Ethyl 4-methyloctanoate is a key component of the male aggregation pheromone of the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) and other species of fruit flies, released by males to attract individuals of the same species to form mating swarms. It has been developed into an efficient lure through stereoselective synthesis technology and is widely used in monitoring and trapping systems for fruit flies in orchards. By disrupting the mating behaviour of pests, it significantly reduces fruit damage rates and has become an important pheromone technology for the green control of fruit pests in tropical and subtropical regions.