A scientific breakthrough that could save lives.

Research work carried out jointly in China and France has made it possible to identify the sex pheromone of the Asian hornet, which gives hope for the forthcoming development of a trap against this insect which can prove fatal for humans.

As part of this partnership, the insect pheromone was "tested as bait", explains a press release from the University of Tours.

The researchers "showed that the pheromone bait could attract many males during the species' reproductive period (from September to November) and thus keep them away from future queens at the origin of new colonies", specifies the press release.

The possible trap would be to “use this sex pheromone as a selective bait.

As this one is species-specific, it only attracts males of the Asian hornet.”

A solution to fight against the Asian hornet?

This is a track explored by @IRBI @UnivTours @INEE_CNRS in his latest work https://t.co/TxlTk7gDCV 👏 pic.twitter.com/EwjmGGp9hs

– CNRS Center Limousin Poitou-Charentes (@DR08_CNRS) February 8, 2022

A possible gradual decrease in colonies

The goal of this trap "is to capture these males in large numbers before they can mate with future queens," the statement said.

The queens "cannot mate with males, or not enough, it is possible to imagine in the long term a reduction in the number of colonies of Asian hornets on the ground or less populous colonies" In addition, the scientists note that, “if [the queens] mate with their brothers, the phenomenon of inbreeding that French researchers had highlighted increases, also giving rise to a reduction in the number of individuals.

»

The Asian hornet (

Vespa velutina nigrithorax

) “is known for the devastation it causes on bee colonies, on biodiversity and the accidents it causes each year, recalls the press release.

Many people are bitten and some die.

This work, the results of which have just been published in the scientific journal 

Entomologia Generalis,

was carried out as part of a partnership between the Institute for Research on Ensect Biology (CNRS-University of Tours) and the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (Kunming, Chinese Academy of Sciences).

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