Ant control based on pepper

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of a composition comprising white pepper for controlling ants.

Description

[0001] Ant control based on pepper

[0002] Pests, such as mosquitoes, flies, mites, cockroaches, and ticks are known to be a nuisance to mankind. Insects that may invade the human habitat are not only a nuisance, but also represent a health hazard.

[0003] Most of them are disease carriers and pose significant problems for man in both the economic and health care sectors. Accordingly, to kill and / or repel, i.e. control pests, insecticides are used in areas where the presence of these pests is not desired. Many efforts have been made to keep insects away from the human body and living spaces.

[0004] One typically and conventionally applied method of insect eradication is the use of insecticides. However, commercially available insecticides and / or repellents generally include active ingredients which are toxic to both the target pests and to the user especially if the insecticides are used in relatively confined environments and delivered as aerosol sprays.

[0005] In addition, it often occurs that in the human living space insects do not directly act on the body, but stay within the habitat, for example, in the premises or furnishings, equipment and inventory. In order to keep insects away, in particular for controlling and repelling insects, there is a need for a method that is both effective and easily applicable. Particularly advantageous are procedures that can be applied in a normal household and by means that are generally familiar and easy to use.

[0006] It has been found problematic to employ common insect controlling compounds in dispenser systems which have adequate long-lasting insect controlling properties. In particular, it has been observed that the use of insect controlling compounds in long lasting controlling commercial products often results in unsatisfactory insect controlling performance, e.g. the insect control effect diminishes shortly after use or does not reach a minimum efficacy required.

[0007] Therefore, it was an object of the present invention to provide an insect control composition, which can be used regularly and which has excellent insect control properties.

[0008] It has now been surprisingly found in the present invention that the use of pepper provides improved insect control properties for ants.

[0009] The present invention which is directed to the use of a composition comprising or consisting of pepper. This does also encompass the use of white pepper alone, i.e. without further additives. According to an aspect, the invention relates to the use of a composition comprising pepper for controlling insects.

[0010] According to preferred embodiment of the invention, the use of (white) pepper may be one or more of the following:

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment a surface treatment is employed. In this case the powder form of (white) pepper may be applied to surfaces, creating a barrier against crawling insects. Therefore, the surface treatment suitably combines with the improved efficacy of using white pepper for repelling ants.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the pepper is white pepper. White pepper is a type of spice that is derived from the berries of the pepper plant, Piper nigrum. It is obtained by removing the outer layer of the ripe pepper berries, known as the pericarp, leaving behind the inner seed. This process involves soaking the berries in water to loosen the outer skin, which is then mechanically or manually removed. The seeds are then dried, resulting in the production of white pepper. White pepper has a distinctive appearance, with its outer skin removed, revealing a light-colored seed underneath. The removal of the outer layer gives white pepper a milder flavor compared to black pepper. It also has a slightly different aroma and taste due to the absence of the pericarp.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the insects are crawling insects, in particular ants.

[0014] Crawling insects refer to a diverse group of insects that typically move by crawling or walking on multiple legs. They include various species and families with different characteristics and behaviors.

[0015] In the following some typical examples of crawling insects are given:

[0016] Ants are social insects known for their highly organized behavior and complex communication systems. They form colonies and work together to gather food and care fortheir young. Beetles, on the other hand, are the largest group of insects with over 350,000 known species. They are easily recognizable by their hard outer wing covers, called elytra, and possess a wide range of feeding habits and behaviors. Lasius ants are commonly referred to as "field ants" or "garden ants." They are known for their social behavior and the formation of large colonies. Lasius ants are typically small to medium-sized, ranging from 2 to 10 millimeters in length, depending on the species. They have a wide range of colors, including black, brown, yellow, or a combination thereof.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the crawling insects are ants. In particular, it was found that white pepper is highly effective in repelling ants. The term “controlling insects” is used in the context of the present invention in a meaning which comprises particularly “repelling” insects.

[0018] Accordingly, according to an aspect, the invention relates to a composition comprising or consisting of white pepper extract for repelling insects, in particular ants.

[0019] In particular, it was surprisingly shown that white pepper is sufficient for providing good ant repellent properties.

[0020] Experimental results:

[0021] Table 1 shows the repellence field test results for three different ants species:

[0022] Lasius neglectus, commonly known as the "neglected ant" or the "European pavement ant," is a species of ant that belongs to the family Formicidae. Lasius neglectus is known for its invasive behavior and is considered a significant pest species in some regions.

[0023] Tapinoma is a genus of ants that includes several species found in various parts of the world. These ants are commonly referred to as “acrobatic ants” or “slender ants” due to their agile and flexible movements.

[0024] Linepithema humile, commonly known as the Argentine ant, is a small, invasive ant species that is native to South America but has become a widespread pest in many parts of the world. The Argentine ant is known for its ability to form extremely large and interconnected colonies, which can outcompete native ant species and disrupt local ecosystems.

[0025] Table 1 :

[0026] White pepper powder, applied as a surface treatment at a rate of 4 mg / cm2, exhibited a high repellent effect in a field test against the three ant species: Lasius neglectus, Tapinoma sp., and Linepithema humile.

[0027] Furthermore, the white pepper powder demonstrated only residual properties in a choice test against Blattella germanica (C1). A surface treatment using white pepper powder at 2mg / cm2maintained its efficacy even after 1 month (p-value = 0.783). These findings highlight the potential of white pepper powder as a long-lasting and effective repellent option against various ant species. It furthermore, shows that the use of white pepper is particularly useful against the specific types of ants: Lasius neglectus, Tapinoma sp., and Linepithema humile. This holds in particular for a surface treatment which for the three given ant types show particularly good relative performance.

[0028] From the above, it follows that a surface treatment is advantageously employed, wherein the powder form of (white) pepper is applied to surfaces, creating a barrier against crawling insects. All, the surface treatment suitably combines with the excellent efficacy of using white pepper for repelling ants.

Claims

Claims1 . Use of a composition comprising pepper for controlling ants.

2. Use according to claim 1 wherein the pepper is white pepper.

3. Use according to any of the preceding claims wherein the composition is a powder composition.

4. Use according to one of the preceding claims wherein the composition is not directly applied to the insects.

5. Use according to one of the preceding claims wherein a surface treatment is employed.

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