JP7740786B2 - Carnivorous bee attractant - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an attractant for carnivorous bees and a method for attracting carnivorous bees. More specifically, the invention relates to an attractant that uses blackstrap molasses as an attractant component.

BACKGROUND ART Various pest traps have been known for some time. For example, pest traps that attract small flying pests such as cockroaches and flies are widely used in homes, restaurants, factories, etc.
Various shapes of bee traps have also been proposed. Specifically, Patent Document 1 describes a trap in which an attractant/trapping composition for attracting bees is stored inside a cup-shaped container, and a lid with a bee entry opening is attached to the top of the container. Patent Document 2 describes a trap in which a bee entry opening is located in the center of the top of the trap to prevent bees from escaping from the trap once they have been captured. Furthermore, Patent Document 3 describes that by using a bee attractant liquid with a specific sugar concentration, a fermented odor caused by decay is generated, thereby improving capture efficiency.

Hornet hornets prey on cultivated honeybees, so exterminating them is important to the beekeeping industry. However, conventionally known bee traps have the problem of capturing not only the targeted hornets and paper wasps, but also honeybees that are beneficial to humans and do not pose a threat to humans. There is a demand for poison baits that selectively control only carnivorous bees, as well as bee traps and capture methods, but no such devices or methods have been reported yet.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-073144 JP 2014-103933 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-176853

The present invention aims to selectively control only carnivorous wasps.

As a result of extensive research to solve the above problem, the inventor discovered that blackstrap molasses attracts only carnivorous bees, and was able to solve the above problem by creating a selective carnivorous bee attractant that uses blackstrap molasses as an attractant component.

Specifically, the present invention provides the following:
1. A carnivorous bee attractant containing blackstrap molasses.
2. A method for attracting carnivorous wasps using a composition containing molasses.
3. A carnivorous bee poison bait containing the carnivorous bee attractant described in 1.

The carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention can selectively attract only carnivorous bees such as hornets and paper wasps.
Furthermore, the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention can be combined with a known insecticide to produce a carnivorous bee poison bait that can reliably control the attracted bees, and an efficient control effect against bees can be easily obtained.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a specific embodiment of a bee poison bait container for storing carnivorous bee poison bait using the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention, with the liquid-absorbent member removed. 2 is a perspective view showing the bee poison bait container shown in FIG. 1 with the inner lid and umbrella removed. FIG.

The carnivorous bee attractant and the method for attracting carnivorous bees of the present invention will be described in detail below.
The carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention contains blackstrap molasses as an attractant component.
<Blackstrap molasses>
Molasses is a by-product of sugar production. It is a sticky, dark brown liquid with a high specific gravity (about 1.4) that contains a large amount of non-sugar components and is left over after boiling down the juice of sugarcane or sugar beet, crystallizing the sugar, and then centrifuging it to separate the crystallized sugar. Molasses generally contains about 40-50% sugar, and is used as a raw material in the fermentation industry, livestock feed, etc.
Blackstrap molasses contains aroma components such as furfuryl alcohol, furfural, and sotolon.
Until now, there has been no concrete research into attractants that use blackstrap molasses as an attractant for bees, or into bee traps or poison baits that use such attractants.
The present inventors have investigated various bee attractants and have found that blackstrap molasses is an excellent attractant for carnivorous bees, and have thus completed the present invention.
By using the blackstrap molasses of the present invention as an attractant component, it is possible to selectively attract only carnivorous wasps such as hornets and paper wasps, which is extremely useful.
The blackstrap molasses of the present invention may be, for example, a commercially available product which is a dark brown, viscous liquid substance with a sugar content (Brix value) of 77±3 and contains, per 100 g of blackstrap molasses, about 62 g of carbohydrates, about 7 g of ash, about 3 g of protein, about 0.1 g of lipids, about 25 mg of sodium, and about 27 g of water. Brown sugar containing blackstrap molasses may also be used.

The carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention contains blackstrap molasses, and it is preferable to set the sugar content (Brix) of the attractant in the range of 40 to less than 83, as this increases the bee's tendency to eat it. Bees have a habit of returning to their hive after eating the bait and feeding it to other bees in the hive by mouth-to-mouth. Therefore, when the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention is used in combination with an insecticide as a carnivorous bee poison bait, it is possible to promote the transport of the carnivorous bee poison bait to the beehive, thereby demonstrating a high extermination effect against bees and efficiently destroying the entire beehive, which is useful.
Furthermore, if the sugar content (Brix) of the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention is 40 or more, even when the attractant is impregnated, attached or coated on a carrier that has a large amount of contact with air, the occurrence of mold and the like is greatly reduced and the attractant is inhibited from decaying, so that the extermination effect against bees is not reduced.
Furthermore, when the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention is used in combination with an insecticide as carnivorous bee poison bait, it is preferable to set the sugar content (Brix) of the poison bait in the range of 40 or more but less than 83, and to place the poison bait more than 1 meter away from the beehive and within 3 meters of the bee's movement path, as this will allow the bees to recognize the poison bait as new food or a new feeding ground at an early stage, resulting in the early collapse of the entire beehive.

When the sugar content (Brix) of the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention is in the range of 40 or more and less than 83, the sugar content (Brix) refers to the reading of a sugar refractometer at 20°C, and means the value obtained by measuring the entire attractant at 20°C using a digital refractometer PAL-1 (manufactured by Atago Co., Ltd.) when used for bee extermination. Since the measurement range of the digital refractometer PAL-1 (manufactured by Atago Co., Ltd.) is 0.0 to 53.0 (Brix), those with a sugar content (Brix) higher than 53.0 are diluted 10 times with ion-exchanged water and measured, and the value is converted to a 10-fold value to obtain the sugar content. In addition, in the case of a formulation other than a liquid formulation, the formulation is diluted 10 times with ion-exchanged water and measured, and the measured value is multiplied by 10 to obtain the sugar content.
The sugar content (Brix) of the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention is preferably 40 or more, more preferably 50 or more, and even more preferably 60 or more. The upper limit of the sugar content (Brix) is preferably less than 83.
By adjusting the sugar content (Brix) of the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention to a range of 40 or more and less than 83, not only is it possible to improve the feeding preference of bees, but also to encourage the bees to carry the poison bait back to their nest when used in combination with an insecticide as a poison bait for carnivorous bees. As a result, the transported poison bait is given to other bees in the nest, spreading the poison bait throughout the nest and causing it to collapse, thereby demonstrating an excellent extermination effect. In other words, by attracting bees from the nest to the poison bait and having them carry it back into the nest, it is possible to ultimately cause the entire nest to collapse, which is useful.

When the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention is used in combination with an insecticide as a poison bait for carnivorous bees, it is preferable to set the sugar content (Brix) of the poison bait in the range of 40 to less than 83, and to place the poison bait more than 1 meter from the beehive and within 3 meters of the bee's movement line, so that the bees will quickly recognize the poison bait as a new food source or a new feeding area, resulting in the early collapse of the entire beehive. This preferable placement is thought to be due to the fact that if the poison bait is placed within 1 meter of the beehive, the bees will be wary of the poison bait, which is a newly appeared artificial object, and will be reluctant to approach it, and that if the poison bait is placed more than 3 meters from the bee's movement line, it will take a very long time for the bees to recognize the poison bait as a new food source or a new feeding area.
In other words, when the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention is used in combination with an insecticide as poison bait, it is presumed that by setting the sugar content (Brix) of the poison bait in the range of 40 or more and less than 83, and placing it more than 1 meter away from the beehive and within 3 meters of the bee's movement path, the bees will reach the poison bait early and the transport of the poison bait to the hive will be promoted, and as a result, the entire beehive will collapse early.
In the present invention, the "path of movement of bees" means the path of bees traveling from the beehive to their usual feeding grounds.

<Carnivorous bees>
In the present invention, carnivorous wasps refer to non-carnivorous wasps such as honeybees, other carnivorous wasps, and carnivorous wasps that feed on other insects, and specifically include Hymenoptera pests belonging to the subfamilies Vespinae and Polistinae. Examples of wasps belonging to the subfamilies Vespidae include the giant hornet, Japanese yellow hornet, small hornet, Asian hornet, small female hornet, brown hornet, Japanese black hornet, Japanese black hornet, parasitic hornet, and Asian giant hornet. Examples of wasps belonging to the Polistinae subfamily include paper wasps, black paper wasps, two-spotted paper wasps, pointed two-spotted paper wasps, Japanese paper wasps, yellow-spotted paper wasps, small paper wasps, Yaeyama paper wasps, small paper wasps, Polistes nigricans, etc. In addition, Hymenoptera pests such as fire wasps, digger wasps, and mud wasps are also included.

<Other attractant ingredients>
In addition to blackstrap molasses, the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention can also contain known bee attractants. Examples of known attractants include vinegars such as balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, brown rice vinegar, lees vinegar, soybean vinegar, black vinegar, wine vinegar, sudachi vinegar, red vinegar, persimmon vinegar, malt vinegar, purple sweet potato vinegar, and sugarcane vinegar; lactic acid products (such as lactic acid bacteria drinks); sugars; starch sugars; honey; molasses; fruit; processed fruit products; fruit juice; fruit juice drinks; fruit wine; beer; sake; whiskey; brandy; vodka; rum; gin; tequila; shochu; Shaoxing wine; white wine; and aged wine; sake lees; seafood; processed seafood products; seafood extracts; meat; processed meat products; meat extracts; and flavorings. Liquid bee attractants are preferred. Furthermore, if the lure contains a moisturizing component such as an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol such as glycerin, a sugar alcohol such as sorbitol, or a thickening polysaccharide such as xanthan gum, the lure can be made to exert its efficacy for a long period of time.

The carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention can be used in combination with known insecticides to produce a carnivorous bee poison bait that reliably controls attracted bees. Known insecticides that can be used in combination include, for example, pyrethroid compounds such as natural pyrethrins, allethrin, resmethrin, furamethrin, prallethrin, telallethrin, phthalthrin, fenothrin, permethrin, cyphenothrin, cypermethrin, transfluthrin, metofluthrin, profluthrin, imiprothrin, empenthrin, etofenprox, silafluofen, meperfluthrin, and dimefluthrin; carbamate compounds such as propoxur and carbaryl; organophosphorus compounds such as fenitrothion, diazinon, tetrachlorvinphos, and DDVP; oxadiazole compounds such as metoxadiazone; and fipronil. Examples of suitable insecticides include phenylpyrazole compounds, sulfonamide compounds such as amidoflumet, neonicotinoid compounds such as imidacloprid and dinotefuran, insect juvenile hormone-like compounds such as pyriproxyfen, methoprene, and hydroprene, oxidative phosphorylation uncouplers such as sulfluramide, anti-juvenile hormone-like compounds such as precocene, chitin synthesis inhibitors such as novaluron, diflubenzuron, and etoxazole, amidinohydrazone compounds such as hydramethylnon, and insecticidal essential oils such as phytoncides, peppermint oil, orange oil, cinnamon oil, and clove oil. Synergists such as sinepilin and piperonyl butoxide can also be used in combination. Insect growth regulators with low repellency, such as insect juvenile hormone-like compounds, anti-juvenile hormone-like compounds, and chitin synthesis inhibitors, can also be used in combination. Among these, insecticides that have little repellent effect on bees and are slow-acting, such as diazinon, tetrachlorvinphos, sulfluramide, fipronil, and hydramethylnon, are suitable as insecticides to be incorporated into the carnivorous bee poison bait that uses the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention.

Furthermore, when using a mixture of the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention with an insecticide, taking into consideration that it may be diluted with water, a highly water-soluble insecticide may be preferable for formulation. Examples include acephate, vamidothion, methidathion (DMTP), fenobucarb (BPMC), ethiofencarb, cartap, thiocyclam, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, cyromazine, fosthiazate, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, carbaryl (NAC), clothianidin, pymetrozine, and dinotefuran. Among these, for example, those with a water solubility of 500 ppm or more at 20°C, such as dinotefuran (water solubility at 20°C: about 54,000 ppm), thiamethoxam (water solubility at 20°C: about 4,100 ppm), imidacloprid (water solubility at 20°C: about 510 ppm), and fenobucarb (BPMC, water solubility at 20°C: about 610 ppm), are suitable for formulation as insecticides to be combined with the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention.

<Surfactant>
The carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention can be blended with a surfactant. The surfactant can be any of nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, and amphoteric surfactants, with no particular limitations, but nonionic surfactants and anionic surfactants are preferred.
Specifically, for example, nonionic surfactants include sugar ester type, fatty acid ester type, vegetable oil type, alcohol type, alkylphenol type, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymer type, alkylamine type, bisphenol type, and polyaromatic ring type. Anionic surfactants include carboxylic acid type, sulfonic acid type, sulfate ester type, and phosphate ester type. Cationic surfactants include ammonium type and benzalkonium type. Amphoteric surfactants include betaine type.
Among them, preferred nonionic surfactants include polyglycerin fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene aryl ethers, polyalkylene glycol fatty acid esters, sucrose fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene castor oils, and polyoxyalkylene hydrogenated castor oils, and preferred anionic surfactants include sulfonates.
Particularly suitable nonionic surfactants include polyglycerin fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene aryl ethers, polyethylene glycol fatty acid esters, sucrose fatty acid esters, and polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, and particularly suitable anionic surfactants include alkyl sulfoacetates.
These surfactants may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

<Preparation>
The carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention may be in the form of a formulation containing, in addition to blackstrap molasses, the above-mentioned insecticides and other ingredients commonly added to formulations as needed, or a formulation diluted with water. Among these, the formulated form is advantageous during transportation and storage because it is compact and has excellent storage stability. Since the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention is preferably used in liquid form, a liquid formulation is preferred because it is easy to dilute with water and leaves little residual residue.
The water used for dilution may be purified water, tap water, ion-exchanged water, distilled water, filtered water, sterilized water, groundwater, well water, or the like.
The blackstrap molasses content in the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention is preferably 0.5% by weight or more, more preferably 1% by weight or more, and particularly preferably 5% by weight or more, based on the total weight of the attractant actually used. If the blackstrap molasses content is less than 0.5% by weight, the attractant effect may not be fully exerted. Furthermore, if the blackstrap molasses content exceeds 80% by weight, problems arise in formulation and stability, so the content is preferably 80% by weight or less.
If the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention contains a large amount of blackstrap molasses, the attractant effect may be reduced depending on the type of carnivorous bee and its habitat. In such cases, it is preferable that the blackstrap molasses content be 60% by weight or less.

When formulating the carnivorous wasp attractant of the present invention, ingredients commonly added to formulations can be blended in as needed. Examples of ingredients commonly added to formulations include stabilizers, preservatives, coloring agents, agents to prevent accidental ingestion and ingestion, and liquid carriers. Examples of stabilizers include antioxidants such as dibutylhydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylhydroxyanisole (BHA), ascorbic acid, etc. Examples of preservatives include sorbic acid, sorbates, parahydroxybenzoic acid esters, thiabendazole, sodium chloride, etc. Examples of coloring agents include caramel color, gardenia color, anthocyanin color, safflower color, flavonoid color, Red No. 2, Red No. 3, Yellow No. 4, Yellow No. 5, etc. Examples of agents to prevent accidental ingestion and ingestion include denatonium benzoate, etc.

Liquid carriers used in formulation include, for example, alcohols (methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, butanol, hexanol, ethylene glycol, etc.), ethers (diethyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, etc.), esters (ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, isopropyl myristate, ethyl lactate, etc.), ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclohexanone, etc.), aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons (xylene, toluene, alkylnaphthalenes, phenylalanine ... Examples of solvents include: hydrocarbons (e.g., phenylxylylethane, kerosene, diesel, hexane, cyclohexane), halogenated hydrocarbons (e.g., chlorobenzene, dichloromethane, dichloroethane, trichloroethane), nitriles (e.g., acetonitrile, isobutyronitrile), sulfoxides (e.g., dimethyl sulfoxide), heterocyclic solvents (e.g., sulfolane, γ-butyrolactone, N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-octyl-2-pyrrolidone, 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone), acid amides (e.g., N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide), alkylidene carbonates (e.g., propylene carbonate), vegetable oils (e.g., soybean oil, cottonseed oil), vegetable essential oils (e.g., orange oil, hyssop oil, lemon oil), and water.

<About carnivorous bee poison bait>
The carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention can be used as a carnivorous bee poison bait in combination with a known insecticide. For example, if an edible substrate impregnated with, attached to, or coated with this poison bait is placed in a location where carnivorous bees are to be exterminated, the carnivorous bees will eat it, thereby achieving an insecticidal effect. Examples of materials for this edible substrate include sponge, absorbent cotton, nonwoven fabrics of natural fibers and synthetic fibers, polymers such as water-absorbent polymers, woven fabrics, paper, porous materials, etc.
This carnivorous bee poison bait is preferably stored in a container for use. The container may be of any shape or size, as long as it can accommodate the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention, and may be configured to suit the location and method of use. Materials for this container include, for example, glass, metal, plastic, and special paper with waterproof or water-repellent properties that prevent the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention from leaking from the container. When the carnivorous bee poison bait of the present invention is placed outdoors, it is preferable to provide a cover that provides space for the opening and prevents the infiltration of rainwater, etc., to prevent the infiltration of rainwater, etc., which would dilute the poison bait and reduce its effectiveness in controlling carnivorous bees. It is preferable to use a container of carnivorous bee poison bait containing the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention by hanging it approximately 1 to 3 meters above the ground, preferably out of direct sunlight, or by placing it on a flat surface so that the container entrance is not blocked.

<Examples of bee poison bait containers>
The structure of a bee poison bait container 1 suitable for storing carnivorous bee poison bait using the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The bee poison bait container 1 is designed to make it easy for bees to enter, while at the same time making it difficult for people's fingers to come into contact with the poison bait using the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention, and to extend the effective period of the bee poison bait.
The bee poison bait container 1 comprises a lower container 10 (container body: bottom surface 101, side surfaces 102, protrusions 103, openings 105), an inner lid 20, an umbrella 30, and a liquid-absorbent member 40.

The inner lid 20 engages with the outside of the lower container 10 and is configured to be fixed to the lower container 10. A bee entrance/exit 21 (opening) that connects to the lower container 10 is formed in the center of the inner lid 20. The inner lid 20 also has a bee retention port 22 for bees to retain. The bee retention port 22 is inclined so that its inner side is higher than its outer edge (the height increases from the outer edge of the bee retention port 22 toward the center). Bees are sometimes described as having negative geotaxis, i.e., the tendency for living organisms to move in the direction opposite to gravity. The provision of an inclined surface 22A (distance D4 from the outer edge to the bee entrance/exit 21) can encourage bees to walk into the bee poison bait container 1. As shown in Figure 1, a radially extending groove G may be provided between adjacent inclined surfaces 22A. The grooves G allow the bees to hook their legs, thereby helping the bees climb the inclined surface 22 A. The inclined surface 22 A may be provided with a convex or concave portion.

By providing the inclined surface 22A, when a person inserts a finger through the gap between the umbrella 30 and the inner lid 20, the inserted finger comes into contact with the inclined surface 22A and is guided diagonally upward. This makes it possible to guide the finger in a direction away from the liquid-absorbent member 40 stored at the bottom inside the lower container 10. Furthermore, even if the person tries to bend their finger joints, the finger will come into contact with the umbrella 30, making it difficult to bend, and making it difficult for the finger to come into contact with the liquid-absorbent member 40.
Furthermore, by providing the inclined surface 22A, the wind passing through the bee poison bait container 1 is guided upward along the inclined surface 22A. This makes it possible to prevent the wind from directly hitting the liquid-absorbent member 40, thereby reducing fluctuations in the amount of volatilization of the poison bait that uses a carnivorous bee attractant impregnated into the liquid-absorbent member 40, and ultimately reducing fluctuations in the usable period of the liquid-absorbent member 40.
In addition, the bee retention port 22 is formed so as to protrude radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the lower container 10. By providing the bee retention port 22 so that it protrudes in this manner, the bees can easily retain there, and the bees can enter the lower container 10 through the bee entrance/exit 21 formed in the center of the inner lid 20.
In addition, a plurality of engagement holes 23 are formed around the periphery of the inner lid 20 for engaging with the lower end of the umbrella 30 (the lower end of the side wall portion 32).

The umbrella 30 is engaged with the inner lid 20 so as to cover the upper part of the bee entrance 21. By engaging the umbrella 30 with the inner lid 20, the liquid-absorbent member 40 exposed to the outside through the bee entrance 21 is covered from above by the umbrella 30, preventing water (e.g., rain) from directly hitting the liquid-absorbent member 40 from the outside. The inclined surface 22A of the inner lid 20 also prevents water from entering the lower container 10. The umbrella 30 has an arched opening 31 that connects the bee entrance 21 with the outside of the bee poison bait container 1. Bees that have landed on the bee retention port 22 can enter the interior of the bee poison bait container 1 (the interior of the umbrella 30) through the arched opening 31 and then enter the interior of the lower container 10 through the bee entrance 21. Side walls 32 located on both sides of the arched opening 31 engage with the inner lid 20, securing the umbrella 30 and the inner lid 20 together. Here, the height of the arched opening 31 relative to the inclined surface 22A of the inner lid 20 (the vertical distance between the inclined surface 22A and the middle of the arched opening 31) is preferably 10 mm or more and 35 mm or less, and more preferably 10 mm or more and 30 mm or less. If the height of the arched opening 31 from the inner lid 20 is 10 mm or more, even large bees such as hornets can enter the bee poison bait container 1. On the other hand, if the height of the inner lid 20 and the arched opening is greater than 35 mm, a person's fingers will easily come into contact with the carnivorous bee poison bait using the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention. Furthermore, large insects other than bees may enter the container.
The top surface of the umbrella 30 is provided with a hook 35 for hanging the bee poison bait container 1 on an external member.

The liquid-absorbent member 40 is an impregnated body impregnated with a poison bait agent using the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention to be eaten by bees.
2, holes 42 (recesses) are formed in the liquid-absorbent member 40, extending from the upper surface 40a of the main body (liquid-absorbent member main body) toward the lower surface. The holes 42 are not limited to being formed only in the liquid-absorbent member 40, and may be formed, for example, between the liquid-absorbent member 40 and the lower container 10, or may be formed only in the lower container 10. When the holes 42 are formed only in the lower container 10, it is preferable to form them along the periphery of the liquid-absorbent member 40, so that bees that enter the holes 42 can consume the poison bait containing the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention impregnated in the liquid-absorbent member 40.

The holes 42 have an opening shape that allows the bees to enter the interior thereof, in other words, an opening large enough for the bees' heads to fit inside. Specifically, the diameter of the holes 42 is preferably in the range of 5 to 30 mm. If the diameter of the holes 42 is larger than 30 mm, the interior of the holes 42 is likely to dry out, and if the diameter of the holes 42 is smaller than 5 mm, it becomes difficult for the bees' heads to fit inside the holes 42. Bees have a habit of sticking their heads into their burrows (for example, hornets and paper wasps have a habit of sticking their heads into their burrows to receive nutrient liquid from the larvae in the burrows by mouth-to-mouth (if a thick liquid has accumulated below the hole 42, the hornets and paper wasps will stick their heads in and lick the liquid below the hole 42)), so the bees take advantage of this habit to ingest the poison bait containing the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention contained inside the holes 42. Therefore, even if the upper surface 40a of the liquid-absorbent member 40 dries up, the bees will take advantage of this behavior and eat the poison bait that uses the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention that is held inside the holes 42 formed in the liquid-absorbent member 40, thereby extending the effective period of the poison bait.
The holes 42 are formed to extend in a direction from the upper surface 40a side to the lower surface side of the liquid-absorbent member 40, but the extending direction may be any direction.
Furthermore, as long as the holes 42 have an opening large enough for a bee's head to fit through, they do not have to penetrate the liquid-absorbent member 40. For example, if the holes 42 are at least half the thickness of the liquid-absorbent member 40, this is preferable because the bees can eat the poison bait containing the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention contained on the lower surface side, which is less likely to dry compared to the upper surface 40a side, which dries relatively easily.
Specific embodiments of the bee poison bait container 1 have been described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2, but the size, shape, arrangement, number, etc. are not limited to these and can be changed as appropriate depending on the purpose.

<About bee traps>
The carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention may be stored in a container and used as a bee trap.
The container for storing the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention is not limited in shape or size as long as it can accommodate the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention inside, and may be in a form that suits the location and method of use. The material of this container is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, glass, metal, plastic, or special paper with waterproof or water-repellent properties that will prevent the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention from leaking out of the container.
In one embodiment of the container, the container has a lid that covers the opening, and an opening through which bees can enter is preferably formed in either the lid or the container. The opening may be of any size and shape that allows bees to easily enter the container, and the dimensions (diameter, width, length) of the opening are preferably set to 20 mm or more and 35 mm or less, and more preferably 25 mm or more and 30 mm or less. If the opening is smaller than 20 mm, large bees such as giant hornets have difficulty entering through the opening, resulting in reduced capture efficiency. Furthermore, if the opening is larger than 35 mm, butterflies, moths, beetles, and other insects other than bees may enter the container. It is preferable to form multiple openings in the container to allow bees to easily enter the container, and the number of openings is preferably between two and five, depending on the size of the container.
The container may be provided with a transparent or semi-transparent window equivalent so that the number of captured bees can be visually checked, or may be a transparent or semi-transparent container, which makes it difficult to see the captured bees and reduces discomfort.
In addition, in order to prevent bees that have entered the container from easily escaping, it is preferable that the opening be shaped like a funnel or the like.
When a bee trap is installed outdoors, in order to prevent rainwater and other liquids from seeping in and diluting the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention, which would reduce the bee capture efficiency, it is preferable to have a cover that has space for the opening and prevents rainwater and other liquids from seeping in.
It is preferable that the bee trap using the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention is used in a place that is not exposed to direct sunlight as much as possible, that is hung about 1 to 3 m from the ground, that is fixed to a fence or the like, or that is placed on a flat surface where the entrance of the container is not blocked.

The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to test sample preparation examples and test examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.
In the examples, unless otherwise specified, all parts are by weight.

<Carnivorous bee attraction effectiveness confirmation test 1>
In order to confirm that the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention has an effect of attracting carnivorous bees to eat, the following test was carried out.
(1) Preparation of test samples Test samples containing 24% by weight of blackstrap molasses were prepared from blackstrap molasses, attractant components (sugar, lactic acid bacteria drink, etc.), and water.
As a comparative test sample, 80 wt % honey water was prepared.
(2) Test Method: Nonwoven fabric (cylindrical, 50 mm diameter x 10 mm thickness) was impregnated with 25 g of the test specimen or comparative test specimen. Each of these was placed in a KP cup (130 mm diameter x 100 mm height), and two of each type were prepared. One adult female yellow hornet or three adult female honeybees was placed in each cup and observed for 30 minutes, and the average contact time (seconds) with the specimen per session was measured. The "contact time (seconds) with the specimen" refers to the time (seconds) that the yellow hornet or honeybee spent on the nonwoven fabric impregnated with the test specimen or comparative test specimen.
The average contact time (seconds) of the yellow hornets and honeybees with the test samples or the control test samples is shown in Table 1 below.

As shown in Table 1, it was confirmed that the test sample containing blackstrap molasses had the same attractant effect on the carnivorous bee, the yellow hornet, as the comparative test sample consisting of 80% honey water by weight. Meanwhile, it was confirmed that honeybees preferred to eat the comparative test sample consisting of 80% honey water by weight over the test sample containing blackstrap molasses. Furthermore, it was also revealed that the contact time of the carnivorous bee, the yellow hornet, with the test sample containing blackstrap molasses was 110 seconds, while that of honeybees was extremely short, at 3 seconds. The yellow hornets continued to eat while in contact with the test sample or the comparative test sample. Meanwhile, it was visually confirmed that honeybees contacted the test sample but immediately moved away from it.
These results revealed that blackstrap molasses exerts a "selective attractant effect" on carnivorous wasps.

<Carnivorous bee attraction effectiveness confirmation test 2>
An outdoor test was conducted using the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention to confirm its attracting effect on carnivorous bees.
(1) Preparation of Test Samples As shown in Table 2 below, example test samples (Examples 1 to 4) were prepared from blackstrap molasses, an attractant (sake, vinegar, lactic acid bacteria drink, etc.), a solvent (ethyl lactate), a surfactant (polyglyceryl monolaurate), sodium chloride, and water. In addition, a comparative example test sample (Comparative Example 1) that did not contain blackstrap molasses was prepared in the same manner as the example test samples. The compositions of the example test samples of Examples 1 to 4 and the comparative example test sample of Comparative Example 1 are summarized in Table 2 below. Note that the values in Table 2 each represent weight percent.

(2) Test Method In a wooded area in Ako City (Test Areas 1 and 2), the example test specimens of Examples 1 to 4 and the comparative test specimen of Comparative Example 1 were placed in empty containers of commercially available bee traps (plastic, diameter 90 mm, height 120 mm), and the containers were set up 5 m apart and 2 m above the ground, and the cumulative number of carnivorous bees captured was observed over a two-week period (May to June 2019).
The number of carnivorous bees captured in test areas 1 and 2 in Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Example 1 is shown in Table 3, and the types of carnivorous bees captured in Examples 1 to 4 are shown in Table 4.

As shown in Tables 3 and 4, the bee trap containing the bee attractant that did not contain blackstrap molasses (Comparative Example 1) was unable to capture any bees, but the bee traps containing the carnivorous bee attractant that contained blackstrap molasses (Examples 1 to 4) captured a large number of bees, demonstrating their excellent bee-attracting effect.
The results shown in Table 4 demonstrate that the bee trap containing the carnivorous bee attractant containing blackstrap molasses of the present invention can control not only a specific type of hornet, but a wide variety of hornet species. In particular, a high attracting effect was observed against the highly aggressive giant hornet, confirming that the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention is extremely useful.

<Carnivorous bee attraction effectiveness confirmation test 3>
In order to confirm the attractant effect on carnivorous bees using the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention, an outdoor test was conducted at a different test time from the above-mentioned "Carnivorous bee attractant effect confirmation test 2."
(1) Preparation of Test Samples As shown in Table 5 below, example test samples (Examples 5 and 6) were prepared from blackstrap molasses, an attractant (sake, vinegar, lactic acid bacteria drink, etc.), a solvent (ethyl lactate), a surfactant (polyglyceryl monolaurate), sodium chloride, and water. In addition, a comparative test sample (Comparative Example 2) not containing blackstrap molasses was prepared in the same manner as the example test samples. The compositions of the example test samples of Examples 5 and 6 and the comparative test sample of Comparative Example 2 are summarized in Table 5 below. Note that the values in Table 5 each represent weight percent.

(2) Test Method In a wooded area in Ako City (Test Areas 3 and 4), the example test specimens of Examples 5 and 6 and the comparative test specimen of Comparative Example 2 were placed in empty containers of commercially available bee traps (plastic, diameter 90 mm, height 120 mm), and the traps were placed 5 m apart and 2 m above the ground, and the cumulative number of carnivorous bees captured was observed over a two-week period (June to July 2020).
The number of carnivorous bees captured in test areas 3 and 4 in Examples 5 and 6 and Comparative Example 2 is shown in Table 6, and the types of carnivorous bees captured in Examples 5 and 6 are shown in Table 7.

As shown in Tables 6 and 7, the bee trap containing a bee attractant that did not contain molasses (Comparative Example 2) was unable to capture any bees, whereas the bee traps containing a carnivorous bee attractant that contained molasses (Examples 5 and 6) captured a large number of bees, demonstrating their excellent bee-attracting effect. Example 5 replaced 30% by weight of the 41% by weight of the known attractant ingredients in Comparative Example 2, namely sake, vinegar, and lactic acid bacteria drink, with molasses, and it was revealed that molasses is an extremely efficient and excellent bee-attracting agent compared to known attractants.
Furthermore, the results shown in Table 7 demonstrate that the bee trap containing the carnivorous bee attractant containing blackstrap molasses of the present invention can control not only a specific type of hornet, but a wide variety of hornet species.

The carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention is extremely useful because it exerts a feeding attraction effect only on highly aggressive carnivorous bees such as hornets and paper wasps, and can selectively attract carnivorous bees.
Furthermore, the carnivorous bee attractant of the present invention can be combined with a known insecticide to produce a carnivorous bee poison bait that can reliably control the attracted bees, and is useful because it can easily provide an efficient control effect against bees.

Claims (3)

An attractant for carnivorous wasps containing blackstrap molasses (but excluding fermented brown sugar). A method for attracting carnivorous wasps using a composition containing blackstrap molasses (but excluding fermented brown sugar) . A carnivorous bee poison bait containing the carnivorous bee attractant described in claim 1.