Innovation of Natural-Based Ant Repellent Gel: Experimental Development and Efficacy Evaluation to Enhance Safe and Sustainable Alternatives for Household Pest Management

Abstract

This experimental research aimed to develop and evaluate the efficacy of a natural-based ant repellent gel as a safe and sustainable alternative for household pest management. A comparative experimental design was employed to examine three formulations: lemon extract, vinegar, and essential oil-based gels. All experiments were conducted under controlled conditions, including equal gel volume, identical experimental areas, and consistent observation periods. Data were collected on the time required for ants to begin avoiding the treated area, the duration of absence before returning, and their behavioral responses. The results indicated that all formulations effectively reduced the presence of ants in the experimental area. Among them, the essential oil-based gel demonstrated the highest efficacy, inducing the fastest avoidance response (mean = 1 minute) and the longest duration before ants returned (15 minutes), along with the most pronounced avoidance behavior. This was followed by the vinegar-based and lemon-based formulations, respectively. The findings suggest that volatile natural substances with strong odors play a significant role in disrupting ants’ olfactory system and pheromone-based communication, leading to effective spatial avoidance behavior. This study provides practical implications for the development of safe and environmentally friendly ant repellent products and highlights their potential as effective alternatives to chemical-based solutions in household pest management. Furthermore, the results can be extended to product development and community-level as well as commercial applications in the future.