Sea Lamprey Mating Pheromone Registered by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as First Vertebrate Pheromone Biopesticide

Authors

Marc Gaden, U.S. Geological SurveyFollow
Marisa Lubeck, U.S. Geological SurveyFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2016

Citation

http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=4429&from=rss_home#.Vo1IFlITASQ

Comments

US government work

Abstract

Ann Arbor, MI – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered a sea lamprey mating pheromone, 3kPZS, as the first ever vertebrate pheromone biopesticide in late December, 2015. Like an alluring perfume, the mating pheromone is a scent released by male sea lampreys to lure females onto nesting sites. Research and development of the mating pheromone was funded by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, with additional support from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, in collaboration with federal government, university, and private industry partners.