Plastic H-shaped tube olfactometer for evaluating repellency and attraction of outdoor insects

Abstract

The invention discloses a plastic H-shaped tube olfactometer for evaluating repellency and attractivity of outdoor insects, and relates to the technical field of olfactometers, the plastic H-shaped tube olfactometer comprises two bottom containers, two vertical round tubes and a horizontal tube, the two vertical round tubes are communicated through the horizontal tube, the bottom containers are used for fixing test plants, the bottom ends of the vertical round tubes are opened, and the horizontal tube is communicated with the vertical round tubes. The bottom end of the vertical circular tube is connected with the bottom container, the vertical circular tube sleeves the test plant, and an inlet is formed in the center of the horizontal tube; the vertical round pipe and the horizontal pipe are made of transparent materials. Test plants or materials emitting volatile compounds are contained in each vertical circular tube, insects are introduced into the horizontal tubes, preference research is performed by observing motion behaviors of approaching or leaving olfactory stimulation, and the transparent plastic structures of the vertical circular tubes are firm and durable, so that the olfactometer is not only suitable for indoor experiments such as greenhouses, but also suitable for indoor experiments such as olfactory experiments. Meanwhile, the high-activity insects are effectively prevented from escaping.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of olfactometers, in particular to a plastic H-tube olfactometer used for evaluating the repellency and attractivity of outdoor insects. Background Art

[0002] The sense of smell is one of the important factors that affect insect behavior. For example, insects have an aversion to volatile chemicals. Insects can use their olfactory organs to continuously collect various information from the natural environment, determine the species, quantity, growth status, location of mating partners, etc. of host plants, and accurately find suitable food sources, mating partners, and egg-laying sites that are conducive to the survival of their offspring in a complex natural environment. Olfactometers can help researchers study the responses of insects to odor sources, thereby judging the habits of insects, so as to prevent insects and eliminate the harm of insects to plants.

[0003] Traditional olfactometer designs are made of glass, are expensive to manufacture, have a fixed structure, and have a number of limitations that limit their use to laboratory environments. Due to their small size and fragility, they not only present a risk of breakage, but also limit the volume of testable materials. In addition, traditional olfactometers are closed in design, further limiting their potential for practical applications and making them difficult to flexibly combine with other experimental devices. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention provides a plastic H-tube olfactometer for outdoor insect repellency and attractivity evaluation to solve the problems raised in the above background technology, and specifically discloses the following contents: A plastic H-tube olfactometer for evaluating the repellency and attractivity of outdoor insects, comprising two bottom containers, two vertical round tubes and a horizontal tube, wherein the two vertical round tubes are connected through the horizontal tube, the bottom container is used to fix a test plant, the bottom end of the vertical round tube is open, the bottom end of the vertical round tube is connected to the bottom container, the vertical round tube is sleeved on the outside of the test plant, and an inlet is provided at the center of the horizontal tube; The vertical circular tube and the horizontal tube are both made of transparent material.

[0005] Furthermore, a top cover is provided at the top end of the vertical circular tube, a round hole is provided on the top cover, and the round hole is covered with mesh cloth.

[0006] Furthermore, it also includes a microcentrifuge tube, which is filled with test chemicals in the form of vapor, and the microcentrifuge tube is attached to the bottom position of the stem of the test plant.

[0007] Furthermore, an antistatic coating is provided on the inner surface of the vertical circular tube.

[0008] Furthermore, a silicone gasket is used to seal the connection between the horizontal tube and the vertical circular tube.

[0009] Furthermore, a tampon is detachably connected to the introduction port.

[0010] Furthermore, the top cover is a snap-on polycarbonate cover.

[0011] Furthermore, the mesh is a plastic mesh with a mesh size of 0.5 mm.

[0012] The beneficial effects of the present invention are: The vertical circular tube and the horizontal tube in the present invention are both made of plastic structure, which has high damage resistance and is suitable for indoor and outdoor environments. By combining plants and volatile compounds, real situations are simulated in natural environments. Compared with glass models that are mainly limited to laboratory use, the design of the present invention is more suitable for studying the behavior of insects in natural environments. This feature provides more accurate data for studying plant-insect interactions, and the durability of its plastic structure significantly reduces the cost and trouble of replacing fragile equipment, providing a more practical solution for long-term research. The vertical circular tube and the horizontal tube are both made of plastic, which allows the invention to be larger in size, so that the whole plant can be included in the experimental device, which significantly improves the ecological authenticity of the research. Compared with the smaller glass models, the invention can accommodate a variety of plants and provide a more natural environment for testing the interaction between plants and insects, thereby improving the relevance and realism of olfactory experiments and obtaining results closer to real conditions; The structural design of the transparent plastic material in the present invention, combined with the property of minimizing contamination between the two vertical tubes, helps to achieve clearer behavioral observation. Insects can more clearly express their preference for a certain olfactory stimulus without being affected by external interference or mixed stimuli. This setting reduces the possibility of confounding variables and ensures that the observed insect behavior is only caused by the tested olfactory cues; The bottom opening of the vertical circular tube in the present invention can be easily adjusted to accommodate flower pots and experimental devices of different sizes, and has high adaptability. Researchers can test a variety of plants, use different types of containers, and flexibly adapt to various experimental conditions, which significantly improves the limitations of traditional closed bottom systems and makes them more adaptable to changing experimental needs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without paying creative work.

[0014] Figure 1 The present invention is a structural schematic diagram of a plastic H-tube olfactometer for evaluating the repellency and attractivity of outdoor insects.

[0015] Figure 2 It is a top view of the top cover in the present invention.

[0016] Among them, in the figure: 1- bottom container; 2- vertical round tube; 3- test plant; 4- introduction port; 5- horizontal tube; 6- microcentrifuge tube; 7- top cover; 8- round hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention are described clearly and completely below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0018] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of the present application and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchanged where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the present application described here. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any of their variations are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, for example, a process, method, system, product or device that includes a series of steps or components is not necessarily limited to those steps or components that are clearly listed, but may include other steps or components that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0019] In the present application, the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "back", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "middle", "vertical", "horizontal", "lateral", "longitudinal" and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the drawings. These terms are mainly used to better describe the present application and its embodiments, and are not used to limit the indicated devices, elements or components to have a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0020] In addition, some of the above terms may be used to express other meanings in addition to indicating orientation or positional relationship. For example, the term "on" may also be used to express a certain dependency or connection relationship in some cases. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of these terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0021] In addition, the terms "installed", "set", "provided with", "connected", "connected", and "socketed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; it can be a mechanical connection, or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be an internal connection between two devices, elements, or components. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0022] See attached Figure 1-2 The present invention discloses a plastic H-tube olfactometer for evaluating the repellency and attractivity of outdoor insects, comprising two bottom containers 1, two vertical circular tubes 2 and a horizontal tube 5, wherein the two vertical circular tubes 2 are connected through the horizontal tube 5, the bottom container 1 is used to fix a test plant 3, the bottom end of the vertical circular tube 2 is open, the bottom end of the vertical circular tube 2 is connected to the bottom container 1, the vertical circular tube 2 is sleeved on the outside of the test plant 3, and an inlet 4 is provided at the center of the horizontal tube 5; The vertical circular tube 2 and the horizontal tube 5 are both made of transparent material.

[0023] In this embodiment, insects are introduced into the horizontal tube 5 through the introduction port 4. By observing the moving direction of the insects in the horizontal tube 5, their behavioral reactions toward or away from the vertical circular tubes 2 on both sides can be recorded. Each vertical circular tube 2 contains a different olfactory stimulus source. In this embodiment, two vertical circular tubes 2 and a horizontal tube 5 are connected by glue to form an "H"-shaped structure. The above design effectively reduces cross-contamination between the two vertical circular tubes 2, allowing the insects to clearly express their preference for a certain olfactory stimulus.

[0024] In this embodiment, the introduction port 4 is a circular opening with a diameter of 1.27 cm and a height of 2.54 cm.

[0025] In this embodiment, the bottom container 1 can be any plastic flower pot (such as high-density polyethylene or HDPE) to ensure that it is not easy to tip over when used outdoors. Its diameter is 16.51 cm and its depth is 15.24 cm. The bottom container 1 is used to ensure that the roots of the test plant 3 obtain sufficient nutrients and stability to ensure the integrity of the test plant 3. The bottom end of the vertical circular tube 2 is seamlessly connected to the edge of the bottom container 1.

[0026] In this embodiment, the test plants 3 are the objects of the experimental study, emitting specific olfactory signals to attract or repel insects. These test plants 3 play a key role in the experiment, providing an odor source for the insects' olfactory preferences.

[0027] In this embodiment, the vertical circular tube 2 is a cylindrical transparent polycarbonate tube with a diameter of 15.24 cm, a height of 50.80 cm, and a tube wall thickness of 2 mm.

[0028] In this embodiment, the horizontal tube 5 is a cylindrical transparent polycarbonate tube with a diameter of 8.89 cm, a length of 57.15 cm, and a wall thickness of 2 mm. The horizontal tube 5 is connected to the vertical circular tube 2 at a position 43.18 cm away from the bottom end, ensuring that the connection position of the horizontal tube 5 and the two vertical circular tubes 2 is symmetrical. The horizontal tube 5 serves as a mixing chamber for the gases of the two vertical circular tubes 2 and also provides a channel for the insect to move freely between the two stimuli and choose the preferred side.

[0029] A top cover 7 is provided at the top end of the vertical circular tube 2. A circular hole 8 is provided on the top cover 7. The circular hole 8 is covered with a mesh.

[0030] In this embodiment, the diameter of the top cover 7 is 15.24 cm, and the top cover 7 overlaps with the wall of the vertical circular tube 2 to control the release of odor in the vertical circular tube 2 and reduce external pollution.

[0031] In this embodiment, the diameter of the circular hole 8 is 5.08 cm, and the circular hole 8 is covered with a mesh to promote air and water exchange while preventing insects from escaping. This setting keeps the test plant 3 healthy and ensures good ventilation in the system, prevents condensation and maintains stable experimental conditions.

[0032] A plastic H-tube olfactometer for outdoor insect repellency and attractant evaluation also includes a microcentrifuge tube 6 containing a test chemical in the form of vapor, and the microcentrifuge tube 6 is attached to the bottom position of the stem of the test plant 3.

[0033] In this embodiment, the microcentrifuge tube 6 is an Eppendorf tube, which contains test chemicals, and releases gas by evaporation along the bottom of the stem of the test plant 3. These chemicals act as olfactory signals to affect insect behavior, and researchers can test multiple chemical components under controlled conditions.

[0034] The inner surface of the vertical circular tube 2 is provided with an antistatic coating to prevent insects from attaching.

[0035] In this embodiment, the antistatic coating ensures clear observation of insect behavior without pollution interference.

[0036] The connection between the horizontal tube 5 and the vertical circular tube 2 is sealed with a silicone gasket to ensure no leakage.

[0037] The introduction port 4 is detachably connected with a cotton plug.

[0038] The top cover 7 is a snap-on polycarbonate cover.

[0039] The mesh is a plastic mesh with a mesh size of 0.5 mm.

[0040] In this embodiment, a plastic H-tube olfactometer for outdoor insect repellency and attractant evaluation can accommodate real plants up to 45 cm in height, enhancing ecological authenticity; its various components are detachable for easy field use or storage.

[0041] A plastic H-tube olfactometer for outdoor insect repellency and attractant assessments has been shown to significantly outperform conventional glass models in both laboratory and field settings: ① Insect attraction rate In controlled experiments, the plastic olfactometer successfully attracted and guided the test insects toward their preferred olfactory stimuli with more than 85% accuracy, compared to a typical success rate of 70-75% for the glass olfactometer.

[0042] ② Field trials In outdoor testing, the plastic structure olfactometer was able to maintain stable conditions with minimal loss of volatile compounds even in windy or humid environments, which is a challenge often faced by glass structure olfactometers.

[0043] ③ Plant survival time is extended The controlled environment of the plastic olfactometer allows plants to remain healthy for longer periods of time (up to 3 weeks) in experiments, whereas plants in glass olfactometers only survive 1-2 weeks under similar conditions.

[0044] The above results demonstrate the technical advantages of the present invention and provide quantitative evidence for its superiority over traditional designs.

[0045] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. For those skilled in the art, the present application may have various modifications and variations. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A plastic H-tube olfactometer for outdoor insect repellency and attractant evaluation, characterized in that: The invention comprises two bottom containers (1), two vertical circular tubes (2) and a horizontal tube (5), wherein the two vertical circular tubes (2) are connected to each other via the horizontal tube (5), the bottom container (1) is used to fix the test plant (3), the bottom end of the vertical circular tube (2) is open, the bottom end of the vertical circular tube (2) is connected to the bottom container (1), the vertical circular tube (2) is sleeved on the outside of the test plant (3), and the center of the horizontal tube (5) is provided with an inlet (4); The vertical circular tube (2) and the horizontal tube (5) are both made of transparent material.

2. A plastic H-tube olfactometer for outdoor insect repellency and attractant evaluation according to claim 1, characterized in that: A top cover (7) is provided at the top end of the vertical circular tube (2), a circular hole (8) is provided on the top cover (7), and the circular hole (8) is covered with a mesh.

3. A plastic H-tube olfactometer for outdoor insect repellency and attractant evaluation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The invention also comprises a microcentrifuge tube (6) containing a test chemical substance in the form of vapor, and the microcentrifuge tube (6) is attached to the bottom of the stem of the test plant (3).

4. A plastic H-tube olfactometer for outdoor insect repellency and attractivity evaluation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner surface of the vertical circular tube (2) is provided with an antistatic coating.

5. A plastic H-tube olfactometer for outdoor insect repellency and attractant evaluation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connection between the horizontal tube (5) and the vertical circular tube (2) is sealed with a silicone gasket.

6. A plastic H-tube olfactometer for outdoor insect repellency and attractant evaluation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The introduction port (4) is detachably connected to a cotton plug.

7. A plastic H-tube olfactometer for outdoor insect repellency and attractant evaluation according to claim 2, characterized in that: The top cover (7) is a snap-on polycarbonate cover.

8. A plastic H-tube olfactometer for outdoor insect repellency and attractant evaluation according to claim 2, characterized in that: The mesh is a plastic mesh with a mesh size of 0.5 mm.

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