A Review on Advances in Chemical Ecology of Agricultural Insects and their Applications in Pest Management

Abstract

Chemical ecology has emerged as a powerful scientific discipline in the development of sustainable pest management strategies by exploring how insects communicate and interact with their environment through chemical signals. The review paper aims to explore the advances in chemical ecology of agricultural insects and their applications in pest management. Semiochemicals, including pheromones, kairomones, allomones, and synomones, play critical roles in insect behaviours such as mate finding, host selection, aggregation, and predator avoidance. Advances in analytical tools such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), electroantennography (EAG), and omics technologies have enabled the identification and functional characterisation of these compounds in key pest species. Pheromone-based technologies have been successfully applied in pest monitoring, mass trapping, and mating disruption across major agricultural systems, reducing reliance on broad-spectrum insecticides. The development of controlled-release formulations, microencapsulation techniques, and synthetic biosynthesis pathways has improved the stability, cost-effectiveness, and scalability of semiochemical products. Despite these advancements, challenges remain, including variability in field efficacy due to environmental factors, high production costs, limited availability for certain pest species, and gaps in the understanding of multitrophic interactions. Moreover, regulatory hurdles and adoption barriers continue to limit widespread implementation, particularly in low-resource farming systems. Future directions emphasise integrated, multi-modal approaches that combine visual, chemical, and tactile cues, along with the application of artificial intelligence for real-time pest detection and predictive modelling. Community-based strategies and participatory implementation are essential for maximising impact and ensuring equitable access. With growing concerns over pesticide resistance, environmental degradation, and food security, the strategic application of chemical ecology offers a promising path toward more precise, ecologically sound, and farmer-friendly pest management solutions. Continued interdisciplinary research, farmer engagement, and policy support will be essential to fully realise the potential of chemical ecology in achieving resilient and sustainable agricultural pest management systems. This review highlights recent advances, current applications, and future trends in the chemical ecology of agricultural insects, underscoring its pivotal role in modern integrated pest management programs.