Acetate Mating Disruptant Timing for Pink Bollworm Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mating disruption methods face challenges in achieving effective pest control at high insect densities, particularly with the pink bollworm, and suffer from significant loss of active components when controlling multiple insect pests with different emergence times, due to temperature dependence and difficulties in applying pheromone formulations on tall cotton trees.
Innovation Solution
A mating disruption method involving the targeted use of a mating disruptant with increased alcohol content, specifically comprising acetates and alcohols derived from acetates, applied after the first generation's mating and oviposition are complete and before the second generation emerges, reducing release loss and enhancing control efficacy, especially for insect pests like the pink bollworm and other species with varying emergence times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mating disruptant is used from the first generation to control pest population, then the control effect is improved for subsequent generations, but the release amount is lost due to the long emergence period of the first generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using a mating disruptant with increased alcohol content specifically against the first generation, which has a longer emergence period. This preliminary intervention ensures that the disruptant is deployed when needed most, before the pest population reaches high density in subsequent generations, thereby preventing loss of release amount while maintaining control effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of alcohol content in the mating disruptant composition. By increasing the alcohol content in the disruptant used against the first generation, the patent optimizes the release characteristics to match the longer emergence period, ensuring sufficient active component availability throughout the extended duration of the first generation's emergence.
2Reliability
If a mating disruptant with increased alcohol content is used to stabilize mating disruption effect, then the control effect is improved at high insect density, but the release amount is increased which causes loss when controlling multiple insect pests with different emergence times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a mating disruptant with increased alcohol content specifically for the first generation with high insect density, while using standard alcohol content disruptants for other generations or pest species. This localized optimization ensures that the increased alcohol content is deployed only where and when it is most needed, minimizing overall active component loss while maintaining effective control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the alcohol content parameter selectively in the mating disruptant formulation. By adjusting the alcohol content parameter based on the specific generation and pest species being targeted, the patent optimizes the balance between achieving stable mating disruption effects and minimizing active component loss when controlling multiple insect pests with different emergence times.
3Reliability
If pheromone formulations are applied to cotton trees during flower bud formation period, then pest control is improved, but the application is difficult due to the height of the trees
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by timing the pheromone formulation application to occur before the cotton trees reach their maximum height during the flower bud formation period. By conducting applications at an earlier stage when trees are shorter and more accessible, the patent overcomes the application difficulty while still achieving effective pest control before the trees grow too tall for practical treatment.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a mixed formulation is used to control two or more insect pests with different emergence times, then the versatility is improved, but the loss of sex pheromone increases when the insect pest emerging later has smaller molecular weight or higher vapor pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by tailoring the alcohol content parameter of the mating disruptant to the specific pest species and generation being targeted within the mixed formulation. By adjusting the alcohol content locally for each component of the mixed formulation, the patent prevents premature release of sex pheromone for later-emerging pests while maintaining the versatility to control multiple insect pests with different emergence times.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach stabilizes mating disruption effects with a small release amount, reduces active component loss, and improves control efficacy even at high insect densities, allowing for effective pest management without using the disruptant during the first generation's long emergence period and facilitating easier application on taller cotton trees.
Implementation Method 1
a mating disruption method comprising a step of releasing a sex pheromone substance of an insect pest in a field to disrupt the mating behavior of the insect pest
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a mating disruption method capable of bringing a stable and effective mating disruption result. Specifically provided is a mating disruption method comprising a step of starting to apply a mating disruptant after mating and oviposition of imagoes of the first generation of an insect pest are substantially over and before imagoes of the second generation of the insect pest emerge, the mating disruptant targeting at least one kind of insect pest which contains one or more kinds of acetates as a natural sex pheromone.