The Designation of Chemicals in Terms of the Responses They Elicit from Insects1

Abstract

The terms "attractant" and "repellent" only have commonly been employed to describe chemicals in terms of their effect on the behavior of insects. The two terms as defined in their strictest sense do not apply to all possible types of reactions of insects to chemicals. There is a genuine need to clarify the use of terminology in this subject. An analysis of the behavioral effects of chemicals on locomotion, feeding, and oviposition has led to the designation and definition of five terms; namely, arrestant, stimulant (locomotor, feeding, ovipositional), attractant, repellent, deterrent. It is proposed that these five be employed as standard terms within the limits of the definitions given.