Repellent tricks insects' feet

A cheap, durable, non-toxic and environmentally safe insect repellent coating 'tricks' the feet of insects feet by making them self-lubricate.

The coating, developed by scientists at Cambridge University, could be used against termites, cockroaches and other pests such as ants and locusts, which are responsible for billions of pounds worth of damage to homes, crops and people’s health across the globe each year.

Insects are capable of clinging to almost any natural and artificial substrate by using an emulsion with properties similar to custard or ketchup. They secrete this fluid from pads located on the bottom of their feet.

When studying insect pads in detail, the Cambridge researchers discovered that the special surface coating changes the properties of this fluid. As a consequence, the adhesive secretion turns into a lubricant and the insects start slipping.

Jan-Henning Dirks, who studied insect adhesion for his PhD, said: ‘We first came across these surface properties quite by accident, but soon we realised that this could actually be something really useful.’