AU2021288735A1

AU2021288735A1 - Pest control composition

Info

Publication number: AU2021288735A1
Application number: AU2021288735A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Avijit DAS; Anil Kumar MAKKAPATI; Kunal Mukhopadhyay; Vartul PANHALKAR; Shanthakumar SHANMUGAM PERUMAL; Ramneek SINGH; Adeeti VERMA
Original assignee: Reckitt and Colman Overseas Hygiene Home Ltd
Current assignee: Reckitt and Colman Overseas Hygiene Home Ltd
Priority date: 2020-06-10
Filing date: 2021-06-10
Publication date: 2023-01-19
Also published as: GB202011407D0; WO2021250410A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition, more specifically to an insect control composition comprising at least 0.5 wt.% of at least two pyrethroids selected from the group comprising Transfluthrin, Imiprothrin and Metofluthrin, and combinations thereof, based on the total weight of the composition; and a solvent. The invention further relates to an insect control product comprising the composition according to the invention and an emanation device, wherein said emanation device is selected from the group comprising an electric heating device, a piezo electric diffuser and an ambient emanation device. The invention also relates to a use of the composition according to the invention or the product according to the invention to kill, knockdown and/or repel insects.

Description

Pest Control Composition

The present invention relates to a composition, more specifically to an insect control composition, to an insect control product comprising said composition and to a use of the composition or the insect control product to kill, knockdown or repel insects. Background

Pyrethrins refer to a group of closely related esters extracted from the Pyrethrum flower ( Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium). These compounds are effective pesticides. Pyrethroids are any of several synthetic compounds chemically related to pyrethrin, having insecticidal activity. For example, permethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid useful for killing adult mosquitoes.

Pyrethroids tend to have a relatively low degree of toxicity to humans and animals and hence are desirable to use for pest control.

Aerosol formulations containing pyrethroids have the added desirability of effectively delivering small amounts of insecticide due to the dispersion of the active ingredient and penetrating nature of an aerosol spray.

However, aerosols do not allow for the continuous release of actives having insecticide activity.

One way of releasing actives with insecticide activity continuously or semi-continuously during a certain period of time is by providing an insecticide composition in a container attached to an emanation device, as described in patent application WO 2013/144596 A1. This emanation device can be, for example, an electric heating device, such as a liquid vaporizer (LV) or a liquid electrical device (LED), a piezo electric diffuser (PED) or an ambient emanation device. However, these devices are normally targeted to repel and/or knockdown flying insects. The active vapours of current formulations are believed to rise from the device and give only protection from flying insects.

Therefore, there is a need of a pest control composition that can be used with an emanation device and that targets flying and crawling insects. The composition should have a low degree of toxicity to humans and to domestic animals to meet the regulatory requirements of various countries where they are intended to be used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a composition and an insect control product that repel and/or knockdown or kill flying and crawling insects.

Summary of the invention

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a composition comprising: at least 0.5 wt.% of at least two pyrethroids selected from the group comprising Transfluthrin, Imiprothrin and Metofluthrin, and combinations thereof, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably at least 0.75 wt.%; and a solvent.

In one embodiment, the composition comprises between 0.75 wt.% and 5 wt.% of said at least two pyrethroids, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.85 wt.% and 4 wt.%, more preferably between 0.90 wt.% and 3 wt.%, even more preferably between 0.90 wt.% and 2.50 wt.%.

In another embodiment, the composition comprises between 0.5 wt.% and 3 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.1 wt.% and 3 wt.% of Imiprothrin, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.5 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.2 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Imiprothrin, more preferably between 0.5 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.3 wt.% and 1 wt.% of Imiprothrin, most preferably between 0.75 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.30 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Imiprothrin.

In another embodiment, the composition comprises between 0.5 wt.% and 3 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 1 wt.% of Metofluthrin, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.5 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 0.75 wt.% of Metofluthrin, more preferably between 0.5 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Metofluthrin, most preferably between 0.75 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.1 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Metofluthrin.

In another embodiment, the composition comprises between 0.1 wt.% and 3 wt.% of Imiprothrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 1 wt.% of Metofluthrin, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.2 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Imiprothrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 0.75 wt.% of Metofluthrin, more preferably between 0.3 wt.% and 1 wt.% of Imiprothrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Metofluthrin, most preferably between 0.30 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Imiprothrin and between 0.1 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Metofluthrin.

The solvent may comprise at least one aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, preferably selected from the group of hydrocarbon solvents having a flash point of at least 50 °C, more preferably having a flash point of at least 60 °C, even more preferably having a flash point between 60°C and 150 °C, most preferably having a flash point between 60 °C and 140 °C and/or having a boiling point of at least 150 °C, preferably having a boiling point of at least 200°C, more preferably having a boiling point between 200 °C and 500 °C, even more preferably having a boiling point between 200 °C and 400°C.

The solvent may also comprise water, one or more surfactants and one or more alcohols. In this case, the one or more surfactants may comprise one or more non-ionic surfactants. Preferably said one or more surfactants consists of one or more non-ionic surfactants.

In an embodiment, the composition comprises at least 90 wt.% of said solvent, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably at least 91 wt.%, more preferably at least 92 wt.%, even more preferably at least 93 wt.%, most preferably at least 94 wt.%, for example, at least 95 wt.%.

In another embodiment, the composition is an insect control composition, preferably an insect repellent composition or an insecticide composition.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to an insect control product comprising the composition according to the first aspect and an emanation device, wherein said emanation device is selected from the group comprising an electric heating device, a piezo electric diffuser and an ambient emanation device.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to a use of the composition according to the first aspect or the insect control product according to the second aspect to kill, knockdown and/or repel insects

In one embodiment, the insects are flying and/or crawling insects. Definitions

The following definitions are used in the present application.

“Insect control product”, as used in the present application means: a product comprising a composition, which is used as a means for directly or indirectly controlling, destroying, attracting or repelling insects.

“Bio-efficacy”, as used in the present application means: efficacy of an insect control composition or an insect control product to knockdown or kill a determined type of insects.

“Peet-Grady Chamber test”, as used in the present application means: a standardized procedure for the evaluation and testing of insect control compositions or products. In the case of flying insects, the knock-down percentage is determined after subjecting the insects to a composition provided by an emanation device during 60 minutes as recommended by the World Health Organisation’s guidelines for evaluation of pesticides.

“Double-cage experiments”, as used in the present application means: experiments performed to determine the repellence of crawling insects, for example, American roaches, Periplaneta americana. Two customized repellency chambers with dimensions 70 x 70 cm (glass cube with chamber A and B) connected with a tunnel of 1 -meter (tunnel C) distance between them are used as crawling insect repellence chambers. To perform the tests, a population of 10 insects are released inside one of the repellency chambers after treating the chamber with a specific composition or formulation. The composition or formulation is applied by using a liquid vaporizer. Subsequently, repellence and knockdown are observed. For repellency, the observation criterion is the movement of roaches from chamber A (i.e. the treated chamber) to B or vice versa via the tunnel C up to 30 minutes or 40 minutes. The bioactivity of the selected products/formulations against roach is further evaluated by considering the number of knocked down recorded in both chambers including tunnel at a certain time.

“Landing and probing experiments”, as used in the present application means: experiments performed in a 20m³ chamber. For flying insects, e.g. five-days old, overnight-starved, free flying, lab bred female Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes, 50 free flying insects are released inside the test and control chamber. Subsequently, a trained experimenter enters the test and control chamber for pre-assessment of mosquito readiness by exposing his/her lower limbs for 15 minutes. A device with the composition/formulation to be tested is preheated outside the chamber. After preheating, the device is allowed to work continuously inside the test chamber and the windows and the vent of the chamber are closed for a determined amount of time. After this time has passed, the window and vent are opened and the trained experimenter sits inside the chamber for 60 minutes to record the landing-probing (LP) inhibition and the knockdown at different times, e.g. after 10 to 60 minutes. Simultaneously, another trained experimenter, i.e. the control experimenter, enters a control chamber, i.e. a chamber without any device with composition/formulation, to check the mosquito landing-probing. The chamber is ventilated and cleaned after every replicate to eliminate the effect of previous treatment residues.

“Knock-down percentage” or “% KD”, as used in the present application means: the percentage of insects that after contact with a (sub)lethal dose of an insect control composition cannot move, take off or stand, with respect to the initial number of insects at the beginning of an experiment. The assessment of knock-down is made within 1 hour of exposure.

“Knock-down test for crawling insects” or “Small glass chamber test”, as used in the present patent application means: test for determining the “knock-down percentage” or “%KD” of crawling insects, for example, adults and nymphs of American roaches. The insects are introduced into a glass chamber with dimensions 70x70 cm, and subsequently a device with the composition/formulation to be tested is pre-heated and introduced into the chamber with the insects. The composition/formulation is allowed to work continuously for 40 to 70 minutes. A trained experimenter records the knock-down at one-minute interval until 10 minutes and subsequently at 10 minutes interval until 100% KD or 40 to 70 minutes, whichever occurred first.

“Imiprothrin” or ΊMI”, as used in the present application means: synthetic pyrethroid insecticide having the chemical name (2,5-Dioxo-3-prop-2-ynylimidazolidin-1-yl) methyl 2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methylprop-1-enyl) cyclopropane- 1-carboxylate.

“Transfluthrin” or “TFT”, as used in the present application means: pyrethroid insecticide having the chemical name (1R,3S)-3-(2,2-Dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1- cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl) methyl ester. “Metofluthrin” or “MFT”, as used in the present application means: pyrethroid used as an insect repellent having the chemical name 2,3,5,6-Tetrafluoro-4-(methoxymethyl) benzyl 2,2-dimethyl-3-(prop-1-en-1-yl) cyclopropane carboxylate.

Detailed description of the invention

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a ccomposition comprising:

- at least 0.5 wt.% of at least two pyrethroids selected from the group comprising Transfluthrin, Imiprothrin and Metofluthrin, and combinations thereof, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably at least 0.75 wt.%; and

- a solvent.

The present inventors have observed that by combining at least two of the above- mentioned pyrethroids a synergistic effect is achieved. This means that a lower amount of the combined at least two pyrethroids is needed to achieve a certain %KD or bio efficacy than when only one pyrethroid is used.

In addition, the composition according to the invention targets not only flying insects, but also crawling insects.

The composition may comprise between 0.75 wt.% and 5 wt.% of said at least two pyrethroids, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.85 wt.% and 4 wt.%, more preferably between 0.90 wt.% and 3 wt.%, even more preferably between 0.90 wt.% and 2.50 wt.%.

Considering the specific amounts of the at least two pyrethroids, the composition may comprise: between 0.5 wt.% and 3 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.1 wt.% and 3 wt.% of Imiprothrin, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.5 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.2 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Imiprothrin, more preferably between 0.5 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.3 wt.% and 1 wt.% of Imiprothrin, most preferably between 0.75 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.30 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Imiprothrin, or between 0.5 wt.% and 3 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 1 wt.% of Metofluthrin, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.5 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 0.75 wt.% of Metofluthrin, more preferably between 0.5 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Metofluthrin, most preferably between 0.75 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.1 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Metofluthrin, or between 0.1 wt.% and 3 wt.% of Imiprothrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 1 wt.% of Metofluthrin, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.2 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Imiprothrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 0.75 wt.% of Metofluthrin, more preferably between 0.3 wt.% and 1 wt.% of Imiprothrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Metofluthrin, most preferably between 0.30 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Imiprothrin and between 0.1 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Metofluthrin.

The solvent is needed for allowing the composition to be released into the air. This can be non-aqueous or aqueous.

In the case of a non-aqueous solvent, the solvent may comprise at least one aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, preferably at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent. The solvent may comprise hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of alcohols, n- paraffins, isoparaffins, cyclo-paraffins, and combinations thereof. The paraffin may be short-chain paraffin with a carbon chain length £ Ci₃, medium-chain paraffins with a carbon chain length CM to C17, long-chain paraffins with a carbon chain length ³ CM, or a combination of paraffins, i.e. a blend of paraffins.

In an embodiment, the non-aqueous solvent comprises at least one aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, preferably selected from the group of hydrocarbon solvents having a flash point of at least 50°C, more preferably having a flash point of at least 60°C, even more preferably having a flash point between 60°C and 150°C, most preferably having a flash point between 60°C and 140°C and/or having a boiling point of at least 150°C, preferably having a boiling point of at least 200°C, more preferably having a boiling point between 200°C and 500 °C, even more preferably having a boiling point between 200°C and 400°C.

In a preferred embodiment, the non-aqueous solvent comprises at least one aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon solvent selected from the group of hydrocarbon solvents: having a flash point of at least 50°C, more preferably having a flash point of at least 60°C, even more preferably having a flash point between 60°C and 150°C, most preferably having a flash point between 60°C and 140 °C; and having a boiling point of at least 150°C, preferably having a boiling point of at least 200°C, more preferably having a boiling point between 200°C and 500°C, even more preferably having a boiling point between 200°C and 400°C.

It is important that the solvent has a flash point of at least 50°C and preferably a boiling point of at least 200°C, because it would allow the composition to be used in an emanation device, for example, an electric heating device, such as a liquid vaporizer (LV) or a liquid electrical device (LED), a piezo electric diffuser (PED) or an ambient emanation device. Preferably said at least one hydrocarbon comprises a blend of short- chain paraffins and medium-chain paraffins.

The hydrocarbon solvent is preferably dearomatized and deodorized and comprises normal paraffins, iso-paraffins and cyclo-paraffins. By dearomatized it is meant that the hydrocarbon solvent contains less than 2 wt.% aromatics. Examples of these hydrocarbons are Exxsol ™ D80 and Exxsol ™ D130.

When the solvent is aqueous, it comprises water, one or more surfactants and one or more alcohols. Preferably said one or more alcohols comprise or consist of C1-C4 alcohols selected from the group consisting of ethanol, propanol, glycol, glycol ether and alcohol ethers, including isomers and mixtures thereof.

The one or more surfactants may comprise non-ionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants or a blend thereof. The one or more surfactants preferably comprise one or more non-ionic surfactants such as for example poly-glycerol oleate, or a blend. Other nonionic surfactants that can be used include for example fatty acid, fatty alcohol, and amine, ethoxylates, propoxylates and ethoxylate/propoxylate combinations; mono-, di- and tri-sorbitan esters; mono- and d-glycerides; polyoxyethylene sorbitol esters; glycol ether; and blends thereof.

Preferably the one or more surfactants comprise or consist of one or more non-ionic surfactants. Examples of preferred non-ionic surfactants are spans (sorbitan esters) and tweens (Ethoxylated sorbitan esters or polysorbates).

Independently of the type of solvent that is used in the composition, this may comprise at least 90 wt.% of said solvent, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably at least 91 wt.%, more preferably at least 92 wt.%, even more preferably at least 93 wt.%, most preferably at least 94 wt.%, for example, at least 95 wt.%.

The composition may further comprise additional components. For example, it may contain a perfume or fragrance, and/or an antioxidant. The perfume may comprise a natural or a synthetic oil or a blend, for example pine oil, neem oil, thyme oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, lemon grass oil and combinations thereof.

The antioxidant is preferably butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), or butylated hydroxyanisole. The composition may further comprise an antioxidant in an amount ranging from 0.001 - 5 wt. %, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably in an amount of between 0.1 - 4 wt.%, more preferably in an amount of between 0.5 - 2 wt.%, even more preferably in an amount of between 0.5 - 1 wt.%.

A preferred composition may comprise: at least 95 wt.% of a solvent comprising hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of alcohols, n-paraffins, isoparaffins, cycloparaffins, and combinations thereof, preferably a blend of short-chain paraffins and medium-chain paraffins, and o between 0.75 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.30 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Imiprothrin, based on the total weight of the composition; or o between 0.75 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.1 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Metofluthrin, based on the total weight of the composition; or o between 0.30 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Imiprothrin and between 0.1 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Metofluthrin, based on the total weight of the composition.

Another preferred composition may comprise: at least 95 wt.% of a solvent comprising hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of alcohols, n-paraffins, isoparaffins, cycloparaffins, and combinations thereof, preferably a blend of short-chain paraffins and medium-chain paraffins, and o between 0.75 wt.% and 1 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.40 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Imiprothrin, based on the total weight of the composition; or o between 0.75 wt.% and 1 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.1 wt.% and 0.25 wt.% of Metofluthrin, based on the total weight of the composition; or o between 0.40 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Imiprothrin and between 0.1 wt.% and 0.25 wt.% of Metofluthrin, based on the total weight of the composition.

The composition may be an insect control composition, preferably an insect repellent composition or an insecticide composition.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to an insect control product comprising the composition according to the first aspect of the invention and an emanation device, wherein said emanation device is selected from the group comprising an electric heating device, a piezo electric diffuser and an ambient emanation device.

The insect control product may be an insect repellent product or an insecticide product.

It will be understood that the composition will be contained in a container attached to the emanation device and once the emanation device is being operated, the vapours of the composition would act as insecticide and/or repellent.

In an embodiment the emanation rate of the insect control product, when the product is operated, is between 0.05 to 0.5 g/h, preferably between 0.05 to 0.4 g/h, more preferably between 0.05 to 0.3 g/h. For example, if an insect control product comprising an emanation device and a composition according to the first aspect of the invention is operated, the difference in weight of the product during a determined period of time will give the emanation rate.

The heating device can be a liquid vaporizer or a liquid electrical device. In a liquid vaporizer a composition is evaporated by an electric heater through a porous wick from a reservoir bottle containing the liquid. For an insect control composition, the composition lasts for a predetermined period. The skilled person will understand that a refill is used for about 4 to 10 hours per day, meaning that the total life-time of a refill can be from 25 to 90 days with an average use of 8 hours per day. In a piezo electric diffuser, a composition is ejected into the air by a diffuser comprising an orifice plate which is vibrated by an actuator made of a piezoelectric material. Upon application of an alternating electrical field across the piezoelectric actuator it expands and contracts and causes the orifice plate to vibrate. The vibrating orifice plate contacts a liquid and, as a result, liquid droplets are propelled ultrasonically through the orifices in the plate and ejected into the atmosphere.

In an ambient emanation device, a substrate such as paper, plastic, or a synthetic or natural gel are impregnated with a composition, and the composition is evaporated at ambient temperature without the need for an external source of energy. Examples of synthetic or natural gel are agarose-based gels, xanthan gum, styrene- ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) copolymers, styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene (SEPS) copolymers, and fumed silica gel.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to a use a composition according to the first aspect or the insect control product according to the second aspect to kill, knock-down or repel insects, preferably the insects are flying and/or crawling insects.

In an embodiment the invention relates to a use of a composition according to the first aspect or the insect control product according to the second aspect to kill, knock-down or repel flying and crawling insects.

The invention will be further described with the reference to the following examples.

Examples

Formulations

Comparative formulations were prepared comprising only one pyrethroid (Formulations C1-C6). Furthermore, formulations according to the invention comprising two pyrethroids were also prepared (Formulations F1-F3). The formulations are shown in Table 1. Table 1. Formulations

In Table 1, q.s. refers to the amount of solvent needed to achieve 100% of the formulation. For example, F1 comprises 1.32 wt.% of the pyrethroids, and 98.68 wt.% of solvent, based on the total weight of the formulation. The Solvent for formulations F1-F3 comprises a mixture of deodorised and de- aromatised hydrocarbon solvents, Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and a fragrance. The mixture of deodorised and de-aromatised hydrocarbon solvents comprises a hydrocarbon solvent having a flash point of 80°C and a hydrocarbon solvent having a flashpoint of 130°C. These hydrocarbon solvents have a boiling point between 250°C and 380°C.

For Formulations F1-F3, the solvent comprises about 98 wt.% of the mixture of deodorised and de-aromatised hydrocarbon solvents, about 1 wt.% BHT, and about 1 wt.% fragrance, based on the total weight of the solvent. Performance tests

Flying insects

Knock-down experiments - mosquitoes and houseflies

Formulations shown in Table 1 were tested according to the Peet-Grady Chamber test using Culex mosquitoes and houseflies. In the chamber, the formulation to be tested was placed in a liquid vaporizer and after 60 minutes the knock-down percentage (% KD) of the insects and the amount of formulation that was emanated were measured. The amount of formulation that was emanated (Amount emanated) is given by the weight difference between the formulation at the end and at the beginning of the test. The bio- efficacy of the formulations was determined by measuring the % KD of mosquitos or houseflies.

Table 2. Performance tests using a Peet-Grady Chamber with mosquitoes or houseflies

As can be seen in Table 2, the combination of at least two pyrethroids has a synergistic effect. When only one pyrethroid is used a higher amount of the pyrethroid is needed than the amount of the combination of pyrethroids to achieve a similar %KD, or the pyrethroid alone cannot achieve the same %KD of mosquitos as the combination of pyrethroids. In other words, it is demonstrated that the combination of at least two pyrethroids has a higher bio-efficacy than the pyrethroids alone. Landing and probing experiments - mosquitoes

Formulations shown in Table 1 were tested in a chamber having 20m³ to demonstrate their efficacy in inhibiting landing and probing of Culex mosquitoes (% Landing and probing). In this case, the formulation to be tested was placed in a liquid vaporizer. In addition, also the %KD and the amount of formulation that was emanated were measured. The amount of formulation that was emanated (Amount emanated) is given by the weight difference between the formulation at the end and at the beginning of the test. This is shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Landing and probing inhibition using Culex mosquitoes

Table 3 demonstrates that although a pyrethroid alone can inhibit the landing and probing of mosquitoes, a pyrethroid alone is not as efficient in killing the mosquitoes as the combination of at least two pyrethroids.

Crawling insects

Knock-down experiments - roaches Formulations shown in Table 1 were tested according to the Small glass chamber test using American roaches. In the chamber, the formulation to be tested was placed in a liquid vaporizer and after 40 minutes the knock-down percentage (% KD) of the insects was measured. In addition, mortality was determined after 24 hours, in this case insects were exposed during 40 minutes to the formulation to be tested; subsequently, the insects were transferred to a room with food and it was observed if there was any recovery or dying of the insects. This is shown in Table 4.

Table 4. Knock-down and killing efficacy Table 1 shows that formulations according to the invention provide a knock-down percentage of at least 60%.

This demonstrates that the formulations according to the invention knock-down or kill, not only flying insects but also of crawling insects.

Roach repellence double chamber test

Formulations shown in Table 1 were tested in a double-cage equipment, i.e. Double cage experiments were performed, using American roaches. In the chamber, the formulation to be tested was placed in a liquid vaporizer, and it was allowed to saturate the chamber for 20 minutes. As previously described, subsequently, the movement of roaches from the treated chamber to a non-treated chamber was observed for 40 minutes. The observation was recorded at the end of 40^th minute and the repellence percentage (% repellence) was determined.

It was determined that formulation F1 according to the invention provides a repellence percentage of at least 70%. This is shown in Table 5.

Table 5. Roach repellence double-chamber test

This demonstrates that the formulations according to the invention repel, not only flying insects but also of crawling insects. It is then demonstrated that the formulations according to the invention knock-down or kill and repel flying and/or crawling insects.

Hence one or more objects of the present invention are achieved by the present which is further elucidated in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A composition comprising:

- a solvent.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said composition comprises between 0.75 wt.% and 5 wt.% of said at least two pyrethroids, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.85 wt.% and 4 wt.%, more preferably between 0.90 wt.% and 3 wt.%, even more preferably between 0.90 wt.% and 2.50 wt.%.

3. The composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said composition comprises between 0.5 wt.% and 3 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.1 wt.% and 3 wt.% of Imiprothrin, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.5 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.2 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Imiprothrin, more preferably between 0.5 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.3 wt.% and 1 wt.% of Imiprothrin, most preferably between 0.75 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.30 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Imiprothrin.

4. The composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said composition comprises between 0.5 wt.% and 3 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 1 wt.% of Metofluthrin, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.5 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 0.75 wt.% of Metofluthrin, more preferably between 0.5 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Metofluthrin, most preferably between 0.75 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Transfluthrin and between 0.1 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Metofluthrin.

5. The composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said composition comprises between 0.1 wt.% and 3 wt.% of Imiprothrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 1 wt.% of Metofluthrin, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.2 wt.% and 2 wt.% of Imiprothrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 0.75 wt.% of Metofluthrin, more preferably between 0.3 wt.% and 1 wt.% of Imiprothrin and between 0.05 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Metofluthrin, most preferably between 0.30 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Imiprothrin and between 0.1 wt.% and 0.60 wt.% of Metofluthrin.

6. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said solvent comprises at least one aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, preferably selected from the group of hydrocarbon solvents having a flash point of at least 50 °C, more preferably having a flash point of at least 60 °C, even more preferably having a flash point between 60 °C and 150 °C, most preferably having a flash point between 60 °C and 140 °C, and/or having a boiling point of at least 200°C, more preferably having a boiling point between 200 °C and 500 °C, even more preferably having a boiling point between 200 °C and 400°C.

7. The composition according to any of the claims 1 to 5, wherein said solvent comprises water, one or more surfactants and one or more alcohols.

8. The composition according to claim 7, wherein said one or more surfactants comprise one or more non-ionic surfactants.

9. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said composition comprises at least 90 wt.% of said solvent, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably at least 91 wt.%, more preferably at least 92 wt.%, even more preferably at least 93 wt.%, most preferably at least 94 wt.%, for example, at least 95 wt.%.

10. The composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said composition is an insect control composition, preferably an insect repellent composition or an insecticide composition.

11. An insect control product comprising the composition according to any of the preceding claims and an emanation device, wherein said emanation device is selected from the group comprising an electric heating device, a piezo electric diffuser and an ambient emanation device.

12. The insect control product according to claim 11, wherein said insect control product is an insect repellent product or an insecticide product.

13. A use of the composition according to any of the claims 1-10 or the insect control product according to claims 11-12 to kill, knockdown and/or repel insects.

14. Use according to claim 13, wherein said insects are flying and/or crawling insects.