WO2022200816A1

WO2022200816A1 - Animal origin attractant for dipteran insects

Info

Publication number: WO2022200816A1
Application number: PCT/GR2022/000018
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ioannis KOUFAKIS
Original assignee: Koufakis Ioannis
Priority date: 2021-03-23
Filing date: 2022-03-22
Publication date: 2022-09-29
Also published as: GR1010079B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of producing, applying and using an animal origin attractant from Tenebrio molitor excreta, for the effective monitoring and/or control of dipteran insects. In particular, the foregoing is achieved by dissolving and stirring 2- 4% w/v of these excreta in water or, for even greater attractiveness to dipteran insects, by adding, mixing and dissolving in water these excreta and ammonia at a content 2% w / v each, followed by application of the resulting solution as such in an insect trap or previously filtered through a fine organza. This attractant is characterized by high attractiveness to dipteran insects - enemies of crops, while not affecting populations of beneficial insects. In addition, this attractant is produced by a sustainable and natural process, which results in an ecological attractant, while at the same time full utilization and industrial application of the Tenebrio molitor insect and its excreta is achieved, giving them a high added value.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Animal Origin Attractant for Dipteran Insects

This invention relates to a method of producing, applying and using an animal origin attractant, which is prepared from the excreta (manure and traces of chitin) of the insect Tenebrio molitor, for the effective monitoring and/or control (via mass trapping) of dipteran insects, some of which, such as the olive fly (Bactrocera oleae) and the medfly (Ceratitis capitata), are of economic importance, as they are important enemies of crops. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of the excreta of the above insect, either as such or in mixture with other proposed substances, and their treatment for the preparation of an attractant for dipteran insects.

Attractants include various substances used to attract insects. These include various food attractants, visual stimulus and sex pheromones. Attractive substances are used, both for the monitoring of populations of insect pests (e.g., dipterans), and their control through the method of mass trapping, placed in various types of traps (e.g., McPhail, bottle, paper-plastic traps, etc). A sparse network of traps (e.g. one trap per thousand or two thousand trees in the case of olive fly) is used to monitor the insects, while a dense network of traps (usually one trap per two trees) is used to control the same enemy. The most commonly used attractive substances are ammonia salts, hydrolyzed proteins and sugars. However, the aforementioned attractants present a reduced attractive effect, which is due to various factors, such as e.g. the attractant type, the weather conditions and the microclimate (humidity, temperature). This results in, on the one hand, underestimation of the insect pest populations in monitoring traps and, on the other hand, in reduced efficiency as regards the entrapment of the insects in mass traps, resulting in their ineffective control. Also, the above attractants are chemical products and in terms of their production process are not ecological. Taking into account the need for extensive use of attractants to control dipteran insects in important crops, such as e.g. olives and citrus fruits, which cover large areas throughout the Mediterranean, use of more effective attractants, that are produced in a sustainable way and respect the environment, is necessary.

The present invention is the result of extensive research and relates to the method of producing, applying and using an animal origin attractant to trap dipteran insects for the purpose of monitoring and/or controlling them. This attractant is much more attractive than the existing attractants used and is therefore more effective than those in trapping dipteran insects. It is also a completely natural and safe material for both humans and the environment. In particular, the excreta of the insect Tenebrio molitor are extremely attractive in general for dipterans, when they are applied either as such or in combination with other proposed substances, in insect traps. This attractant attracts a significantly higher number of harmful insects, such as the olive fly and the medfly, compared to the already widely used attractants, such as ammonia sulfate and hydrolyzed proteins. In addition, its effectiveness remains high throughout the year. For example, Table 1 and Diagram 1 show the superiority of using Tenebrio molitor excreta as attractant to olive flies, either as such or in mixture with ammonia sulfate, compared to commercially available attractants such as hydrolyzed protein and ammonia sulfate. Tenebrio molitor excreta are granular, such as fine-grained sand, easy to manage and highly water-soluble, containing approximately 11% crude proteins and 3% nitrogen. Also, the attractant is 100% natural and does not affect the populations of beneficial insects. Breeding the Tenebrio molitor insect is considered relatively easy compared to breeding other insects and there are already a large number of breeding units, mainly in Asia but also in Europe. This type of insect is mainly bred for the production of animal protein, so that it can then be used in animal feed or even for human food. Therefore, through the present invention, in which the Tenebrio molitor breeding excreta, which are a breeding byproduct, are used as a raw material for the production of a dipteran insect attractant, full utilization and industrial application of the above insect and excreta thereof is achieved, as well as the desired sustainability.

In particular, the present invention relates to the use of the Tenebrio molitor excreta for the manufacture of a dipteran insect attractant. For this attractant, a specific method of production and application is followed as disclosed by the present invention.

In particular, during the breeding process of the above insect, its larvae and adults are placed in breeding crates/trays with a suitable substrate, so that they can both lay eggs and hide therein and feed. The diet of the farming substrate usually consists of a type or mixture of cereals, such as wheat bran, oats and/or soybeans. In addition, a kind of vegetable is provided, e.g. carrot or potato as a source of moisture. As a result of the above breeding process, a significant amount of excreta is produced, i.e. manure and amounts of chitin. Chitin comes from the natural process of the juveniles (larvae) ecdysis, i.e. the moulting of the insect skin from their body as a need for replacement with a new larger one. Tenebrio molitor excreta is collected and then sieved to remove any food or insect residues. The excreta is then mixed with either water or water and ammonia sulfate, stirred and left there for about an hour to dissolve most of the excreta components in the water. From this process the animal origin attractant for dipteran insects emerges in solution form, which is then placed in insect traps. However, it is first recommended to filter this through a fine organza fabric to remove the precipitate and keep the solution clear.

The following proportions and mixtures of Tenebrio molitor excreta have been found to present strong attractive action to dipteran insects: a) An amount of 2-4% w/v Tenebrio molitor excreta added and stirred in water. The resulting solution can be used either as such or filtered through a fine organza fabric for best results in terms of attractiveness and clarity of solution within the trap. b) An amount of 2% w/v Tenebrio molitor excreta and 2% w/v ammonia sulfate added and stirred in water. The resulting solution can be used either as such or filtered through a fine organza fabric for best results in terms of attractiveness and clarity of solution within the trap. This composition, compared to the above case (a), gives even better results in terms of attractiveness of dipteran insects.

An example of the greater effectiveness of the attractant described in the present invention as regards olive fly in comparison to other attractants.

Experiments on the attractiveness of the olive fly from various attractive mixtures were conducted in the years 2019 and 2020 in an olive grove in the prefecture of Chania, Crete, Greece. The attractants evaluated, as shown in Table 1, were: a) Tenebrio molitor excreta in various dosages and mixed with ammonia or protein in water, b) 2% ammonia sulfate in water, c) 2% protein in water and d) mixture of 2% ammonia and 2% protein in water. All of the above attractive solutions were applied to McPhail type traps. Each trap with its corresponding attractant was placed inside the crown of the trees. The traps were placed on every second tree in the olive grove. Table 1 summarizes the results of the above experiments. In particular, in the experiment that took place in the year 2019, the average of olive fly individuals collected per trap by using 2% excreta and 2% ammonia was 153,6, by using 4% excreta 136,8 and by using 2% excreta 115,2. On the contrary, in the same year the average by using 2% protein amounted to 52,8 while with 2% ammonia sulfate to only 42,3. Respectively, in the year 2020, the average of olive fly individuals collected per trap by using 2% excreta and 2% ammonia was 66,5, by using 4% excreta 31,8 and by using 2% excreta 22,5, while with the use of 2% protein 26,3 and with 2% ammonia sulfate only 2,7. It is pointed out that in the year 2019 there were increased olive fly populations in the experimental area, as well as in all oil-producing areas of Greece, while in 2020 the populations were reduced. This explains the discrepancies in the number of olive fly arrests between the two years.

In conclusion, Tenebrio molitor excreta at doses of 2% and 4%, as well as the addition of 2% ammonia sulfate to 2% excreta solution, showed a significantly higher number of olive fly individuals collected compared to 2% ammonia and 2% protein. Also, it turns out that the use of 2% excreta and 2% ammonia was most effective for trapping flies compared to all other treatments.

Table 1

Average of olive fly individuals collected per trap using the attractant of Tenebrio molitor excreta and other attractants.

Diagram 1

Illustration of experimental results of Table 1.

‘Treatments: 2% Excreta: 2% Tenebrio molitor excreta/liter of water (% w/v or % weight by volume), 4% excreta: 4% Excreta: Tenebrio molitor excreta/liter of water (% w/v), 2% Ammonia: 2% Ammonia sulfate/liter of water (% w/v) , 2% Excreta and 2% Ammonia: 2% Tenebrio molitor excreta/liter of water and 2% ammonia sulfate (% w/v), 2% Protein: 2% Hydrolyzed protein (commercial formulation)/liter of water (% v/v or % volume by volume), 2% Excreta and 2% Protein: 2% Tenebrio molitor excreta/liter water (% w/v) and 2% Hydrolyzed protein (commercial formulation)/liter water (% v/v), 2% Ammonia and 2% Protein: 2% Ammonia sulfate/liter of water (% w/v) and 2% Hydrolyzed protein (commercial formulation)/liter of water (% v/v)).

^** Averages with different lowercase letters symbolize a statistically significant difference.

Claims

1. Use of Tenebrio molitor excreta, either as such or by mixing them with other substances, and processing thereof for the preparation of dipteran insect attractants, characterized by: a) high attractiveness to dipteran insects, such as the olive fly and the medfly, which affect a significant number of cultivated species such as citrus fruits, stone fruits, etc., for the effective monitoring and/or control thereof, b) ease of management of the raw material (Tenebrio molitor excreta) and production of the solution as an attractant, c) not attracting beneficial insects and consequently not affecting their population, d) the sustainable and natural production process of the attractant, resulting in a natural attractant respecting the environment and man, e) the fact that the attractant during use, but also after use, does not harm man and the environment and f) full utilization and industrial application of the Tenebrio molitor excreta, the latter emerging as this insect breeding byproduct, giving it a high added value.

2. The use of Tenebrio molitor insect excreta as an attractant of dipteran insects according to claim 1, wherein Tenebrio molitor excreta is added, stirred and dissolved in water at a content of 2-4% w/v, the above solution inserted as such into an insect trap or previously filtered through a fine organza for optimal results in terms of attractiveness and greater clarity of the solution inside the trap.

3. The use of Tenebrio molitor insect excreta as an attractant of dipteran insects according to claim 1 , wherein Tenebrio molitor excreta and ammonia sulfate are mixed and dissolved in water, at a content 2% w/v each. The resulting solution has an even greater attractiveness to dipteran insects. This solution is applied as such in an insect trap or previously filtered through a fine organza for best results in terms of attractiveness and greater clarity of the solution inside the trap.