The Environmental Protection Agency has registered abioinsecticide developed by Ecogen Inc. to control the tomatopinworm, a persistent agricultural pest in the U.S. and Mexico.

The product, NoMate TPW Spiral, uses pheromones to disruptmating and attaches through a plastic coil to the vine orsupport stakes.

Ecogen entered the pheromone business in September 1992when it acquired Scentry Inc. of Billings, Mont., from UnitedAgri Products Inc.

"We see pheromones playing an increasingly important role inagricultural pest control and integrated pest management," saidJohn McIntyre, vice president for business development andinternational distribution at Ecogen, "as growers andgovernmental agencies search for biorational alternatives tochemical pesticides."

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