除水災外,蝗禍亦會對糧食供應做成極大的傷害。558Please respect copyright.PENANALWv1qUS8h1
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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。558Please respect copyright.PENANA8H095CRywE
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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。558Please respect copyright.PENANALEMatk5SJX
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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。558Please respect copyright.PENANAf2cz6nTORG
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Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2610-4558Please respect copyright.PENANAmHh1aPbCT2
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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。558Please respect copyright.PENANAqjuGi8iwPG
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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。558Please respect copyright.PENANAY3htLmkxFA
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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;558Please respect copyright.PENANAgXpASPXILb
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。558Please respect copyright.PENANAfbkoV5THCh
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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)558Please respect copyright.PENANABOLR3dLDRh
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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。558Please respect copyright.PENANAvY4J9zIDG7