Researchers from Keele University in the U.K. have developed a synthetic toxic sugar inspired by mangoes that promises to control mosquito populations.

While attempting to devise attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSBs), which are traps designed to lure insects with sugar traced with toxic ingredients for killing them, the researchers examined the luring power of mangoes.

Recognizing that following a period of decay, the mangoes no longer attract insects due to an altered odor profile, the researchers examined the substances emitted by three-day-old mangoes, isolating those chemical compounds likely to lure mosquitoes.

Following tests of different chemical combinations, the team created a synthetic ATSB using chemical compounds — erpinolene, (E)-caryophyllene and humulene — from aged mango fruit that would not decay as rapidly as an actual mango.

Researchers reported that the ATSBs performed well in the lab and proved just as effective at attracting mosquitoes as an actual mango.

The results are published in the Journal of Chemical Ecology.