Leaf cutting ants cause an estimated $8 billion damage each year to eucalyptus forestry in Brazil alone.
Scientists at Bath have developed a molecular sponge that soaks up the pheromones of ants and releases them slowly to attract the pests to an insecticide trap.
Scientists at the Universities of Bath and Sussex have developed a new system that slowly releases ant pheromones to attract pests to an insecticide bait. This means that instead of spraying the whole crop with pesticides, traps can be placed in specific areas for more targeted protection.
Leaf-cutting ants are major pest species of agriculture and forestry in many areas of the tropics causing an estimated $8 billion damage each year to eucalyptus forestry in Brazil alone.
Traditional pesticides often degrade quickly and are not specific to particular pests, resulting in substantial wastage of pest control products, environmental contamination and harmful effects on other insects.
The team of chemists and chemical engineers at Bath used molecular sponges called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), to soak up the alarm pheromones of leaf cutter ants and then slowly release them to attract the insects to a trap.
In addition to experiments, they used computational modelling to simulate the movement of the pheromone molecule inside the pores of the MOFs to predict which structures would give the optimum capacity and speed of release.
They found that by altering the chemical groups within the basic framework structure, they could adjust the speed of release of the pheromones so that the chemicals could be released over a period of several months rather than days.
Field trials of the system by University of Sussex researchers in a eucalyptus plantation in Brazil showed that the pheromone-loaded MOFs had the desired effect in attracting the ants to a trap.
Professor Andrew Burrows, Head of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Bath and Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University’s Centre for Sustainable and Circular Technologies, led the study that is published in the journal Dalton Transactions.
He said: “Insect pheromones have been used previously for attracting pests, but the trouble is they are quite volatile, so their effects don’t last very long.
“Our metal-organic frameworks act as a kind of sponge where the pheromones can be encapsulated in the pores and then released slowly over time.
“Our proof-of-principle study shows that these materials are effective in delivering the pheromone and that the insects respond normally to it.
“This system could reduce the amount of pesticides sprayed on a crop and could be particularly useful for high value crops in small areas.
“We’re currently looking at a range of other insect messenger chemicals including those that can be used to control moth pest species in UK fruit orchards.”
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Molecular sponges
- Scientists add a new twist to the many afterlives of coffee grounds: Toxic cleanup
Your spent coffee grounds may have a nobler purpose than enriching your compost pile: researchers have found that the millions of tons of grounds discarded annually could help to soak up a widespread ...
- What’s the Best Kind of Sunscreen?
Sprays, sticks, and other formats are convenient, but Madan recommends a good old-fashioned cream if you have the choice. “It goes onto the skin a little bit thicker, so patients get more coverage out ...
- Researchers Have Discovered Eight New Deep-Sea Species of Sponges
Despite marine sponges being widespread on our planet, their biodiversity and distribution is still poorly known. Even though the Mediterranean Sea is the most explored sea on Earth, a study by Díaz ...
- Should I Use a Mineral or Chemical Sunscreen? Pros Weigh In + Share the Best SPF Formulas
“A chemical sunscreen uses filters such as oxybenzone,” explains Dr. Gohara. “They act as a sponge and absorb the UV rays." Besides oxybenzon, chemical sunscreens can also contain avobenzone and both ...
- Research team develop porous sponge material for enhancing kidney hemostasis and repair
A POSTECH research team have crafted a material aimed at swiftly staunching kidney bleeding and facilitating wound recovery. Their research featured in the online edition of Biomaterials.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Molecular sponges
[google_news title=”” keyword=”molecular sponges” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Pheromone-loaded MOFs
- The 11 Best Pheromone Perfumes That Command Attention, Tested & Reviewed
Emily Orofino has over a decade of experience working in beauty. You can find her work on sites such as Harper’s Bazaar, Byrdie, Editorialist, POPSUGAR, & RealSelf. She has also lent her ...
- These 8 Pheromone Perfumes Will Make You Irresistible
Like me, you may have heard of pheromone perfumes while scrolling through TikTok or your favorite fragrance forums. If you're scratching your head, pheromones are substances that are secreted by ...
- Top 7 Best Pheromone Oils in 2024
There’s been a recent increase in interest in products based on pheromones, which are organic compounds that humans and animals naturally produce for communication. These powerful chemicals can ...
- Loaded BBQ Chicken Baked Potatoes Recipe
Humble potatoes are regularly incorporated into comforting, easy side dishes. Loaded baked potatoes take things up a notch, however, by placing the spuds front and center, and recipe developer ...
- Do Pheromone Fragrances Increase Sexual Attraction? Here Are The Facts
They affect men, women and even animals—and they’re called pheromones. In honor of National Fragrance Day, March 21, here’s everything to know about the natural substance, and whether or not ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Pheromone-loaded MOFs
[google_news title=”” keyword=”pheromone-loaded MOFs” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]