JP7751875B2 - Tick repellent - Google Patents

Description

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act (Part 1) Date of website publication: September 13, 2021 Website address: https://acarology-japan.org/taikai/30-2021/ja/ https://acarology-japan.org/taikai/30-2021/ja/program/ https://acarology-japan.org/taikai/30-2021/images/30th_program_F. PDF (Part 2) Date: September 17, 2021 to September 19, 2021 (Published on September 18, 2021) Meeting name, venue: 30th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Acarology (held online (Zoom))

This disclosure relates to acaricides and the like.

The wall-scratched takara mite (Balaustium murorum (Hermann)), also known as the red mite, is known as a nuisance pest that appears from spring to summer due to its fast movement. Recommended methods for exterminating takara mites include washing with water, wiping with adhesive, filling gaps in concrete where they infest, removing pollen (removing flowers) that serve as food for the mites, and using insecticides. However, these methods have drawbacks, such as being impractical and only temporary in their effectiveness. Furthermore, while miticides are said to have little adverse effect on beneficial insects such as natural enemies and pollinators, the issue of the red stain that remains after killing wall-scratched takara mites with miticides is a pressing need.

Special Publication No. 2011-516484 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-140357

Janssen et al. (1997) Nakamura et al. (2019)

The objective is to provide a control agent for Takara mites.

The inventors discovered that Takara mites are repelled by 6-amyl-2-pyrone (Non-Patent Document 1), the trail pheromone of the Japanese ant (Pristomyrmex punctatus), and methyl 6-methylsalicylate (Non-Patent Document 2), the trail pheromone of the Japanese brown ant (Tetramorium tsushimae), and have made further improvements.

The present disclosure encompasses, for example, the subject matter described in the following sections:
Item 1.
A Takara mite control agent whose active ingredient is an ant trail pheromone.
Item 2.
Item 2. The agent for controlling Takara mite according to Item 1, wherein the ants are at least one species of ants selected from the group consisting of the genus Aconitum, the genus Polyant, the genus Argentine ant, the genus Siberian ant, the genus Siberian ant, the genus Siberian ant, and the genus Siberian ant.
Item 3.
Item 3. The Takara mite control agent according to Item 1 or 2, wherein the ants are Japanese ants and/or Japanese brown ants.
Item 4.
The ant trail pheromone is 6-amyl-2-pyrone, 6-methylsalicylate methyl, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, 3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine, 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine, 2-methylpyrazine, 3-butyl-6-methyloctahydroindolizine, 2 (5'-hexenyl) -5-pentylpyrrolidine, 4-methyl-3-heptanone, 1-phenylethanol, 4-methylpyrrole-2-carboxylic acid, 2-phenylacetic acid, Z-9-hexadecenal, dolichodial, and at least one selected from the group consisting of mellein. The Takara mite control agent according to any one of Items 1 to 3.
Item 5.
A Takara mite control agent containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of 6-amyl-2-pyrone and methyl 6-methylsalicylate.

A mites control agent will be provided.

FIG. 1 shows a T-shaped filter paper with a stem and arm length of 35 mm and a width of 4 mm used to verify repellent activity. FIG. 1 shows a glass petri dish with a string stretched over it and a T-shaped filter paper placed inside the dish, used to verify repellent activity. The numbers of individuals that reached the end of the arm (sample side) to which 6-amyl-2-pyrone was applied and the end of the arm (control side) to which the solvent was applied are shown. In the figure, * indicates statistical significance at a significance level of 5%, and *** indicates statistical significance at a significance level of 0.1%. The numbers of animals that reached the end of the arm (sample side) to which methyl 6-methylsalicylate was applied and the end of the arm (control side) to which the solvent was applied are shown. ** indicates statistical significance at the 1% significance level, and *** indicates statistical significance at the 0.1% significance level.

Each embodiment included in the present disclosure will be described in further detail below.
The Takara mite control agent included in the present disclosure contains an ant trail pheromone as an active ingredient. In this specification, the control agent may be referred to as the "control agent of the present disclosure."

As used herein, "takara mite" refers to a mite classified in the Arachnida, order Acari, suborder Trigomitidae, family Takara mite. As for takara mites, mites of the genus Balaustium are preferred, and Balaustium murorum (Hermann) is more preferred.

In this specification, "trail pheromone" refers to a pheromone secreted from exocrine glands present in the abdomen or legs of ants, which guides a large number of nest-mate ants to move simultaneously to a feeding site and encourages movement in a certain direction.
Trail pheromones are secreted from the tarsal glands at the tips of ants' legs, and differ in both their chemical composition and ecological function from substances (footprint substances) whose main components are long-chain hydrocarbons.

Examples of ants that are the source of trail pheromones include:
Pristomyrmex punctatus and other Pristomyrmex ants;
the genus Tetramorium, such as Japanese brown ant (Tetramorium tsushimae), European brown ant (Tetramorium caespitum), Tetramorium impurum, Tetramorium caespitum, and Tetramorium meridionale;
Monomorium pharaonis and other species of the genus Monomorium pharaonis;
The genus Myrmica, such as Myrmica rubra, Myrmica ruginodis, Myrmica rugulosa, Myrmica sabuleti, Myrmica scabrinodis, and Myrmica sulcinodis;
the genus Aphaenogaster, such as Aphaenogaster albisetosus and Aphaenogaster cockerelli;
the genus Pheidole pallidula, etc.;
Leaf-cutter ants such as Atta laevigara;
Argentine ants such as Argentine ants (Linepithema humile);
Formica genus such as red wood ant (Formica rufa);
Examples of such ants include species of the genus Lasius, such as the European black ant (Lasius fuliginosus) and the Japanese black ant (Lasius fuji). Among these, ants that prey on Takara mites are preferred. More specifically, species of the genera Pristomyrmex and Trigonella are preferred, with Pristomyrmex punctatus and Japanese Tetramorium tsushimae being more preferred.
The trail pheromone may be derived from one species of ant or a combination of two or more species.

6-Amyl-2-pyrone is known as a trailing pheromone for the water ant (Pristomyrmex punctatus).
Methyl 6-methylsalicylate is known as a trail pheromone for the Japanese brown ant (Tetramorium tsushimae) and Tetramorium impurum.
2,5-Dimethylpyrazine (DMP) is known as a trail pheromone for European brown ants (Tetramorium caespitum), Tetramorium caespitum, and Tetramorium meridionale.
3-Ethyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine (EDMP) is known as the trailing pheromone of Tetramorium caespitum, Tetramorium meridionale, yellow-comb ant (Myrmica rubra), Myrmica ruginodis, Myrmica rugulosa, Myrmica sabuleti, Myrmica scabrinodis, Myrmica sulcinodis, and Pheidole pallidula.
2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine (TMP) is known as the trailing pheromone of Tetramorium meridionale.
2-Methylpyrazine (MP) is known as the trailing pheromone of Tetramorium meridionale.
3-Butyl-6-methyloctahydroindolizine (also called monomorin I) is known as the trail pheromone of the house ant (Monomorium pharaonis).
2(5'-hexenyl)-5-pentylpyrrolidine (also called monomorin III) is known as the trail pheromone of the house ant (Monomorium pharaonis).
4-Methyl-3-heptanone is known as the trailing pheromone of Aphaenogaster albisetosus.
1-Phenylethanol is known as the trailing pheromone of Aphaenogaster cockerelli.
4-Methylpyrrole-2-carboxylic acid is known as the trailing pheromone of Atta laevigara.
2-Phenylacetic acid is known as the trailing pheromone of Atta laevigara.
Z-9-hexadecenal is known as the trail pheromone of the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile).
Dolichodial is known as the trailing pheromone of the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile).
Mellein is known as a trail pheromone for the red wood ant (Formica rufa) and the European black wood ant (Lasius fuliginosus).
The control agent of the present disclosure preferably contains the above-mentioned trail pheromone component. These components can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among them, 6-amyl-2-pyrone and methyl 6-methylsalicylate are preferred.

The above-mentioned ingredients may be of synthetic or natural origin.

The amount of trail pheromone contained in the control agent of the present disclosure is not particularly limited and can be set appropriately within the range of, for example, 0.01 to 100% by mass.

The pest control agent of the present disclosure contains the components described above and may further contain other components. Examples of such other components include pharmaceutically acceptable bases, carriers, and additives (e.g., solvents, dispersants, emulsifiers, buffers, stabilizers, excipients, binders, lubricants, antioxidants, preservatives, etc.). These components may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The pesticide of the present disclosure can be prepared by conventional methods by combining the above-mentioned components with other components as needed.

The form of the control agent of the present disclosure is not particularly limited, and may be in a solid form such as powder, granules, tablets, or capsules; or in a semi-solid or liquid form such as liquid, emulsion, or gel.

The control agent of the present disclosure can be used to control Takara mite. Furthermore, because the control agent of the present disclosure has a repellent effect against Takara mite, it can be suitably used as a Takara mite repellent. Therefore, the control agent of the present disclosure can control Takara mite, a nuisance pest, without placing a significant burden on the environment.

Generally, mites have a short life cycle and quickly acquire resistance to pesticides, so the effectiveness of many pesticides does not last long. The pesticide disclosed herein contains, as an active ingredient (more specifically, a repellent ingredient), the trail pheromone of ants that prey on Takara mite. Takara mite individuals that have acquired resistance to this ingredient are more likely to be preyed upon by predatory ants in the wild. Therefore, it is predicted that drug resistance to this ingredient will not easily develop. This makes it possible to use the pesticide for a long period of time and repeatedly.
Ants leave behind footprints, but there is no evidence that Takara mites are repelled by the footprints (including footprints) of their predator, the Japanese ant. Because Takara mites move quickly, it is thought that, among the substances derived from ants, trail pheromones that indicate a risk of encountering a large number of ants, rather than footprints that show traces of their activity, are more effective as the active ingredient in Takara mite control agents (more specifically, repellents).

The control agent of the present disclosure can be applied to, for example, plants such as crops or fruit trees, the soil in which they are grown, materials of facilities (e.g., vinyl greenhouses and glass greenhouses) that serve as routes for the movement of Takara mite, house walls, concrete surfaces, etc.

The pesticide disclosed herein may be applied as is, or may be applied as a suspension in a solvent such as water.

The method of application of the control agent of the present disclosure is not particularly limited and can be appropriately determined depending on the form of the control agent of the present disclosure. Examples include spraying onto plants, soil, facility materials, house walls, concrete surfaces, etc.

The application amount of the control agent of the present disclosure is not particularly limited and can be set appropriately depending on the form of the control agent of the present disclosure, the target of application, etc.

In this specification, the term "comprising" includes "consisting essentially of" and "consisting of." In addition, the present disclosure encompasses any and all combinations of the constituent elements described in this specification.

Furthermore, the various characteristics (properties, structures, functions, etc.) described for each embodiment of the present disclosure above may be combined in any way to identify the subject matter encompassed by the present disclosure. In other words, the present disclosure encompasses all subject matter consisting of any combination of the combinable characteristics described in this specification.

The contents of this disclosure will be explained in detail using the following experimental examples. However, this disclosure is in no way limited to these. Unless otherwise specified below, experiments were conducted under atmospheric pressure and room temperature conditions.

Balaustium murorum (Hermann); hereafter referred to as Takara mites, were captured using an ultra-fine brush from individuals living on concrete surfaces such as the sides of buildings on the Kyoto Institute of Technology's Saga Campus. To prevent escape, the mites were placed in plastic containers whose inner walls had been coated with Asahi Glass's Teflon (registered trademark) aqueous suspension, Fluon, and kept fasting. They were used for experimental verification within six hours of capture.

The chemicals used as test samples were 6-amyl-2-pyrone (Tokyo Kasei), the trail pheromone of the Japanese sand ant (Pristomyrmex punctatus), and methyl 6-methylsalicylate (synthetic product), the trail pheromone of the Japanese brown ant (Tetramorium tsushimae).

To verify the repellent activity against Takara mite, T-shaped filter paper with a total width of 2 mm and stem and arm lengths of 35 mm was prepared (Figure 1), and 5 μL of a hexane solution containing the test sample was applied to one arm (sample side), and 5 μL of the solvent hexane was applied to the other arm (control side). After air drying, the filter paper was used in the repellency test.

Three black threads were strung across a 90 mm diameter glass petri dish (Figure 2, left), and a T-shaped filter paper was placed on the threads, adjusting them so that the stem and arm ends protruded approximately 2 mm (Figure 2, right). A single individual Takara mite was placed on the end of the stem using a very fine brush, and its behavior was observed, recording its choice behavior at the arm branching point. The individual that reached the end of the arm was determined to have chosen. The amount of test sample applied (absolute amount) was set based on the per-individual content of each trail pheromone in the Japanese ant and the brown ant: 200 pg (1 individual equivalent (AE)) or 2 ng (10 individual equivalents (AE)) of 6-amyl-2-pyrone; and 300 pg (0.1 individual equivalent (AE)) or 3 ng (1 individual equivalent (AE)) of 6-methylsalicylate methyl per arm (17.5 mm long) of the T-shaped filter paper. The results are shown in Figure 3 (6-amyl-2-pyrone) and Figure 4 (methyl 6-methylsalicylate).

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, it was confirmed that Takara mites are repelled by 6-amyl-2-pyrone and methyl 6-methylsalicylate.

However, no tendency was observed for the jewel mites to avoid the footprints of the water ant.

Claims (4)

A Takara mite control agent containing an ant trail pheromone as an active ingredient,
The Takara mite control agent, wherein the ants are the Japanese sand ant and/or the Japanese brown ant. The Takara mite control agent according to claim 1 , wherein the ant trail pheromone is at least one selected from the group consisting of 6-amyl-2-pyrone and 6-methylsalicylate methyl. A Takara mite control agent containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of 6-amyl-2-pyrone and methyl 6-methylsalicylate. A Takara mite control agent containing 6-amyl-2-pyrone.