除水災外,蝗禍亦會對糧食供應做成極大的傷害。597Please respect copyright.PENANAJds4cdvyJJ
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(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。597Please respect copyright.PENANAv8EuUpRnUw597Please respect copyright.PENANAn42a1KFfE4
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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。597Please respect copyright.PENANACADXUCtAn8
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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。597Please respect copyright.PENANAumpKCcF1za
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Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2610-4597Please respect copyright.PENANACM6IDGPIcu
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(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。597Please respect copyright.PENANApJL0Vsgnee597Please respect copyright.PENANArTsV2gjsSE
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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。597Please respect copyright.PENANARIR0jbdv3f
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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;597Please respect copyright.PENANAazgaD5xsXv
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。597Please respect copyright.PENANA6O33oAUYqr
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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)597Please respect copyright.PENANA4GdaQWn7ex597Please respect copyright.PENANA8yHA9TXkDm
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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。597Please respect copyright.PENANAQcGcePd2Oe