Public pressure to eliminate the use of pesticides, particularly around food and food products, has given rise to a new and growing market of pesticide-free pest management products that use natural ways to control common pests.

According to Alan Vaudry, new product development manager for Contech, Inc.—a manufacturer of non-toxic pest management products—pesticide-free technologies and natural attractants are commanding more shelf space with retailers. As a result, the number of products available for this growing market is constantly expanding.

“We are working hard to keep up with the demand for pesticide-free pest management products,” Vaudry said. “The general public is much less inclined to use pesticides. In addition, non-toxic methods and the science behind them are more sophisticated than ever.” Contech develops and markets non-toxic pest management products and insect traps that use attractants rather than pesticides to lure, trap and kill problematic insects.

Unlike broad spectrum pesticides, which can kill even beneficial insects and harm the environment, pesticide-free insect traps use natural, food-based attractants like fruit juices and essences to lure the target pests and trap them inside specially-designed devices. The traps, baits and lures are safe for humans, pets and beneficial insects. In addition, the traps are easy to use and aesthetically-pleasing enough to be left on counters and in common public areas.

“Attractant technology is not new. Insects, like people, have always been attracted to certain food smells,” Vaudry said. “Fruit flies, for example, are attracted to rotting fruit so it makes perfect and simple sense to create a trapping system that uses that instinct against them.” Contech’s fruit fly trap uses fruit essences and other natural products to lure and trap fruit flies. It has also proven to be three times more effective than similar pest management products.

Contech is a designer and provider of animal control and wellness products and non-toxic pest management products for home and garden, forestry, landscape, agriculture, and commercial applications. Safe and effective solutions such as the ScareCrow® motion-activated sprinkler continue to reinforce the company’s reputation as a leading innovator in the pet and garden industries. Contech makes non-toxic traps for yellow jackets and wasps, outdoor flies, flour and pantry moths and fruit flies.