A mating disruption trial for Helicoverpa armigera (Heliothis or Cotton Bollworm) was carried out between February and July 2003 in the Promised Land region, Childers, Queensland. Field grown tomato and capsicum crops (total area 125 ha) in the Promised Land area were treated with AgriSense BCS Selibate HA pheromone dispensers at a rate of 240 dispensers per hectare. The nearest untreated areas of capsicum, tomato, or other heliothis-susceptible plants were more than 6km to the east of the Promised Land area. The activity of Helicoverpa spp. in these untreated tomato and capsicum crops was compared to that of the treated areas to determine efficacy of the treatment within the Promised Land area.

Mating disruption works by infusing the treated area with high concentrations of sex pheromone of the targe species (in this case H. armigera). This high concentration prevents males from finding and mating with females in the crop, and if effective, subsequently prevents fertile eggs from being laid in the crop.