Recently, the Economic Crop Pest Monitoring and Control Innovation Team and the Molecular Targets of Pesticides and Green Pesticide Development Innovation Team at the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPPCAAS), jointly published a research paper titled  Plant volatiles-loaded core-shell micro-nano fibers to achieve efficient and sustained bisexual attraction to pests  in  Journal of Nanobiotechnology  (IF=10.6). The study developed core-shell micro-nano fibers loaded with feeding attractants for the meadow moth (Loxostege sticticalis) and successfully applied them for bisexual attraction and trapping of pests in field conditions, offering novel insights into the sustained release and long-term efficacy of insect behavioral regulators.  

The Loxostege sticticalis, a migratory pest widely distributed and highly destructive to crops, poses a significant challenge in agricultural pest management. Insect behavioral regulators are emerging eco-friendly biocontrol technology, and they have gained increasing attention due to their low toxicity, high selectivity, and environmental compatibility. In particular, pheromone-based strategies, such as releasing plant-derived feeding attractants, have proven effective for pest control. However, achieving long-term and stable attraction in field environments remains a critical challenge, especially under variable conditions. Thus, developing innovative materials capable of sustained release and prolonged attractiveness is essential for enhancing the efficacy of insect behavioral regulators.

This study employed coaxial electrospinning technology to fabricate core-shell micro-nano fibers using eco-friendly polymers. For the first time, the fibers were loaded with a bisexual meadow moth adult attractant blend—including 1-octen-3-ol, trans-2-hexenal, linalool, and anethole—based on the team’s prior research on feeding attractant formulations. The fibers achieved an encapsulation efficiency of 78% for active compounds and demonstrated excellent sustained-release properties, releasing over 60% of the attractants within 80 days while mitigating initial burst release. Electrophysiological and behavioral assays revealed that the fibers maintained electrophysiological activity for at least 90 days, continuously attracting both male and female adults, with trapping efficacy persisting beyond 75 days. Field trials further confirmed the fibers’ robust attraction capability. In addition, the fibers exhibited remarkable stress resistance, biodegradability, and environmental compatibility, protecting active molecules and minimizing ecological impact. These findings highlight the fibers’ potential as efficient, eco-friendly carriers for plant-based attractants, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides in agriculture and pest management.   

Ph.D. candidates Chenglong Cui and Wenjie Shangguan are co-first authors of the paper from IPPCAAS. Professor Jiao Yin and Researcher Lidong Cao served as corresponding authors. The research also involved contributions from Researcher Kebin Li, Researcher Xingfu Jiang, and Ph.D. candidate Zhimin Wang. The study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD1400600) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32472618).

Source: https://jnanobiotechnology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12951-025-03269-2