ABSTRACT
Pheromones used in agriculture to control insect pests are registered by the US Environmental Protection Agency under the provisions of the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act and its several amendments. This chapter aims to discuss the guidelines covering “biochemicals” and more specifically, pheromones and examines the following: product analysis, toxicology, residue analysis, nontarget organism hazard, and environmental fate. Pheromones act by altering behavior of specific target insects rather than by killing target insects and, sometimes, nontarget insects. The Agency proposes a tier testing scheme for biochemicals, including pheromones with tests of progressive complexity and expense. Most pheromones developed thus far produce limited exposure to humans and nontarget organisms and are, therefore, of limited hazard potential. The initial level of environmental fate testing would include measurement of volatility and leaching from pheromone dispensers, sorption to soil, vapor pressure, water solubility, and the octanol-water partition coefficient.
