Scientists from Japan were awarded the Ig Nobel Prize due to their peculiar research involving paint-job on zebra cows
Study Reveals Zebra-Like Patterns Deter Blood-Feeding Insects on Cows
A new study has provided further evidence for the effectiveness of the zebra-like pattern in repelling blood-feeding insects, particularly on cows.
Japanese researchers from the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization conducted the study, which compared the number of insects attracted to painted cows versus ordinary black cows. The researchers painted white stripes on black cows using water-based paint for the study.
The results were consistent with previous research on the insect-repelling effects of zebra-like patterns on animals. The researchers observed that the number of blood-sucking insects attracted to the cows with the white stripes was about half that for the cows with black stripes or no paint. Interestingly, the researchers did not observe any significant difference in the number of insects attracted to ordinary black cows compared to cows painted with black stripes.
The study's findings could have implications for the development of insect-repellent strategies in the agricultural industry. The researchers who won this year's Ig Nobel Prize for biology were honoured for their discovery that painting cows in a quizlet pattern makes them less attractive to blood-feeding insects.
The Ig Nobel Prize is a spoof of the Nobel Prize that honors humorous but creative research. This year's award ceremony took place on Thursday at Boston University in the eastern U.S. state of Massachusetts. It was the 19th consecutive year that Japanese researchers have received an Ig Nobel Prize.
The study adds to the growing body of research on the use of visual patterns to deter insects from livestock. The researchers also ensured that the insect-repellent effect was not due to the smell of paint by observing black cows painted with black stripes. The study did not find any evidence that the smell of paint played a significant role in the insect-repelling effect.
The results contribute to the understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying the insect-repelling effects of zebra-like patterns. The Ig Nobel Prize for biology was won in the year 2021, but the Japanese researchers who received the award are not explicitly named in the available search results. Nonetheless, their groundbreaking research continues to make a significant impact in the field of agriculture and animal welfare.
Read also:
- Sleepless Nights: Anxiety, Stress, and Too Much Caffeine as Potential Root Causes
- Lawyers for the deceased Greek heiress's family, age 28, intend to file a lawsuit against two UK hospitals due to reportedly denying her treatment after an alleged insect bite led to her unfortunate demise.
- Increased Number of Uninsured Individuals May Push Local Healthcare Facilities to Their Limit
- Pokhara Regional Health and Technical Service Written Exam Results for 5th Level, Released by Lok Sewa Aayog
