Under the dual pressure of climate change and water scarcity, modern agriculture is rapidly shifting toward precision drip irrigation systems. By delivering water directly to the root zone through low-pressure pipelines, drip irrigation can save roughly 30–70% of water compared to traditional flood or sprinkler irrigation, and also can raise fertilizer use efficiency to around 80–90%. This allows crops to thrive even in dry or poor soils and has become a lifeline for farming in arid regions such as Israel and Australia, as well as in Northwestern and Northern China where drip irrigation is increasingly adopted.
However, this seemingly ideal technology faces a hidden threat: insect damage. Soil-dwelling insects are constantly seeking precious water sources; mole crickets, white grubs, wireworms and ants are attracted by the moisture and micro-flow from drip emitters, turning the thin walls of drip tape into their “hunting ground”. They chew through the pipe wall and clog outlets, causing leaks or complete irrigation failure, which not only reduces yields but also forces frequent replacement and repair of field layouts. How to enhance the durability of drip systems through material innovation and insect control technology has become a critical topic in smart agriculture. HanskMB Anti-Insect Masterbatch uses a patented process to embed pyrethroid actives into the plastic matrix, creating a long-lasting anti-insect drip solution that helps growers escape the cycle of constantly replacing damaged tapes.
Insect Damage Risks to Drip Tape
During dry spells, insects intensify their search for water, making soil pests one of the most serious threats to drip systems. Thin-wall drip tape is especially vulnerable, with the following typical damage patterns:
螻蛄（Mole Crickets）
白蠐螬（White Grubs）
金針蟲（Wireworms）
- Mole crickets and white grubs: They follow the tape fold and tear along the edge, causing extensive longitudinal rips.
- Wireworms: They bite neat round holes directly through the wall, resulting in obvious leaks and pressure loss.
- Weevil larvae: They bore through the pipe body, accelerating aging and premature failure.
- Large ants: They cluster around outlets, chewing the emitter area and triggering clogging and highly non-uniform water distribution.
These forms of damage not only drive up maintenance costs, but also interrupt irrigation and lead to yield losses, while conventional spray insecticides struggle to control pests living deep in the soil profile.
Core Technology of HanskMB Anti-Insect Masterbatch
HanskMB Anti-Insect Masterbatch is based on pyrethroid chemistry, mimicking the natural insecticidal/repellent mechanism found in chrysanthemum plants. At very low dosages, it disrupts insect nervous systems to deliver rapid knockdown and strong avoidance on contact. The key innovations include:
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Stable embedding and controlled release: The active ingredient is deeply embedded within PE/LDPE, then gradually migrates to the surface under strictly controlled release, preventing rapid depletion.
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High-temperature resistance: Thermal stability up to about 300°C, suitable for film blowing, extrusion and injection molding of drip lines and tapes.
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Safe, non-leaching design: The active does not leach out into the irrigation water, minimizing impact on the environment and non-target beneficial organisms.
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Long-term performance: Accelerated aging tests (e.g., at 55°C for weeks) show minimal loss of activity, corresponding to up to 10 years of functional service life in typical use scenarios.
Third-party trials have demonstrated up to 100% mortality for ants and beetles, with boring insects completely avoiding treated materials in field tests.
Agricultural Applications and Key Benefits
HanskMB-enhanced drip tapes are designed for polyolefin systems and can be processed via straightforward blending on existing equipment, with no hardware changes required. Major application scenarios include:
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Surface drip irrigation: Protects thin-wall tapes laid on or just below the soil surface from insect attack, extending service life by 2–3 times.
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Subsurface drip irrigation: Shields buried lines from deep soil pests, reducing leak incidence by over 90% and stabilizing operating pressure across long runs.
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Greenhouse and tunnel systems: Used together with mulch films and ground covers to build an integrated physical–chemical barrier, reducing reliance on foliar and soil-applied insecticides across the entire production cycle.
By integrating anti-insect functionality directly into the drip tape material, HanskMB helps growers secure irrigation uniformity, protect yield, and cut replacement and labor costs, while aligning with global trends in water-smart and sustainable agriculture.
