Photo of two sea lampreys by Daymon J Hartley/Courtesy MSU
A synthetic chemical version of what male sea lampreys use to attract spawning females can lure them into traps and foil the mating process of the destructive invasive species, Michigan State University scientists say.
"The pheromone is expensive to synthesize," said Weiming Li, MSU professor of fisheries and wildlife. "But only a very small amount is needed for it to work successfully. It's very potent. Only a few hundred grams, less than a pound, would be used each year."
Sea lampreys are a scourge in the Great Lakes of the U.S., where they have no natural predators. They live in both salt and fresh water and likely found their way into the Great Lakes via shipping channels.
NGS photo of sea lampreys attacking Great Lakes fish by James L. Amos
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