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Efficiency of Natural Ingredients to Act As
House-Infesting Ants Repellent
Ayuni binti Razali
Dr. Norasmah Basari
Bachelor of Applied Science
(Biodiversity Conservation and Management)
School of Marine and Environmental Sciences
Chemical repellents were used to repel ants since 1400 years ago. However,
using insecticides can cause harm towards human and pets such as poisoning
and allergic and therefore, search for natural repellent is increasing. This study
was conducted to determine the effectiveness of selected natural ingredients
which is lemon juice, cinnamon powder and eggshell powder to act as ant
repellent. Six pieces of cardboard were put with strawberry jam as food baits.
Cinnamon paste, eggshell paste, lemon juice, mixed paste and fluon were
spread into the corner of the cardboard. All of the cardboard were placed in
front of Paratrechina longicornis nest. The number of ants visiting food baits
was recorded for every one hour for five hours. The entire natural ingredient
cardboard’s show a positive result since the number of ants visiting food baits
were less than positive control cardboard. However, the mixed paste cardboard
shows a good consistency in repel the ants at home or other premises. From
this study, we can produce a product to repel ant using all this natural
ingredients.
Keywords: House-infesting ant, insecticides, natural ingredient, Paratrechina
longicornis, repellent
1683 | UMT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY 2018