Microbial repellent for clothing pests

Abstract

To provide a repellent which exhibits repellency to clothing pests and has high safety and a long-term effect, and a repellent method.SOLUTION: There are provided: a clothing pest repellent which includes, as a repellent component, a volatile substance emitted by microbes; and a clothing pest repelling method.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an insect repellent for clothing, which uses a volatile substance derived from a microorganism or a plant and has an excellent repellent effect for protecting clothing from feeding damage caused by insect pests such as burr moths, carp moths, kermit beetles, and kermit round beetles. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, paradichlorobenzene, naphthalene, camphor, pyrethroid compounds, etc. have been used as insect repellents for clothing. These sublimation insect repellents are primarily effective in repelling harmful insects, and have problems such as a peculiar irritating odor and some of them being toxic.

[0003] The present inventors have proposed using volatile substances produced by spore-forming microorganisms to inhibit mold growth, deodorize, attract mites, etc. (Patent Documents 1 to 5). By using spore-forming microorganisms, it is possible to achieve safe and long-term effects.

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2008-182906 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2016-149963 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2018-007661 [Patent Document 4] Patent Publication No. 2018-008945 [Patent Document 5] Patent application 2020-182010 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an insect repellent for clothing which is safer, has a repellent effect against insects harmful to clothing equivalent to that of sublimation insect repellents such as paradichlorobenzene, Empenthrin, and DEET, and has a long-lasting effect. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present inventors have found that volatile substances produced by spore-forming microorganisms can repel fabric pests, and have proposed the present invention, which is a novel insect repellent and insect control method that utilizes this finding.

[0007] The present invention provides a pest repellent and a method for repelling pests from clothing that utilizes microorganisms and volatile substances emitted by the microorganisms as repellent components. By using this, it is possible to prevent pests from entering dressers, closets, etc., and to prevent pest damage safely and sustainably.

[0008] The present invention is characterized by using a volatile substance emitted by a microorganism introduced into a repellent as a fabric pest repellent component. Among microorganisms, the genus Bacillus is preferably used, as it forms spores, survives for a long period of time, and is safe for the human body. The repellent component is continuously emitted by the microorganism, so its concentration in the air is low. Furthermore, the microorganisms themselves can be safe. For these reasons, an extremely safe fabric pest repellent can be provided. This fabric pest repellent is safe even if it comes into contact with the human body or is ingested. These microorganisms may be used alone or in combination of two or more species.

[0009] Spores are a state that microorganisms form in order to adapt to harsh environments where they cannot survive. In this state, the microorganism ceases activity and is able to survive dangerous conditions such as dryness, high temperatures, and low temperatures. When handling live microorganisms as commercial products, transportation and storage can be particularly problematic, but by utilizing this spore state, this problem can be solved and they can be easily managed.

[0010] The present inventors have conducted extensive research into microorganisms in a spore state and have confirmed that even in a spore state, microorganisms produce volatile substances, and have found that these can be used to obtain antibacterial agents and deodorizing agents that are persistently effective in a variety of environments.

[0011] The present invention utilizes the mechanism by which spore-forming microorganisms produce volatile substances to provide safe and sustained repelling of fabric pests. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The fabric pest repellent of the present invention uses volatile substances continuously emitted by microorganisms introduced into the repellent, and has a long-lasting and excellent repellent effect against fabric pests, thereby keeping fabric pests away from clothing and enabling a long-lasting pest repellent that is safe for humans. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0013] The microorganisms used in the present invention can also be used in the form of a microbial powder, which is prepared by drying the microorganisms while they are supported on a microbial carrier.

[0014] The microorganisms used here can be any that are not harmful to humans and produce volatile substances that repel fabric pests, and preferably those that can survive for a long period of time by forming spores or the like.

[0015] Bacillus microorganisms can survive for long periods in dry conditions by forming spores. A typical strain is the Bacillus subtilis species, and Bacillus subtilis (natto bacteria) is also included in this species.

[0016] The microorganism with accession number NITE P-02127, which is closely related to the genus Bacillus sporothermodurans, is a bacillus whose safety has been confirmed, and volatile substances have also been observed in the spore state.

[0017] The microorganisms are not limited to those mentioned above, and for example, Bacillus strains isolated from nature can also be used as appropriate.

[0018] The microorganisms used in the fabric pest repellent of the present invention may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds.

[0019] Here, the term "microbial carrier" refers to a material capable of retaining microorganisms. Specific examples include particulate carriers such as porous glass, porous silica, ceramics, metal oxides, activated carbon, kaolinite, bentonite, zeolite, silica gel, alumina, anthracite, and perlite; gel carriers such as starch, agar, chitin, chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol, alginic acid, polyacrylamide, carrageenan, agarose, and gelatin; ion-exchange resins, cellulose derivatives, glutaraldehyde, polyacrylic acid, and urethane polymers. Natural and synthetic polymeric compounds are also effective, including paper made from cellulose-based materials such as cotton, hemp, and pulp, as well as polymeric acetates modified from natural materials. Fabrics made from synthetic polymers such as polyester and polyurethane can also be used. These materials are preferred for their ability to support microorganisms and for their fine pores. Furthermore, it is more preferable to use fine materials that can easily penetrate during injection.

[0020] The fabric pest repellent of the present invention may contain other compounding ingredients such as fragrances.

[0021] The clothing pest repellent of the present invention utilizes volatile substances produced by microorganisms, but a synergistic effect can also be obtained by combining it with existing repellents that use repellent substances such as plant extracts, essential oils, and wood.

[0022] In particular, by combining it with a repellent that uses a substance with a high mite repellent effect, it is possible to create a repellent that can widely prevent damage not only from clothing pests but also from mites.

[0023] Examples of fabric pests that are the subject of the present invention include burr moths, rice moths, small cutworm beetles, and small cutworm beetles.

[0024] The clothing pest repellent of the present invention can be used in any place or on any object, including, for example, storage devices such as closets and shoe cabinets, kitchens, warehouses, floors, corridors, tatami mats, carpets, car seats, etc. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram of the experimental apparatus for the clothing pest repellent test.

[0026] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. Example 1

[0027] Microorganisms belonging to the genus Bacillus, for example, form spores when exposed to conditions unsuitable for survival, such as dryness, making them suitable for storage and resistant to drying and temperature changes. Utilizing this, a microbial spore powder can be produced by supporting a microbial culture solution on a porous material and then drying it to promote spore formation. 1 kg of perlite was used as a microbial carrier, and 2 L of microbial culture solution for the microorganisms used was impregnated into it. The carrier carrying the microorganisms was then placed under dry conditions at room temperature and dried to a moisture content of 10% or less, creating Microbial Powder 1. The microorganism used was the microbial strain NITE P-02127.

[0028] As shown in Figure 1, a vinyl tube measuring 20 mm in diameter and 200 mm in length was prepared, and 10 larvae of the fabric pest, the dung beetle, and 1 microbial powder placed in nonwoven fabric were placed inside. The end of the tube where the larvae were placed was covered with breathable nonwoven fabric, and the other end was covered with tape covered with absorbent cotton and to which bait had been attached. The tube was left to stand for 24 hours in a darkened environment at room temperature of approximately 25°C while maintaining ventilation. The position of the larvae inside the tube was then observed.

[0029] This test was conducted multiple times, and it was found that 6 to 10 out of 10 larvae of the lesser brown beetle gathered on the nonwoven fabric side of the outlet, away from the microbial powder, rather than on the attractant side, and almost none moved to the attractant side. This shows that microbial powder 1 has the power to repel clothing pests.

[0030] Next, a powder of plant essential oils supported on porous silica was mixed with the microbial powder 1 to prepare a microbial mixed powder. 1.0 g of this powder was enclosed in a nonwoven fabric.

[0031] The same test as shown in Figure 1 was conducted on this microbial mixed powder. Two species of fabric pest larvae were used: the small house beetle and the carp moth. A blank test was also conducted without the powder, and a control test was conducted using 0.5 g of perlite, which was used as the microbial carrier.

[0032] The location and number of clothing pests in each tube after 24 hours is summarized in the table below. The notation indicates the number of pests present in each location in the following order: outlet nonwoven fabric (A), inside the tube (B), surface of the test nonwoven fabric (C), attractant bait and surrounding absorbent cotton (D).

[0033] [Table 1]

[0034] As shown in Table 1, in the blank test and control test, clothing pests were attracted to the bait, but in the tube where the microbial mixed powder was placed, none reached the bait, and the majority moved to the nonwoven fabric side at the exit. This shows that the microbial mixed powder had the ability to repel clothing pests. [Industrial Applicability]

[0035] According to the present invention, when a fabric pest repellent using a carrier containing microorganisms is used, the volatile substances emitted by the microorganisms have a long-lasting and excellent repellent effect against fabric pests.

[0036] Therefore, the present invention can be used as a clothing pest repellent that can continuously repel clothing pests that invade chests, closets, etc.

[0037] Furthermore, by using a microbial strain with useful effects such as antibacterial and deodorizing properties, such as the microorganism with accession number NITE P-02127, it is possible to create a product that can simultaneously combat not only pests but also mold and bad odors.

Claims

1. A fabric pest repellent comprising a microorganism belonging to the genus Bacillus and having accession number NITE P-02127, and using a volatile substance emitted by the microorganism as a repellent component against fabric pests.

2. A method for repelling pests from clothing using the pest repellent for clothing described in claim 1.

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