Granular bait for small ants, granular poison bait for small ants, and a method for having small ants carry the bait or poison bait.

Abstract

To provide a granular bait for small ants that is highly portable to small ants and has excellent extermination effects on the entire ant nest. [Solution] A granular bait for small ants containing an attractant component, The granule size is 0.5 mm or more and less than 1.0 mm. The granule length is 3 mm or more and less than 5 mm. Granular bait for small ants.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a granular food agent for small ants, a granular bait agent for small ants, and a method for transporting a food agent or a bait agent to small ants.

Background Art

[0002] Previously, the damage and complaints caused by ants invading homes have been increasing, and ants have been targeted for extermination as one of the main nuisance pests. Furthermore, in recent years, Argentine ants and pharaoh ants, which are specific alien organisms, have invaded the country, and there are concerns about their impact on the ecosystem. Therefore, various extermination methods for dealing with these ants have been studied.

[0003] First, there is a method of directly exterminating ants using sprays or aerosols containing insecticidal components. This method is immediate and can quickly exterminate visible ants. However, although it is suitable for directly treating individual ants, it is not suitable for exterminating the entire ant nest and has not reached a fundamental solution.

[0004] Second, there is a method of using a repellent to prevent ants from approaching. This is considered effective as a preventive measure because by applying a repellent to the human body, entrances and exits of houses, and their surroundings, an environment where ants are less likely to invade can be created, and ant invasion can be prevented. However, it is preventive and has problems as a fundamental solution.

[0005] The third method involves using bait or poison bait. The purpose of these baits is to have ants eat them or carry them back to their nest to eradicate the entire colony. This method is highly efficient because it effectively utilizes the exchange of nutrients and grooming among ants to spread the effect throughout the entire ant colony. Therefore, research has been conducted on the formulation and properties of baits and poison baits, including attractant components, to make them appealing to ants. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a solid ant bait containing an insecticide and bait composition, and Patent Document 2 discloses an ant control agent that is particularly effective against fire ants among ant species. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication 2012-509854 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-064982 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] The three methods described above each have their own advantages and disadvantages, and it is important to use them appropriately depending on the purpose and situation. Among these, methods using bait or poison bait can eradicate the entire nest, and are therefore expected to be a means of a fundamental solution. For this reason, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, research and improvements are being made to attractant components and formulations in order to further enhance the eradication effect of bait or poison bait. However, while the portability of bait or poison bait is an important factor in eradicating ant nests, sufficient studies focusing on this portability have not been conducted.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to provide a granular bait or granular poison bait for small ants that has excellent portability for ants, especially small ants, and has excellent extermination effect on the entire ant nest. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] As a result of diligent research, the inventors have found that by creating a granular bait or granular poison bait having a predetermined granule size and granule length, it exhibits excellent transportability, especially for small ants.

[0010] In other words, the present invention relates to the following (1) to (7). (1) A granular bait for small ants containing an attractant ingredient, The granule size is 0.5 mm or more and less than 1.0 mm. The granule length is 3 mm or more and less than 5 mm. Granular bait for small ants. (2) The aforementioned small ant is an Argentine ant. The granular bait for small ants as described in (1) above. (3) The granules are cylindrical. The granular bait for small ants as described in (1) or (2) above. (4) A granular poison bait for small ants, comprising the granular bait for small ants described in (1) above, further containing an insecticide component. (5) The aforementioned pest control component is at least one of fipronil and hydramethylnon. The granular poison bait for small ants as described in (4) above. (6) A method of having small ants carry the granular bait for small ants described in (1) above. (7) A method of having small ants carry the poison bait using the granular poison bait for small ants described in (4) above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The bait or poison bait of the present invention exhibits excellent transportability to small ants. This allows for the efficient collapse of the entire ant nest, making it possible to completely eradicate the ants.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a test vat and a schematic diagram thereof used in Test Example 1 and Test Example 2. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows the result of the number of transported diet agents in Test Example 1. [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A shows the percentage (%) of the number of transported granules (pieces) when the case of a granule diameter of 1 mm, which is the result of the transport of the diet agent in the experimental system using Argentine ants in Test Example 2, is set to 100. [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B shows the percentage (%) of the total mass (g) of the transported granules when the case of a granule diameter of 1 mm, which is the result of the transport of the diet agent in the experimental system using Argentine ants in Test Example 2, is set to 100. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A shows the percentage of the number of transported granules (pieces) when the case of a granule diameter of 1 mm, which is the result of the transport of the diet agent in the experimental system using red imported fire ants in Test Example 2, is set to 100. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B shows the percentage (%) of the total mass (g) of the transported granules when the case of a granule diameter of 1 mm, which is the result of the transport of the diet agent in the experimental system using red imported fire ants in Test Example 2, is set to 100. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows a test vat and a schematic diagram thereof used in Test Example 3.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail, but these show an example of a preferred embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to these contents. The "~" of a numerical range means a range including the numerical values before and after it. For example, "0 mass% ~ 100 mass%" means a range that is 0 mass% or more and 100 mass% or less.

[0014] [Diet Agent and Poison Bait Agent] The bait of this embodiment is a granular bait for small ants containing an attractant component, The granule size is 0.5 mm or more and less than 1.0 mm. The granule length is 3 mm or more and less than 5 mm. This is a granular bait for small ants.

[0015] The poison bait of this embodiment is a granular poison bait for small ants, which further contains an insecticide component in addition to the bait of this embodiment. The poison bait of this embodiment preferably contains an insecticidal component within the bait itself, and preferably has the same granule size and granule length as defined for the bait of this embodiment.

[0016] Because the granular bait and poison bait of this embodiment are granular in size and length that satisfy the above-mentioned granular particle size and length, they can be carried by small ants much more easily than granular bait and poison bait that do not satisfy the above-mentioned granular particle size and length. This is thought to be because granular bait and poison bait that satisfy the above-mentioned granular particle size and length are of a size and shape that is easy for small ants to carry. In this specification, "carryability" is a concept that encompasses not only the number of granules carried by ants, but also the total mass of the granules carried. In order to eradicate an entire ant nest, it is considered important not only to consider the number of granular bait or granular poison baits carried, but also to consider the total mass of the granular bait or granular poison baits carried.

[0017] In this specification, "small ants" refers to ants whose worker body length is 3 mm or less. Examples of small ants include, but are not limited to, Argentine ants, fire ants, pharaoh ants, small brown ants, and brown ants.

[0018] The bait and poison bait of this embodiment are in granular form. Small ants tend not to carry powdered bait. Examples of granules include cylindrical, elliptical, oblate, oblong, and triangular prism shapes, but cylindrical is preferred because it is easy for small ants to transport.

[0019] The bait and poison bait of this embodiment have a granule size of 0.5 mm or more and less than 1.0 mm. More preferably, the granule size is 0.6 mm or more, even more preferably 0.7 mm or more, even more preferably 0.9 mm or less, even more preferably 0.85 mm or less, and particularly preferably 0.8 mm or less. By satisfying the above values ​​for granule size, the carrying capacity of small ants is improved. As shown in Test Example 2 (Tables 3 and 4) described later, when the granule size reaches 1.0 mm, the number of granules carried and the total mass begin to decrease, and when it reaches 1.2 mm or more, they decrease significantly. Therefore, it is important that the granule size is less than 1.0 mm. From the viewpoint of further increasing the total mass carried, the granule size is preferably around 0.8 mm, for example, preferably 0.6 mm or more and 0.9 mm or less, and even more preferably 0.7 mm or more and 0.85 mm or less.

[0020] The granular size of the granular food and granular poison bait of this embodiment can be measured using a microscope, calipers, or the like. For example, when the granular food and granular poison bait of this embodiment are cylindrical, the granular size refers to the diameter of the circle at the base of the cylinder. When the granular food and granular poison bait of this embodiment are elliptical, the granular size is the length of the minor axis of the ellipse at the base of the elliptical. When the granular food and granular poison bait of this embodiment are oblate spheres, the granular size is the length of the minor axis which is the axis of rotation. When the granular food and granular poison bait of this embodiment are oblate spheres, the granular size is the length of the minor axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation. When the granular food and granular poison bait of this embodiment are triangular prisms, the granular size is the shortest side of the triangle at the base.

[0021] The bait and poison bait of this embodiment have a granule length of 3 mm or more and less than 5 mm. If the granule length is 5 mm or more, the number of granules carried by small ants and the total mass carried will decrease significantly. Therefore, it is important that the granule length is less than 5 mm, preferably 4.5 mm or less. Also, if the granule length is too short, the amount that small ants can carry at one time will decrease, or it may become difficult for small ants to grasp the granules, so it is important that the granule length is 3 mm or more, preferably 3.5 mm or more, and more preferably 4 mm or more.

[0022] The granule length of the granular bait and granular poison bait of this embodiment can be measured using a microscope, calipers, or the like. For example, when the granular bait and granular poison bait of this embodiment are cylindrical, the granule length refers to the height of the cylinder in a direction perpendicular to the base circle. When the granular bait and granular poison bait of this embodiment are elliptical, the granule length refers to the height of the elliptical in a direction perpendicular to the base ellipse. When the granular bait and granular poison bait of this embodiment are oblate spheres, the granule length refers to the length of the major axis in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. When the granular bait and granular poison bait of this embodiment are oblate spheres, the granule size refers to the length of the major axis which is the axis of rotation. When the granular bait and granular poison bait of this embodiment are triangular prisms, the granule length refers to the height of the triangular prism in a direction perpendicular to the base triangle.

[0023] The mass per granule of the bait and poison bait in this embodiment is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 mg or more, more preferably 0.2 mg or more, preferably 1 mg or less, and more preferably 0.9 mg or less. By satisfying the above-mentioned values ​​for the mass per granule, the transportability by small ants is improved.

[0024] (Attractant component) The bait and poison bait of this embodiment contain an attractant component. Examples of the attractant component include animal protein-containing substances, oils, grains, sugars, and the like.

[0025] Animal protein refers to protein whose origin is derived from animals. Animal protein includes, for example, proteins derived from animal foods such as fish and shellfish (a general term for aquatic animals), poultry and game meat, dairy products, and insects. Examples of fish and shellfish include mollusks (e.g., shellfish, squid, octopus), arthropods (e.g., shrimp, crab, krill, pupae), cnidarians (e.g., jellyfish), echinoderms (e.g., sea urchins, sea cucumbers), protochordates (e.g., sea squirts), and fish. An animal protein-containing product may contain animal protein derived from one or more types of animal foods. The animal protein-containing product may be the animal food itself or a processed product of the animal food. Examples of methods for processing animal foods include roasting, drying, smoking, kneading, and heating. In the following test examples, powdered bird and animal meat was used as the animal protein attractant, but the present invention is not limited to this. Other animal proteins may be used as long as they have sufficient attractiveness and palatability to target pests such as Argentine ants, and even when such proteins are used, the excellent transportability exhibited by the specific granule shape of the present invention will be similarly demonstrated.

[0026] The oil may be, for example, vegetable oil, animal oil, or a mixture thereof. Examples of oils include vegetable oils such as soybean oil, rapeseed oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, sunflower oil, rice oil, grapeseed oil, perilla oil, linseed oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, corn oil, and castor oil; animal oils such as butter, lard, beef tallow, pork fat, horse oil, and fish oil; and margarine, fat spreads, and shortening. From the viewpoint of further improving the attractant effect, the oil may be vegetable oil, and may be soybean oil or rapeseed oil.

[0027] Examples of grains include wheat flour, corn starch, and potato starch. Examples of sugars include granulated sugar, honey, maltose, sorbitol, fructose, and trehalose. Furthermore, flavorings such as milk and onion may be added to the bait and poison bait of this embodiment. These may be used individually or in combination.

[0028] The amount of attractant components in the bait and poison bait of this embodiment may be set appropriately depending on the type of attractant component. The amount of attractant components may be, for example, 0.1% to 50% by mass, preferably 2% to 20% by mass, based on the total amount of the bait and poison bait of this embodiment.

[0029] (Pest control ingredients) The poison bait of this embodiment contains an insecticidal component. The insecticidal component can be any component capable of killing ants, such as hydramethylnon, fipronil, dinotefuran, sulfuramide, tralomesrin, permethrin, resmethrin, transfluthrin, etofenprox, boric acid, borax, propoxur, methoxadiazone, etc. Other known insecticidal components can also be used, such as pyrethroid compounds, carbamate compounds, organophosphorus compounds, insect growth regulators (IGRs), inorganic substances with insecticidal properties, surfactants, and biopesticides (BT agents, etc.). These may be used alone or in combination as long as they do not hinder the objective of the present invention. The insecticidal component is preferably one that has excellent slow-acting properties.

[0030] The amount of pest control component in the poison bait of this embodiment may be set appropriately depending on the type of pest control component. The amount of pest control component may be, for example, 0.0001% to 60% by mass, preferably 0.0001% to 10% by mass, based on the total amount of the poison bait of this embodiment. For example, if the pest control component is hydramethylnon, the amount of pest control component may be 0.3% to 3% by mass, more preferably 0.5% to 1.5% by mass, based on the total amount of the ant poison bait. If the pest control component is fipronil, the amount of pest control component may be 0.0001% to 0.1% by mass, more preferably 0.0005% to 0.005% by mass, based on the total amount of the ant poison bait. Fipronil, like hydramethylnon, is a well-known active ingredient in ant bait, and when added in trace amounts as described above, it does not affect the physical properties of the granules (granule size, granule length) or the transportability by small ants (repellency, etc.), similar to the case of hydramethylnon shown in Test Examples 5 and 6 below.

[0031] (Other ingredients) The bait and poison bait of this embodiment may contain other known components in addition to the components described above, as necessary. Other known components may include excipients, binders, lubricants, antioxidants, ingestion deterrents, solvents, preservatives, synergists, surfactants, defoamers, fragrances, colorants, pH adjusters, and the like.

[0032] Examples of excipients include powdered sugar, corn starch, agar, gelatin, carrageenan, locust bean gum, white carbon, diatomaceous earth, crystalline cellulose, clay, kaolin, talc, bentonite, silica, carboxymethylcellulose, paraffin, polyethylene glycol, styrene resin, and silicone resin.

[0033] Examples of binders include cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethylcellulose, starch, and carrageenan.

[0034] Examples of lubricants include anhydrous silicic acid such as white carbon, magnesium stearate, and macrogol.

[0035] Examples of antioxidants include erythorbic acid, sodium erythorbate, dibutylhydroxytoluene, dl-α-tocopherol, butylhydroxyanisole, and propyl gallate.

[0036] Examples of ingestion deterrents include denatonium benzoate and chili pepper powder.

[0037] Examples of solvents include water, isopropyl alcohol, alcohols such as ethanol and glycerin, glycols such as propylene glycol and ethylene glycol, and paraffins.

[0038] [Manufacturing method] The manufacturing method for the bait and poison bait of this embodiment employs known methods, such as mixing the raw material components and then forming them by extrusion or granulation. The granule size and granule length of the bait and poison bait of this embodiment can be adjusted, for example, by the screen pore size and cutting interval during granulation.

[0039] [Method for having small ants carry bait and poison bait] The method for having small ants carry the bait in this embodiment uses the granular bait for small ants described above. Similarly, the method for having small ants carry the poison bait in this embodiment uses the granular poison bait for small ants described above. The granular bait and granular poison bait for small ants described above have higher transportability by small ants compared to other poison baits. [Examples]

[0040] The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples unless it exceeds the gist of the invention.

[0041] (Preparation of food supplements) The feed was prepared by thoroughly stirring and mixing each component according to the formulations shown in Table 1. The granule size and granule length of the feed were adjusted by changing the screen pore size and cutting interval during granulation to achieve the sizes described in the test examples below. As animal protein, powdered poultry meat was used.

[0042] [Table 1]

[0043] Furthermore, since Test Examples 1-4, described later, were intended to evaluate the transportability by small ants, the bait used in Test Examples 1-4 did not contain any pest control ingredients, as shown in Table 1.

[0044] [Test Example 1: Confirmation of the relationship between granule length and transportability (Single-installation transportability confirmation test)] Test Example 1 was conducted to confirm the effect of granule length on transportability. The test was conducted in a laboratory within the research institute of Earth Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (approximately 25°C, approximately 50% RH). The test subjects were either Argentine ants (worker ants approximately 2.5 mm in length, fasted for 3 days) or brown ants (worker ants approximately 2.5 mm in length, fasted for 1 day). Granular feed formulations with a particle size of 1 mm, prepared according to the formulations listed in Table 1, were cut into granule lengths of 3 mm to less than 5 mm, 5 mm to less than 10 mm, 10 mm to less than 15 mm, or 15 mm to less than 20 mm. The feed formulations were then sorted by granule length and used in the tests. For reference, powdered feed formulations were also prepared and used in the tests.

[0045] As shown in Figure 1, a paper shelter 2 was placed inside a plastic test tub 1 measuring 30 cm long x 20 cm wide x 10 cm high. The shelter 2 had an opening 3 through which ants could enter and exit, and inside the shelter 2 was placed a plastic container filled with water-soaked cotton wool (not shown in the figure).

[0046] One hundred Argentine ants or brown ants were released into a test tub, and as shown in Figure 1, a container 5 containing a sufficient amount (approximately 0.5 g) of bait 4 (food agent) was placed in test tub 1, 20 cm away from shelter 2. After one night, the transport of the bait agent by the Argentine ants or brown ants was observed.

[0047] The results of the food transport are shown in Table 2 and Figure 2.

[0048] [Table 2]

[0049] From this, it was found that in both the small ant species Argentine ant and the brown ant, when the granule size was 1 mm, the number of granules transported by the food with a granule length of 3 mm or more but less than 5 mm was significantly higher.

[0050] [Test Example 2: Confirmation of the relationship between granule size and transportability (Single-unit transportability confirmation test)] Test Example 2 was conducted to confirm the effect of granule size on transportability. The test was conducted in a laboratory within the research institute of Earth Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (approximately 25°C, approximately 50% RH). The test subjects were either Argentine ants (worker ants approximately 2.5 mm in length, fasted for 3 days) or brown ants (worker ants approximately 2.5 mm in length, fasted for 1 day). Granular feed preparations with particle sizes of 0.5 mm, 0.8 mm, 1 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.7 mm, or 2.5 mm, prepared according to the formulations listed in Table 1, were cut to a granule length of 3 mm or more and less than 5 mm, and used in the test.

[0051] Similar to Test Example 1, as shown in Figure 1, a paper shelter 2 was placed in a plastic test tub 1 measuring 30 cm long x 20 cm wide x 10 cm high. The shelter 2 had an opening 3 through which ants could enter and exit, and inside the shelter 2 was placed a plastic container filled with water-soaked cotton wool (not shown in the figure).

[0052] One hundred Argentine ants or brown ants were released into a test tub, and as shown in Figure 1, a container 5 containing a sufficient amount (approximately 0.5 g) of bait 4 (food agent) was placed in test tub 1, 20 cm away from shelter 2. After one night, the transport of the bait agent by the Argentine ants or brown ants was observed.

[0053] The results of food transport by Argentine ants are shown in Table 3, Figure 3A, and Figure 3B. Figure 3A shows the percentage of the number of granules transported (units) when the granule size is 1 mm (set as 100), and Figure 3B shows the percentage of the total mass (g) of transported granules (units) when the granule size is 1 mm (set as 100). The results of food transport by the brown ant are shown in Table 4, Figure 4A, and Figure 4B. Figure 4A shows the percentage of the number of transported granules (units) when the granule size is 1 mm, and Figure 4B shows the percentage of the total mass (g) of transported granules (units) when the granule size is 1 mm, both of which are set to 100. Note that in Tables 3 and 4, the surface area and volume are values ​​assumed to be 4 mm in length for all dietary supplements.

[0054] [Table 3]

[0055] [Table 4]

[0056] As shown in Table 3, Figure 3A, Table 4, and Figure 4A, in both the Argentine ant and the brown ant, the number of transported granules increased with decreasing granule size, with particularly high results observed when the granule size was between 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm. Furthermore, as shown in Table 3, Figure 3B, Table 4, and Figure 4B, in both cases using Argentine ants and brown ants, the total mass of transported granules was greatest when the granule size was 0.8 mm. The mass per granule varies depending on the granule size, granule length, and density of the constituent components. In Table 3, the mass of granules with a particle size of 0.5 mm, which had high transportability, was approximately 0.26 mg (calculated value), and the mass of granules with a particle size of 0.8 mm was approximately 0.77 mg (calculated value). On the other hand, the mass of granules with a particle size of 1.0 mm, where transportability begins to decrease, was approximately 1.11 mg (calculated value). These results also show that, as mentioned above, a mass of 1 mg or less per granule, and especially 0.9 mg or less, is preferable from the viewpoint of transportability.

[0057] [Test Example 3: Comparative Test of Side-by-Side Transportability] In Test Example 2, it was observed that smaller granule sizes tended to be more easily transported by smaller ants. Therefore, we investigated whether a significant difference in transportability would occur even when the difference in granule size was small, and whether two types of granules with different sizes were placed to determine which type of granule was transported more.

[0058] The test was conducted in a laboratory within the research institute of Earth Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (approximately 25°C, approximately 50% RH). The test subjects were Argentine ants (worker ants: body length: approximately 2.5 mm, fasted for 3 days), brown wrinkled ants (worker ants: body length: approximately 2.5 mm, fasted for 1 day), or black garden ants (worker ants: body length: approximately 5 mm, fasted for 3 days). Granular feed formulations with particle sizes of 0.5 mm, 0.8 mm, 1.0 mm, or 1.2 mm, prepared according to the formulations listed in Table 1, were cut to a granule length of 3 mm or more and less than 5 mm, and used in the tests. In Test Example 3, four types of tests were conducted for each ant species: tests using feed formulations with particle sizes of 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm, tests using feed formulations with particle sizes of 0.8 mm and 1.0 mm, tests using feed formulations with particle sizes of 1.2 mm and 1.0 mm, and tests using feed formulations with particle sizes of 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm.

[0059] As shown in Figure 5, a paper shelter 2 was placed in a plastic test tub 1 measuring 30 cm long x 20 cm wide x 10 cm high. The shelter 2 had an opening 3 through which ants could enter and exit, and inside the shelter 2 was placed a plastic container filled with water-soaked cotton wool (not shown in the figure). Then, 100 Argentine ants or brown ants were released into the test tub 1 and allowed to settle in the shelter 2. Next, a sufficient amount (approximately 0.5g) of feed 4 (food agent) was placed in container 5. Then, two containers 5 were prepared, each containing a sufficient amount (approximately 0.5g) of one of the feed agents to be compared, and two containers 5 were prepared, each containing a sufficient amount (approximately 0.5g) of the other feed agent 4 (food agent). In the test bat 1, the two containers containing one of the feed agents 4 (food agent) to be compared were placed on one diagonal, and the two containers containing the other feed agent 4 (food agent) were placed on the other diagonal (see Figure 5). For example, in the case of "Φ0.5 vs Φ1.0" as described in Table 5, two containers 5 were prepared, each containing a sufficient amount (approximately 0.5g) of feed agent with a granule size of 0.5mm, and two containers 5 were prepared, each containing a sufficient amount (approximately 0.5g) of feed agent with a granule size of 1.0mm. Two containers containing food with granules of 0.5 mm were placed on one diagonal, and two containers containing food with granules of 1.0 mm were placed on the other diagonal. After one night, the number of granules removed from the containers was measured.

[0060] The results of tests using Argentine ants or brown ants are shown in Table 5.

[0061] [Table 5]

[0062] The term "AvsB" (where A and B are granule size) in the leftmost column of Table 5 refers to an experimental setup in which a diet with granule size A and a diet with granule size B are placed simultaneously in the testing facility. The numbers listed in the same row as "AvsB" indicate the number of diets of each granule size transported in that experimental setup. For example, in the same line as "Φ0.5 vsΦ1.0", it states that the number of Argentine ants carried was 3450 granules of 0.5 mm food and 5 granules of 1.0 mm food. Based on the results shown in Table 5, Table 6 shows the ratio of the number of granules of each food size carried by Argentine ants, and Table 7 shows the ratio of the number of granules of each food size carried by brown ants.

[0063] [Table 6]

[0064] [Table 7]

[0065] In Tables 6 and 7, ○, ●, and - have the following meanings. • 〇: Indicates that more of the dietary supplement with the granular size listed in the leftmost cell of the same row as the cell containing 〇 was transported than the dietary supplement with the granular size listed in the topmost cell of the same column as the cell containing 〇. • ●: Indicates that less of the dietary supplement with the granular size listed in the leftmost cell of the same row as the cell containing ● was transported than the dietary supplement with the granular size listed in the topmost cell of the same column as the cell containing ●. ·-: Indicates that no test has been conducted.

[0066] Tables 5-7 show that both Argentine ants and brown ants carried the most granules of food with a particle size of 0.5 mm, followed by granules with a particle size of 0.8 mm. This difference in the number of granules carried was more pronounced in Argentine ants.

[0067] [Test Example 4: Comparative Test of Side-by-Side Transportability in the Field] Because the habitat of ants differs between the laboratory and the field, the same test results cannot always be obtained. Therefore, to confirm whether the results obtained in laboratory tests can be reproduced in field tests, we conducted Test Example 4.

[0068] (Tests using Argentine ants) The test location was a green space in Kobe City (around 2 PM on July 19, 2024, approximately 32°C, approximately 70% RH, sunny). The Argentine ant (worker ant body length: approximately 2.5 mm) was used as the test insect. Granular feed formulations with particle sizes of 0.5 mm, 0.8 mm, 1 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.7 mm, or 2.5 mm, manufactured according to the formulations listed in Table 1, were cut to a granule length of 3 mm or more and less than 5 mm, and used in the tests. Tests were conducted using two types of feed formulations with different granule sizes, and the amount of each granule size transported was compared. One container was prepared containing approximately 200 granules of a single type of food. Another container was prepared containing approximately 200 granules of a different type of food. The two containers were placed symmetrically with respect to the Argentine ant trail.

[0069] Table 8 shows a comparison of the number of items transported by Argentine ants.

[0070] [Table 8]

[0071] The meanings of ○, ●, and - in Table 8 are the same as their meanings in Tables 6 and 7.

[0072] Even small differences in granule size, such as comparing 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm, or 0.8 mm and 1 mm, were clearly observed, with smaller granule sizes being transported in greater quantities. Visual observation revealed that Argentine ants lifted the granules and transported them faster with smaller granule sizes.

[0073] Test results from both laboratory and field studies showed that Argentine ants preferentially transport food particles with small particle sizes.

[0074] (Test using the brown ant) The test location was a green space in Akaho City (around 1:00 PM on August 8, 2024, approximately 34°C, approximately 50% RH, sunny). The test insect used was the brown ant (worker ant body length: approximately 2.5 mm). Granular feed formulations with particle sizes of 0.5 mm, 0.8 mm, 1 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.7 mm, or 2.5 mm, manufactured according to the formulations listed in Table 1, were cut to a granule length of 3 mm or more and less than 5 mm, and used in the tests. Tests were conducted using two types of feed formulations with different granule sizes, and the amount of each granule size transported was compared. One container was prepared containing approximately 200 granules of a single type of food. Another container was prepared containing approximately 200 granules of a different type of food. The two containers were placed symmetrically with respect to the trail of brown ants.

[0075] Table 9 shows the results of a comparison of the number of eggs transported by the brown ant.

[0076] [Table 9]

[0077] The meanings of ○, ●, and - in Table 9 are the same as their meanings in Tables 6 and 7.

[0078] When using the brown ant (Lasius nigricans), the selectivity tended to be slightly inferior to that of the Argentine ant in the laboratory test (Test Example 3), but in the field test (Test Example 4), it showed selectivity comparable to that of the Argentine ant. Even small differences, such as comparing granule sizes of 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm, or 0.8 mm and 1 mm, showed that the smaller granule size of the dietary supplement was transported in significantly greater quantities.

[0079] Test results from both laboratory and field studies showed that Argentine ants preferentially transport food with small granule particles.

[0080] (Experiment using black garden ants) Since we were unable to confirm the transport of food by the black garden ant in the laboratory test under the same conditions as in Test Example 3, we considered it necessary to conduct tests in an environment where larvae and queen ants are present, and this was confirmed in the field test in Test Example 4.

[0081] The test location was Ako City Green Space (around 2 PM on June 27, 2024, approximately 24°C, approximately 75% RH, sunny). The test insect used was the black garden ant (worker ant body length: approximately 5 mm). Granular feed formulations with particle sizes of 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 1.7 mm, or 2.5 mm, manufactured according to the formulations listed in Table 1, were cut to a length of 3 mm or more and less than 5 mm, and used in the tests. Tests were conducted using two types of feed formulations with different particle sizes, and the amount of each particle size transported was compared. One container was prepared containing approximately 200 granules of one type of food. Another container was prepared containing approximately 200 granules of a different type of food. The two containers were placed in the center of two black garden ant nests.

[0082] Table 10 shows the results of a comparison of the number of items transported by black garden ants.

[0083] [Table 10]

[0084] The meanings of ○, ●, and - in Table 10 are the same as their meanings in Tables 6 and 7.

[0085] As shown in Table 10, black garden ants did not preferentially transport food with small granule particles, but rather tended to preferentially transport food with larger granule particles.

[0086] (Test Example 4: Summary) In Experimental Example 4, Argentine ants and brown ants showed a preference for transporting food with small granules, while black garden ants tended to preferentially transport food with large granules.

[0087] This suggests that small ants such as Argentine ants and brown ants have weak jaw and leg strength, and are therefore only able to transport small granules, while medium-sized ants like black garden ants (about 5 mm) can transport small granules as well, but may prioritize efficiency and transport larger granules.

[0088] [Test Example 5: Confirmation of the effect of adding pest control ingredients on transportability (Single-installation transportability confirmation test)] In Test Examples 1-4, the transportability was evaluated using bait that did not contain pest control ingredients. Therefore, to confirm whether the addition of pest control ingredients affects the amount transported by small ants (Argentine ants) (e.g., repellency), a transportability test was conducted using single-plant setups.

[0089] (Preparation of baits and poisons) A bait formulation (as described in Table 1; hereinafter referred to as "bait formulation") was prepared with a granule size of 0.8 mm and a granule length of 3 mm or more but less than 5 mm. Separately, a poison bait formulation (hereinafter referred to as "poison bait") was prepared by adding 0.9% by mass of hydramethylnon as the pest control ingredient to the bait formulation as described in Table 11, and adjusting it to the same granule size and length. As animal protein, powdered bird and game meat was used. [Table 11]

[0090] The test was conducted in a laboratory within the research institute of Earth Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (approximately 25°C, approximately 50% RH). Argentine ants (worker ants approximately 2.5 mm in length, fasted for 2 days) were used as test subjects. As described above, both bait and poison bait were used in the tests.

[0091] Similar to Test Example 1, as shown in Figure 1, a paper shelter 2 was placed in a plastic test tub 1 measuring 30 cm long x 20 cm wide x 10 cm high. The shelter 2 had an opening 3 through which ants could enter and exit, and inside the shelter 2 was placed a plastic container filled with water-soaked cotton wool (not shown in the figure).

[0092] One hundred Argentine ants were released into a test tub, and as shown in Figure 1, a container 5 containing a sufficient amount (approximately 0.5 g) of bait 4 (food or poison bait) was placed in test tub 1, 20 cm away from shelter 2. After 6 hours, the ants observed how the ants transported the food or poison bait when it was placed alone. The experiment was conducted twice (N=2).

[0093] The results of transporting bait or poison bait (N=2 mean) are shown in Table 12.

[0094] [Table 12]

[0095] This revealed that even when poison bait containing pest control ingredients is placed alone, it does not exhibit repellency and, like bait without pest control ingredients, a large amount of granules are transported.

[0096] [Test Example 6: Confirmation of the effect of adding pest control ingredients on transportability (parallel transport comparison test)] In Test Example 5, even poison bait containing pest control ingredients did not exhibit repellency, and a tendency toward good transportability was observed. Therefore, we investigated the transportability of two types of bait placed side by side: one without pest control ingredients and one containing pest control ingredients.

[0097] The test was conducted in a laboratory within the research institute of Earth Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (approximately 25°C, approximately 50% RH). Argentine ants (worker ants approximately 2.5 mm in length, fasted for 2 days) were used as test subjects. As described above, both bait and poison bait were used in the tests.

[0098] As shown in Figure 5, a paper shelter 2 was placed in a plastic test tub 1 measuring 30 cm long x 20 cm wide x 10 cm high. The shelter 2 had an opening 3 through which ants could enter and exit, and inside the shelter 2 was placed a plastic container filled with water-soaked cotton wool (not shown in the figure). Then, 100 Argentine ants were released into the test tub 1 and allowed to settle in the shelter 2. Next, a sufficient amount (approximately 0.5g) of bait 4 (either food or poison bait) was placed in container 5. The two containers containing food bait and the two containers containing poison bait were placed diagonally in test tray 1. After 6 hours, the number of granules removed from the containers was measured.

[0099] The results of transporting bait and poison bait (N=2 mean) are shown in Table 13.

[0100] [Table 13]

[0101] As a result, when two types of bait—one without pest control ingredients and one containing pest control ingredients—were placed side by side, no significant difference was observed in the number or volume of bait transported between the two.

[0102] (Example Tests 5 and 6: Summary) The results of Test Example 5 (Individual Placement and Transportability Confirmation Test) and Test Example 6 (Parallel Placement and Transport Comparison Test) clearly showed that the addition of pest control components did not inhibit the overall transport behavior of small ants, nor did it induce repellent behavior. Therefore, it was confirmed that the results of Test Examples 1-4, which evaluated the effects of granule size and granule length using bait without pest control components, are similarly effective even with poison bait containing pest control components. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0103] 1 Test Bat 2 Shelters 3 Opening 4. Feed 5 containers

Claims

1. A granular bait for small ants containing an attractant ingredient, The granule size is 0.5 mm or more and less than 1.0 mm. The granule length is 3 mm or more and less than 5 mm. Granular bait for small ants.

2. The aforementioned small ant is an Argentine ant. The granular bait for small ants according to claim 1.

3. The granules are cylindrical. The granular bait for small ants according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A granular poison bait for small ants, comprising the granular bait for small ants described in claim 1, further containing an insecticide component.

5. The aforementioned pest control component is at least one of fipronil and hydramethylnon. The granular poison bait for small ants according to claim 4.

6. A method for having small ants carry a granular bait for small ants, using the granular bait for small ants described in claim 1.

7. A method for having small ants carry a granular poison bait for small ants using the granular poison bait for small ants described in claim 4.

Images