Repellent and attractant composition for dichromatic animals
Inventors
Werner, Scott J. • Ballinger, Jr., Kenneth E.
Assignees
Arkion Life Sciences LLC • US Department of Agriculture USDA
Publication Number
US-10638745-B2
Publication Date
2020-05-05
Expiration Date
2037-01-04
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Abstract
The combination of a repellent agent or an attractant agent with a wavelength-specific visual cue agent has been found to produce an unexpected and synergistic effect of increased repellency or attraction in dichromatic animals who are not maximally sensitive to the wavelength of the repellent or attractant agent. The method of the invention may be used to repel dichromatic-animal pests; or to prevent or minimize monetary damage, particularly to agricultural products, natural resources or private property. The method of the invention may also be used to attract dichromatic animals for the purpose of agricultural production, recreational opportunities (e.g., wild-rodent feeders), or the effective administration of target-animal pharmaceuticals or mitigation techniques.
Core Innovation
The invention provides compositions and methods for repelling or attracting dichromatic animals from a target by combining a repellent or attractant agent with a wavelength-specific visual cue agent. The visual cue agent has spectral characteristics sufficiently similar to those of the repellent or attractant agent yet falls outside the wavelength ranges to which the dichromatic animal is maximally sensitive. This combination produces an unexpected and synergistic increase in repellency or attraction behavior by at least 5% relative to either agent independently.
The problem addressed is that most animals, including mammals, are dichromatic and are sensitive to only two wavelength regions, typically not including ultraviolet (<400 nm) or infrared (>700 nm). Conventional repellents or attractants target wavelengths within the animals' sensitive range, limiting efficacy. This invention exploits behavioral responsiveness of dichromatic animals to wavelengths outside their maximal sensitivity, enabling improved and synergistic control methods. The invention is applicable for repelling pests and minimizing damage to agricultural products, natural resources, or private property, and for attracting animals for agriculture, recreation, pharmaceutical administration, or mitigation.
Claims Coverage
The patent contains one independent claim reciting a method with multiple inventive features involving compositions and application methods combining wavelength-specific visual cue agents and repellent agents for dichromatic animals.
Combining wavelength-specific visual cue and repellent agents outside dichromatic sensitivity ranges
A method providing a composition comprising a wavelength-specific visual cue agent and a repellent agent where both have spectral characteristics sufficiently similar to each other but fall outside the wavelength ranges within which dichromatic animals are maximally sensitive, such that the composition is not visibly recognized by the animal.
Application of composition to target to change behavioral response synergistically
The composition is applied to a target and presented to the dichromatic animal, resulting in a behavioral response change of at least 5% greater than when exposed to only one of the visual cue agent or the repellent agent.
Use of UV or IR absorbance, reflectance or refraction properties
Both the wavelength-specific visual cue agent and repellent agent exhibit UV or IR absorbance, reflectance, or refraction at wavelengths about 100-400 nm or greater than 700 nm.
Definition of dichromatic animals and target types
The method is applicable for dichromatic animals characterized by two photoreceptor types, and targets including structures, agricultural fields or crops (such as corn, grains, vegetables), seeds, seedlings, orchards, vineyards, livestock feed, fertilizers, pesticides, animal or insect baits, or combinations thereof.
Selection of repellent and visual cue agents
Repellent agents include anthraquinones, flutolanil, anthranilates, methiocarb, caffeine, chlorpyrifos, and other named chemicals. Visual cue agents include UV-absorbent, IR-absorbent, UV- and IR-reflective or refracting materials, human-visible materials, and infrared materials.
The independent claim covers methods of synergistically changing behavioral responses of dichromatic animals by applying compositions comprising wavelength-specific visual cue agents combined with repellent agents, both operating outside the animals' maximal spectral sensitivity, and includes definitions of suitable animals, targets, and chemical agents.
Stated Advantages
The combination of a repellent or attractant agent with a wavelength-specific visual cue agent results in a synergistic increase in behavioral repellency or attraction by at least 5% compared to using either agent alone.
The methods allow effective repellency or attraction using reduced amounts of repellent or attractant agents while maintaining efficacy.
Behavioral responsiveness of dichromatic animals to wavelengths outside their maximal sensitivity is exploited, enabling novel repellent and attractant strategies.
Improved protection of agricultural products, natural resources, and private property from damage by dichromatic-animal pests.
Applications to attract animals for agricultural production, recreational opportunities, or administration of pharmaceuticals or mitigation techniques.
Documented Applications
Repelling dichromatic-animal pests to prevent or minimize monetary damage to agricultural products, natural resources or private property.
Attracting dichromatic animals for agricultural production purposes.
Attracting dichromatic animals for recreational use, such as wild rodent feeders.
Effective administration of target-animal pharmaceuticals or mitigation techniques.
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