Natural Repellents as a Method of Preventing Ant Damage to Microirrigation Systems
Ants are important because they damage agricultural equipment, including microirrigation systems. The aim of this research was to assess the efficiency of the incorporation of repellents in drip irrigation tubing as a method of protection against ant damage. Unlike previous studies, we tested a seri...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Insects |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/4/395 |
| _version_ | 1827619645684711424 |
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| author | Luis de Pedro Juan Antonio Sanchez |
| author_facet | Luis de Pedro Juan Antonio Sanchez |
| author_sort | Luis de Pedro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ants are important because they damage agricultural equipment, including microirrigation systems. The aim of this research was to assess the efficiency of the incorporation of repellents in drip irrigation tubing as a method of protection against ant damage. Unlike previous studies, we tested a series of nontoxic compounds that are repellent to ants. First, we assessed their repellent effects on a local ant species via olfactometer trials. Then, the candidates showing the best results (cinnamon essential oil, p-anisaldehyde and ethyl anthranilate) were incorporated via compounding, injection and extrusion to polyethylene tubing to test their efficiency in the field. Field tests showed high damage levels in the control tubing containing no repellents, presumably caused by up to six different ant species (<i>Cardiocondyla batesii</i>, <i>Plagiolepis pygmaea</i>, <i>P. schmitzii</i>, <i>Solenopsis</i> sp., <i>Tapinoma nigerrimum</i> and <i>Tetramorium semilaeve</i>). In contrast, the pipes containing the three selected compounds remained almost intact, with the treatment including ethyl anthranilate showing no damage at all. These results suggest the strong repellent potential of the selected compounds, even when integrated into plastic, as well as the apparent success of the proposed methodology against the damage caused by ants. The diversity of damage-causing agents that exist in or above the soil strongly encourages further studies to determine the overall efficiency of repellents in protecting irrigation pipes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:33:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5fa9e755cf324f319ec72f766bfbd844 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:33:00Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-5fa9e755cf324f319ec72f766bfbd8442023-12-01T21:06:05ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502022-04-0113439510.3390/insects13040395Natural Repellents as a Method of Preventing Ant Damage to Microirrigation SystemsLuis de Pedro0Juan Antonio Sanchez1Department of Crop Protection, Biological Control and Ecosystem Services, Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Medioambiental, C/Mayor s/n, La Alberca, 30150 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Crop Protection, Biological Control and Ecosystem Services, Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Medioambiental, C/Mayor s/n, La Alberca, 30150 Murcia, SpainAnts are important because they damage agricultural equipment, including microirrigation systems. The aim of this research was to assess the efficiency of the incorporation of repellents in drip irrigation tubing as a method of protection against ant damage. Unlike previous studies, we tested a series of nontoxic compounds that are repellent to ants. First, we assessed their repellent effects on a local ant species via olfactometer trials. Then, the candidates showing the best results (cinnamon essential oil, p-anisaldehyde and ethyl anthranilate) were incorporated via compounding, injection and extrusion to polyethylene tubing to test their efficiency in the field. Field tests showed high damage levels in the control tubing containing no repellents, presumably caused by up to six different ant species (<i>Cardiocondyla batesii</i>, <i>Plagiolepis pygmaea</i>, <i>P. schmitzii</i>, <i>Solenopsis</i> sp., <i>Tapinoma nigerrimum</i> and <i>Tetramorium semilaeve</i>). In contrast, the pipes containing the three selected compounds remained almost intact, with the treatment including ethyl anthranilate showing no damage at all. These results suggest the strong repellent potential of the selected compounds, even when integrated into plastic, as well as the apparent success of the proposed methodology against the damage caused by ants. The diversity of damage-causing agents that exist in or above the soil strongly encourages further studies to determine the overall efficiency of repellents in protecting irrigation pipes.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/4/395antsmicroirrigation systemssubsurface drip irrigationrepellentsolfactometerp-anisaldehyde |
| spellingShingle | Luis de Pedro Juan Antonio Sanchez Natural Repellents as a Method of Preventing Ant Damage to Microirrigation Systems Insects ants microirrigation systems subsurface drip irrigation repellents olfactometer p-anisaldehyde |
| title | Natural Repellents as a Method of Preventing Ant Damage to Microirrigation Systems |
| title_full | Natural Repellents as a Method of Preventing Ant Damage to Microirrigation Systems |
| title_fullStr | Natural Repellents as a Method of Preventing Ant Damage to Microirrigation Systems |
| title_full_unstemmed | Natural Repellents as a Method of Preventing Ant Damage to Microirrigation Systems |
| title_short | Natural Repellents as a Method of Preventing Ant Damage to Microirrigation Systems |
| title_sort | natural repellents as a method of preventing ant damage to microirrigation systems |
| topic | ants microirrigation systems subsurface drip irrigation repellents olfactometer p-anisaldehyde |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/4/395 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT luisdepedro naturalrepellentsasamethodofpreventingantdamagetomicroirrigationsystems AT juanantoniosanchez naturalrepellentsasamethodofpreventingantdamagetomicroirrigationsystems |