a means of reducing insecticide use and residues, Exosect developed a similar technology for use with clothes moth with the support and guidance of the UK’s heritage sector.

Nic Fulcher, Heritage Manager at Leeds Castle comments, “Sadly, clothes moths are now a fact of life for homeowners and historic buildings alike. I have the daunting task of ensuring that all the priceless items housed here, from rugs, tapestries, bedding, soft furnishings and clothing are protected and don’t fall victim to this voracious pest because they simply cannot be replaced. In recent years, this pheromone product has been widely endorsed by the heritage sector and we have had no hesitation in deploying it here”.

Martin Brown, Managing Director at Exosect comments, “Throughout the development of this product key people within the heritage sector have played a pivotal role in demonstrating the products worth, in particular English Heritage and pest control consultant and entomologist, David Pinniger, to who we are truly grateful.  Their support has ensured that this product is helping to protect priceless artefacts.


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Background information

Exosex CLTab* is a unique pheromone system for the management of Webbing Clothes moth (Tineola bisseliella). It is one of the few products available to use in place of fumigation and should be used in an Integrated Pest Management programme.

*Exosex CLTab is a small tablet consisting of Exosect’s *Entostat™ powder formulated with minute quantities of the female sex pheromone of the female Webbing Clothes moth.
The Exosex CLTab tablet attracts male moths to the Entostat powder and female pheromone. As the male moths pick up Entostat powder, their pheromone receptors become overloaded with pheromone and they are unable to locate females. A male carrying Entostat powder will form a mobile pheromone dispenser, producing “false” pheromone trails, which attract additional males.
Contact between the males ensures that the Entostat powder and the confusion effect is automatically passed on. The result is a state of sexual confusion amongst the male moth population.

*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, animal health.  

Notes to Editors
About Exosect
Exosect is focused on the development of Intelligent Pest Management solutions. Its innovative and cost-effective products help growers, food manufacturers and processors to actively reduce their use of pesticides. These products are used globally in a wide range of sectors including crop protection (agriculture, horticulture and stored products), apiculture and public health. Exosect is a SOFHT (Society of Food Hygiene and Technology) award winner, a category winner in the Guardian Global Cleantech 100 awards and a finalist in the Agrow Awards. This and further news is available at: www.exosect.com

Our mission is to discover, develop & commercialise, safe, sustainable bio-conventional control solutions for the food industry, that protect food from insect damage and disease whilst reducing use of and dependence on traditional chemical pest control products.