除水災外,蝗禍亦會對糧食供應做成極大的傷害。815Please respect copyright.PENANAvLaODq3enJ
815Please respect copyright.PENANAmOvXc6eedU
(圖1)蝗蟲可以分成為兩個形態,獨居形態(Solitary)和群居形態(Gregarious)。當獨居蝗蟲聚集在一起後,牠們身體便會由綠色轉變成黑色,成為群居蝗蟲,同時間亦會在體內產生Phenylacetonitrile (PAN)化學物。815Please respect copyright.PENANA4SZ0b2fYG9815Please respect copyright.PENANAOwEXqAyr56
815Please respect copyright.PENANAss8edCoaxj
815Please respect copyright.PENANAzp5OgmbJEs
群居蝗蟲受到捕食者攻擊的話,身體裡的PAN化學物便會迅速代謝成為山埃。目的就是如果自己受傷甚至是不幸戰敗的話,對手亦會因為進食自己含有山埃的部份而中毒身亡,玉石俱焚。815Please respect copyright.PENANAtnAzqwsqqw
815Please respect copyright.PENANA45LdtsgsZl
815Please respect copyright.PENANALKXyMSv372
2020年8月12日,有科學家在《Science》期刊發表學術文章,講述一道關於蝗蟲的研究。815Please respect copyright.PENANARXwyZcTUd7
815Please respect copyright.PENANAUpEFwo7tOG
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2610-4815Please respect copyright.PENANARICVAEQ9uB
815Please respect copyright.PENANAOn4G9GL446
(圖2)他們發現,若果群居蝗蟲聚集數量多於4隻的話,牠們的身體及糞便會散發出一隻名為4VA(4-Vinylanisole)的化學物。815Please respect copyright.PENANAfFcmeNcFKj815Please respect copyright.PENANAea549igd04
815Please respect copyright.PENANAGdG9S499rw
不論是獨居蝗蟲還是群居蝗蟲,亦不論性別,牠們均會被4VA化學物深深吸引,從而聚集成群,並繼續不斷散發4VA化學物,無止境地召集同伴,建組蝗蟲大軍。815Please respect copyright.PENANAwgMMEIjA5f
815Please respect copyright.PENANAF4a0klEjOm
科學家亦發現,蝗蟲觸鬚裡頭名為OR35的嗅覺細胞主力負責感測4VA的存在。當利用基因CRISPR技術移除蝗蟲OR35嗅覺細胞的話,牠們便會失去聚集的能力,進一步確立4VA的重要性;815Please respect copyright.PENANAjIAyl0NBZG
目前為止,他們並沒有發現或研發化學物可以抑制蝗蟲的OR35嗅覺細胞。815Please respect copyright.PENANACygHyoqAL9
815Please respect copyright.PENANAWdJKsNYmiM
他們亦嘗試進行實地研究,在野外設立8個含有4VA化學物的捕蝗網。統計過後,捕獲的蝗蟲數量的確有所上升,但並非超級顯著。(圖3)815Please respect copyright.PENANAq8632SjDr2815Please respect copyright.PENANA9ejF5Vxlgy
815Please respect copyright.PENANAkmyZwoEB1E
815Please respect copyright.PENANAuBdVnEpoFQ
雖然如此,如果設立的數量足夠的話,不排除可以能夠誘導蝗蟲群組遠離農地,保護農作物。815Please respect copyright.PENANAHJ1L7byhyr