Scientists Revive Old Device to Identify Pest-Attracting and Pest-Repelling Scents

The electroantennogram could help develop new lures and deterrents to target crop-damaging insects.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 12:42am

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An abstract, highly structured painting in muted greens, browns, and blues, featuring sweeping geometric shapes and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex chemical forces and molecular structures involved in insect olfaction.A new device helps scientists pinpoint the precise scent molecules that attract or repel crop-damaging insects, paving the way for more targeted and effective pest management solutions.Ithaca Today

Researchers at Cornell University have resurrected an old device called an electroantennogram to pinpoint the exact scent molecules that attract or repel insects, which could then be developed by companies for growers to use to trap or ward off crop-damaging pests like beetles, aphids, and moths.

Why it matters

With the prevalence of crop pests and invasive species, the ability to identify the specific scents that attract or repel insects is crucial for developing effective pest management strategies for agriculture. Current monitoring tools often target male insects, but identifying female-attracting scents could provide better insights into pest populations and crop damage.

The details

The electroantennogram, invented nearly 70 years ago, allows researchers to detect the scent molecules detected by an insect's antennae, including those found in sex pheromones, fruit odors, and alarm pheromones. The Cornell team is using the device to isolate scent compounds from apples that attract female codling moths, a major apple, pear, and peach pest. They are also investigating whether scents produced by woolly apple aphids and black stem borers could be used to trigger dispersal or trapping behaviors in those insects.

  • The electroantennogram was first used for pioneering pheromone research at Cornell in the 1970s.
  • The current research at Cornell AgriTech began in 2022.

The players

Christophe Duplais

Associate professor of chemical ecology at Cornell AgriTech and leader of the team developing the electroantennogram for agricultural uses.

Monique Rivera

Tree fruit entomologist and assistant professor of entomology at Cornell AgriTech.

Wendell Roelofs

Cornell chemist who used an early electroantennogram prototype in the 1970s to pioneer insect pheromone research, leading to over 150 pheromone and attractant discoveries.

Mason Chandler

Graduate student in Monique Rivera's lab.

Sandra Lizarraga

Graduate student in Monique Rivera's lab.

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What they’re saying

“With all the pests and invasive species, the application to agriculture is fundamental to be able to track down pests and monitor their population dynamics.”

— Christophe Duplais, Associate professor of chemical ecology

“In all the pest management we're doing across different crops, we monitor many kinds of insects, but for moth pests, it's the male, it's never the female.”

— Christophe Duplais, Associate professor of chemical ecology

“We work with the pheromone industry and growers. As soon as we detect the right molecule, we can create the lure, test it in apple orchards, and if it works, make it commercially available.”

— Christophe Duplais, Associate professor of chemical ecology

What’s next

The Cornell team plans to continue testing the electroantennogram to identify new pheromones and scent compounds that could be used to develop commercial lures and deterrents for a variety of crop pests.

The takeaway

This revived technology could lead to innovative pest management solutions that target the specific scent cues insects use to find food and mates, helping growers protect their crops from damaging infestations.