What role do pheromones play in pest control?

Pheromones play a critical role in pest control primarily by acting as attractants that lure pests to traps. These chemical signals are naturally produced by insects to communicate with one another, especially for mating and aggregation purposes. In pest management, synthetic versions of these pheromones are used to create traps that attract specific pest species. This method is effective in monitoring pest populations and reducing their numbers without the use of harmful chemicals, making it an environmentally friendly approach to pest control.

While pheromones can be utilized in various ways in pest management, the focus here is on their capacity to attract pests, which facilitates their capture or monitoring. The other roles mentioned in the options, such as acting as pesticides, repelling beneficial insects, or promoting pest reproduction, do not align with the primary use of pheromones in an effective and practical pest control strategy.