除水災外,蝗禍亦會對糧食供應做成極大的傷害。770Please respect copyright.PENANAfIBdzCn2KE
770Please respect copyright.PENANAQN9w5Ito4m
(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。770Please respect copyright.PENANA1YbU4vfM8e770Please respect copyright.PENANAiLUuFbWT7K
770Please respect copyright.PENANAT92P13rb9s
770Please respect copyright.PENANAHC6METHtIa
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。770Please respect copyright.PENANAOxut0hbaOA
770Please respect copyright.PENANACtV10mlpJ2
770Please respect copyright.PENANAXvFet5q3gF
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。770Please respect copyright.PENANA1o7cj0TPS8
770Please respect copyright.PENANADh2QiClHJz
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2610-4770Please respect copyright.PENANAypQoRCsl2Q
770Please respect copyright.PENANAUB5BPe8Ib1
(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。770Please respect copyright.PENANAaLpeFZ2Qwl770Please respect copyright.PENANAcoxNDivzQS
770Please respect copyright.PENANA0FP5EZiWNs
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。770Please respect copyright.PENANAfnKEEFEKEZ
770Please respect copyright.PENANAAyaa4LbupQ
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;770Please respect copyright.PENANA9lvXqaJvo3
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。770Please respect copyright.PENANAzDFKWC2IvZ
770Please respect copyright.PENANAIoIXPXwLgc
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)770Please respect copyright.PENANACf200vk8j3770Please respect copyright.PENANAmwtzhKuyUe
770Please respect copyright.PENANAwPb1VVyLCg
770Please respect copyright.PENANARMfXTN9P7q
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。770Please respect copyright.PENANAcM4XrmYkoa