Preparation of long-lasting releasing methyl eugenol fiber membrane and its trapping analysis on Bactrocera dorsalis

Abstract

Methyl eugenol (ME) is a highly potent sexual attractant for Bactrocera dorsalis, which plays a crucial role in agricultural pest management. In this study, a composite fiber membrane was prepared by polystyrene (PS), polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), and ME through electrostatic spinning respectively. The effective release period of ME was prolonged by triggering PEGDA with UV light. The mass ratio of PS to PEGDA affects the morphology of the fibers as well as the loading capacity (LC) and encapsulation efficiency (EE) for ME. Under optimal test conditions, the diameter of the fibers was 1.70 μm, and the ME loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency were (7.80 ± 0.07%) and (85.84 ± 7.94%). The combination of PS and PEGDA was confirmed by FTIR analysis, while its excellent thermal stability was verified through TGA testing. In the PS/PEGDA-ME-UV membrane, the cumulative release rate of ME reached 81.97% by week 8, which conformed to a first-order model. In the trapping experiments, a 53% rate of Bactrocera dorsalis capture was maintained even by week 8, demonstrating its potential for application in agricultural biocontrol.