The newly discovered pear psylla pheromone is being tested in the field to find out how attractive it is to males. This mesh sticky trap has a septa of the chemical in the middle. CHRISTELLE GUÉDOT, USDA Scientists in Washington State have identified the sex pheromone of the pear psylla, opening up the possibility of monitoring the insect with traps. This is the first discovery of a pheromone in any psyllid insect, and it surprised some in the research world who doubted that a psylla sex attractant existed. Pear psylla is a key pest of pears in the Pacific Northwest. […]