AU592970B2 - Pesticide formulation - Google Patents

Description

592970 SPRUSON FERGUSON a FORM 10 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Class Int. Class

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Application Number: Lodged: PG8957 21 January 1985 Accepted: Published:

I

ii ,ii ii ia Priority: Related Art: This document contains the amededments mae under Section 49 and is correct foi Sprinting.

Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: SHELL CHEMICAL (AUSTRALIA) PROPRIETARY mTMTEt 155 William Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia RODERIC JO BOYD, JOHttEIL M DONALD, FRANK JONE, and Q JAMES M.YER Spruson saa$t~aAt orneys, Level 33 St Mars ~Ts- wer..lt3 Market Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Complete Specification for the invention entitled: F' C" PESTICIDE FORMULATION ,,McU ~I The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performin 1.knwn-5 us iii~ -3S 5e%.!P i T SI 1

-I

The invention concerns a liquid pesticide formulation having particular use for ultra low volume application of the pesticide onto crops. The formulation aims to Inhibit or prevent crystallization of the pesticide from the liquid carrier.

A wide variety of pesticide formulations are available for use by farmers, pest control operators, householders and many other people in order to control insect pests, and improve crop and animal yields. The active ingredients in formulations have widely varying physical and chemical properties and the carriers and diluents incorporated in the formulations together with the active ingredients must be A carefully selected in order to provide stable and easy to use A formulations for end users.

Pesticidal formulations may be liquids, dusts, powders, gells, paste or solid formulations, for example. The type of formulation actually chosen for any particular active ingredient is determined by the requirements of the user, (often having major regard to the method of application), and 1 Q also by the chemical and physical properties of the active ingredient involved.

LIn particular, liquid formulations often tend to be easier and safer to handle than dusts or powders, and are especially useful for ready to use products such as animal backline treatments and household aerosols. On the other hand, solid granules may be used for soil treatment at planting by applying them to seeds or seedlings. As another example, heavy sand granules of mosquito larvicides when applied to marshy areas allow the active ingredient to fall through the water to give improved performance.

HS/166e -2- There are also many different types of liquid formulations, such as solutions, emulsions, emulsifiable concentrates, suspensions or other liquid formulations. The carrier or diluent solvent used in these formulations will determine whether they form a solution or an emulsion, for example. However, for liquid pesticidal formulations which are to be applied by spraying, in many instances, it is preferable that the pesticide is dissolved in the liquid carrier. It is also important in this case that the liquid formulation is able to be combined with other pesticides and pesticidal formulations without adverse affects. The ideal liquid carrier will have good shelf stability, be compatible with other products, have a good stability during application and will inhibit crystallization or gelling of the pesticide from solution, which causes concentration changes, and may block spraying equipment.

The invention concerns liquid formulations of pesticides in general, such as the organophosphate, organochlorine, formamidine, synthetic pyrethroid, organotin or carbamate S pesticides, but it is especially useful for the carbamate pesticides such as methomyl, (N-[(methylcarbamoyl)oxy] thioacetimidic acid methyl ester), and the organophosphate pesticides such as monocrotophos (Phosphoric acid dimethyl [l-methyl-3-(methylamino)-3-oxo-l-propenyl] ester).

At present, carbamate insecticides can be obtained as commercial formulations which contain for example from 15 to w/v active ingredient, 60 to 85% w/v methanol or other alcohol and up to 15% water. This standard formulation is used for high, medium and some low volume application techniques and for mixture with a number of other pesticides.

HS/166e 3

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Methomyl and other carbamate insecticides have an established history of use, but in recent times, there has been a substantial increase in usage in relation to broad acre crops, such as cotton and sorghum. The insecticides, methomyl, thiodicarb and carbaryl are the major carbamate pesticides used in this instance.

These pesticides are usually applied from aircraft by aerial spraying on to the broad acre crops. The advantage of aerial application is to minimize the crop damage which occurs with using wheeled vehicles, and to also allow application to large areas rapidly, and to areas which vehicles cannot traverse.

In recent times, aerial application has moved increasingly towards the use of specialised equipment which allows ultra low volume application; using low volumes of a high concentration pesticidal formulation in place of high volume low concentration as in the past. A high proportion of agricultural aircraft in Australia equipped for spraying are now fitted with ultra low volume spraying equipment. Such 20 equipment typically includes a rapidly rotating mesh drum which delivers a precisely measured mist of uniformly sized spray droplets.

However, the use of standard formulations of carbamate insecticides such as methomyl which are based on methanol or methanol and water has led to problems when used in this ultra low volume spraying equipment. It has been found that the i insecticide will crystallize in the equipment in some conditions, leading to crystalline deposits of the insecticide forming on the rotating mesh drum, blocking the mesh, and preventing proper operation of the equipment. The mesh drums HS/166e 4 i 1 also require frequent cleaning as a result.

Similar problems have been found to occur with other pesticides, such as with the organophosphates, like monocrotophos.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a liquid formulation which overcomes or substantially ameliorates the problem of crystallization of the pesticide i from the liquid carrier during ultra low volume spraying. It is also an object to provide a liquid formulation which is suitable for other methods of application, and which has good storage stability and compatibility with other pesticide formulations.

The invention therefore concerns a pesticide formulation comprising at least one pesticide dissolved in a liquid carrier, the carrier comprising at least one lower alkyl ether of mono- or di- ethylene or propylene glycol solvent, at least one lower alkanol solvent, and at least one dipolar aprotic solvent.

While the invention relates to any of the pesticides S mentioned previously, it is particularly useful in relation to the carbamate insecticides, which are related to the alkaloid physostigmine and include carbaryl (1-naphthyl-N-methyl -carbamate), carbofuran (2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl -7-benzofuranyl-N-methylcarbamate), propoxur (2-isopropyl -phenyl-N-methylcarbamate), dioxacarb (O-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)phenyl-N-methylcarbamate), bendiocarb (2,2-dimethyl- 1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl-N-methylcarbamate), aldicarb (2-methyl oxime), methomyl (S-methyl-N-(methylcarbamoyloxy)-thioacetamidate), oxamyl (S-methyl-l-dimethylcarbamoyl-N-[(methylcarbamoyl)oxy] HS/166e 5 r-.

-thioformamidate), pyrimicarb (2-dimethylamino-5,6-dimethyl -4-pyrimidinyl-N,N- dimethylcarbamate), dimetilan (2-(N,N -carbamate), mexacarbate (4-dimethylamino-3,5-xylyl-N-methyl -carbamate), promecarb methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)phenol -N-methylcarbamate), methiocarb (4-methylthio-3,5-xylyl -N-methylcarbamate), formetanate (3-dimethylamino -ethyleneiminophenyl-N-methylcarbamate hydrochloride) and thiodicarb [dimethyl-N,N'[thiobis-(methylimino)-carbonyloxy] -bis-(ethanimidothioate)].

The preferred carbamate insecticide is methomyl of the formula:

CH

3 0 H3 NOCNHCH 3 Other preferred insecticides of the carbamate group, each of which currently has a narrower field of use and is commercially less extensively used than methomyl, for which this invention appears to have special application, include carbaryl, thiodicarb, promecarb, carbofuran and bendiocarb These carbamates, each or severally, are suitable for S 20 control of a range of insect pests on crops, also insect pests in farm and domestic buildings, in stored food and fibre in Table I(A).

HS/166e 6 The invention is also particularly useful in regard to the well known organophosphate insecticides. Many such organophosphate type insecticides are known to exist, and are used in a similar way to the carbamate, and other pesticides referred to previously.

Some examples of organophosphate insecticides are: 3dicrotophos (dixethyl-cis-2-dimethylcarbamuoyl-l-fethylvinyl phosphate), dimethoate (dimethyl S-(N-methylcarbamoylmethyl) phosphorothiolothiolate), methamidophos (0,S-dimnethyl phosphoroamidothioate), demeton-S-methyl (S-2-(ethylthio) -ethyldimethyl phosphorothiolate), chlorfenvinphos (2-chloro -l-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)vinyl diethylphosphate), azinphos-methyl (S-(3,4-dihydro-4--oxobenzo[d]-[1,2,3]--triazin -3-ylmethyl)dimethyl phosphorothiolthionate), formothion (S-(N-formyl-N-Inethylcarbamoylmethyl)dim~ethyl phosphoro -thiolthionate), profenofos (0-(4-bromo-2--chlorophenyl)-Oethyl-S-propyl phosphorothioate), sulprofos (0-ethyl -(4-[methylthio]phenyl)-S-propyl phosphorodithioate), parathion-ethyl (diethyl-4-nitrophenyl phosphorothionate), (dimethyl-4-nitrophenyl phosphorothionate), mevinphos (2-methoxy-carbonyl-l-methylvinyl dimethyl phosphate), and chlorpyrifos (0,0-diethyl-0-(3,5,6-trichloro -2-pyridyl) phosphorothioate.

A preferred organophosphate insecticide is monocrotophos, of the formula: z CH~o~ 0 3 C\NICE H 3C COHH3 The organophosphates are suitable for the control of a large range of insect pests in a variety of crops, as HS/166e -7indicated in Table I(B).

indicated in Table I(B).

1-~r TABLE I(B) ORGANOPHOSPHATE CROP/SITUATION TARGET INSECT PESTS Monocrotophos Cotton Mites, Bollworms Dicrotophos Cotton Mites, Bollworms Dimethoate Deciduous Fruit Aphis Tomatoes Aphis Formothion Cotton Aphis Demeton-S-Methyl Brassicas Aphis Potato Aphis Azinphos-methyl Apples Cooling Moth Peaches Peach Moth Methamidophos Tomatoes Aphis, Budworm Potatoes Aphis, Tuber Moth Sulprofos Tobacco Budworm Cotton Bollworm Profenofos Cotton Mites, Bollworms Parathion-methyl Cotton Aphis, Bollworms Parathion-ethyl Pears Mealybug, Scale Potatoes Tuber Moth Pasture Underground Grass Grub Rice Bloodworm Mevinphos Lettuce Aphis Chlorpyrifos Winter Cereals Armyworms The following description is primarily directed to formulations of methomyl and monocrotophos, but formulations of other pesticides are also intended to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Technical methomyl insecticide (the active ingredient which requires formulation into a practical and stable product

A

HS/166e 8 cJ -I for use by the end user seeking insect control) is in part characterised as follows:- Appearance off white or white crystalline solid.

Odour slight sulfur.

Specification 98% m/m minimum methomyl.

Melting Point 77 to -6 Vapour Pressure at 20 0 C 2.4 x 106 mm Hg at 30 0 C 1.2 x 10 5 mm Hg -5 at 40 0 C 5.6 x 105 mm Hg Solubility of technical methomyl in a selection of candidate solvents is detailed in Table II.

TABLE II SSOLVENT SOLUBILITY OF TECHNICAL METHOMYL o Water 4.6% w/v at 23 0

C

Methanol 79% w/v at 25 0

C

Ethanol 33% w/v at 25 0

C

Isopropyl alcohol less than 10% w/v at 10 0

C

0 15-20% w/v at 20 0

C

Cyclohexanone 32% w/v at 20 0

C

09 Diacetone alcohol less than 20% w/v at 10 0

C

*4 N-methyl-pyrrolidinone 40% w/v at 10 0

C

50-60% w/v at 20 0

C

Paraffin oil 0.01% w/v at 20 0

C

Toluene 2.6% w/v at 25 0

C

Dimethyl sulfoxide 15-30% w/v at 10 0

C

50-60% w/v at 20 0

C

Technical monocrotophos is commercially available under the trade name of "Azodrin".

The carrier included in the formulation of the invention comprises at least one lower alkyl ether of mono- or diethylene or propylene glycol solvent, at least one lower HS/166e 9w wl CT -t -4 i' 8 a iiii i i ii :i :t i, i i i i i~ i :a i

I

i :1 -I I alkanol solvent and at least one dipolar aprotic solvent.

It is preferred that the major portion of the carrier comprises the glycol solvent as defined above.

The lower alkyl ether of mono- or di- ethylene or propylene glycol may be a lower alkyl monoether of propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, ethylene glycol, or diethylene glycol where the lower alkyl group is methyl, ethyl, N-propyl, or N-butyl, for example. The monomethyl ether of propylene glycol is known as methyl proxitol, and the monomethyl ether 10 of dipropylene glycol is known as methyl diproxitol. Methyl proxitol and methyl diproxitol are preferred members of this class of solvent, with methyl proxitol being the most preferred, especially when the pesticide is methomyl or monocrotophos.

The carrier also contains a lower alkanol solvent such as methanol or ethanol, for example. If the pesticide is methomyl or monocrotophos, methanol is preferred. However, any suitable alkanol solvent can be chosen, as appropriate, with regard to the other ingredients of the carrier.

20 The carrier also contains a dipolar aprotic solvent, which is present because of its high solvency. This assists in preventing crystallization of the pesticide at low temperatures, as well as during application of the pesticide formulation. A preferred dipolar aprotic solvent is N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), especially when the pesticide is methomyl. Other suitable dipolar aprotic solvents are for example, dimethylformamide or dimethylacetamide. Any suitable dipolar aprotic can be chosen in accordance with the remaining ingredients.

The pesticide formulation may also contain one or more HS/166e 10

C

3 3 1'

B

1 i r i r r -;i g ketone solvents such as for example, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, mesityl oxide, cyclohexanone, methyl-n-butyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, diacetone alcohol, methyl amyl ketone, methyl isoamyl ketone, diisobutyl ketone and isophorone. The choice of the particular ketone solvent will depend on solubility of the particular insecticide in it, its volatility, compatability with other formulation ingredients, its effect on the crop to be treated, and price. For formulations of the invention, cyclohexanone or diacetone 10 alcohol are preferred. Diacetone alcohol is particularly preferred due to its relative inertness, as other ketone solvents such as cyclohexanone may affect the plastic or fibreglass tanks of the spraying equipment, by softening it or dissolving some of the components of the fibreglass, for example. Aircraft used for aerial spraying of the formulation often have fibreglass tanks for carrying the spraying mixture, and in this instance it is particularly preferred to incorporate diacetone alcohol in the formulation of the 1 invention rather than cyclohexanone, for this reason. The inclusion of the ketone solvent is believed to assist in preventing crystallization of the pesticide from the carrier mixture.

The formulation of the invention may also contain water. Water may be included to facilitate blending, and to enhance the storage stability of the formulation. In other than ultra low volume applications, most insecticidal formulations are diluted with water by the end user.

In some instances, it is also desirable to include a dispersant or wetting agent in the formulation in order to ensure adequate wetting of the crops which are being sprayed HS/166e 11 Sor treated. Dispersants generally used in the art of pesticidal formulations can be used in the invention, examples Sinclude, sulfonates, ethoxylates and ethylene oxide condensates, such as Kemmat SC15, Teric N30, Teric N40 and Nonidet 916.

A combination of two or more different pesticides may be used in the formulation. If methomyl or monocrotophos is used, it may be combined with one or more of Endosulfan, SHelothion, or Curacron, which are well known pesticides, or 1 0 the methomyl and monocrotophos may be used together in the formulation.

The preferred amounts of the ingredients included in the formulation and the reasons for their inclusion are detailed in Table III.

HS/166e 12 HS/166e 12 I a

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TABLE III INGREDIENT PROPORTION IN REASON FOR INCLUSION

FORMULATION

Insecticide 50-500 g/L Insecticidally active ingredient Glycol solvent 10-750 g/L Co-solvent system to dissolve the technical Alkanol 50-500 g/L methomyl Dipolar aprotic 10-750 g/L Solvent with high solvency power to Solvent prevent crystallisation at low temperature Ketone 0-200 g/L Assists in dissolving the technical methomyl and preventing crystallization at low temperature.

Water 0-250 g/L Facilitate blending and for enhanced storage stability Dispersant 5-100 g/L Dispersant to facilitate mixing with water and (when present) decrease rate of separation II j.

HS/166e 13

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i-; i i The following examples illustrate various embodiments of l the present invention, without intending to limit it in any way.

EXAMPLE 1 A formulation of methomyl was prepared as follows: Component Amount w/w) Technical methomyl 23% NMP 14% Methyl proxitol 32% Methanol 14% Water 9% Diacetone alcohol 8% 100% EXAMPLE 2 A formulation of methomyl was prepared as follows: Component Amount w/w) Technical methomyl 23% NMP Methyl proxitol Methanol 12% Water 100% EXAMPLE 3 Formulation stability: The formulations of Example 1 and 2 were tested for their storage stability. The storage stability was tested by placing a seeding crystal in the formulation, and observing the result while keeping the test formulation at the temperature, and for the period, shown in Table IV. It was apparent that formulations of Example 1 and Example 2 HS/166e 14 exhibited exceller should be stable u two years.

Formulation Te 1 Example 1 Cc st 7 S 10 l

I

rtew 4a&KM it stability and, from the test, the product nder normal storage conditions for at least TABLE IV ist Result Example 1 He st 14 Cc s1 7 ld storage ability days at 2-4 0

C

)t storage tability, 4 days at 52-56 0

C

old storage tability days at 2-4 0

C

Methomyl seeding crystal, slight increase in size.

Dissolved at room temperature.

Clear and bright but darkened in colour.

Clear and bright, no crystallization.

trt 9 94 t I 44 4 4 4 Example 2 1 t s ii Example 2 Hot Storage Clear and bright with stability some colour darkening.

14 days at 52-56 0

C

2° EXAMPLE 4 Compatilibity of formulations with other pesticides.

The formulations of Example 1 and 2 were combined with the following co-products: Endosulfan, helothion, curacron and azodrin. The compatibility was generally found to be good. By choosing appropriate ratios of the co-products, a stable mixture could be obtained for each combination. At other ratios, some separation of the co-products occurred, but in nearly all cases a stable mixture could be obtained after some agitation of the mixture. The formulations of the present invention therefore appear to have good compatibility with other pesticide products.

HS/166e 15

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EXAMPLE Inertness in regard to fibreglass resin.

The formulations of Example 1 and 2 were placed in contact with samples of the usual type of fibreglass used in aircraft tanks for spraying pesticides. Pieces of fibreglass 2 cm x 3 cm were immersed in 50 ml of the formulations in a |j 100 ml stoppered flask and kept in an oven at 50 0 C overnight.

i i For both formulations of Examples 1 and 2 it was found there was no attack on the fibreglass surface by the liquid, and no 10 more than a very slight attack at the edge of the fibreglass pieces. On the other hand, the solvents NMP and cyclohexanone dissolved the resin completely, and dissolved 50% of the resin, respectively. In another test, stoppered glass tubes, 04a by 30 l in diameter were cemented to a sheet of fibreglass, and 25 ml of the formulations of Examples 1 and 2, Sin various dilutions with water were poured into the tube and A allowed to stand for 2 months at ambient temperature.

Inspections of the fibreglass were made after 1 week, 1 month and 2 months. The pure formulations of Examples 1 and 2 showed some slight softening of the fibreglass after 1 week, and definite softening after 2 months. However, there were no visible signs of surface degradation of the fibreglass at the end of this period. Solutions of the formulations diluted with water showed no effect to the fibreglass after 1 month, and slight softening after 2 months. Again, no visible signs of surface degradation of the fibreglass were present after 2 months. These tests showed that the formulations of the invention can be regarded as inert to fibreglass when used in practice, as they would generally be diluted with water to Ssome extent before spraying, and will not remain in the HS/166e 16 ri

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I--i I fibreglass tanks for any long period of time.

EXAMPLE 6 Crop spraying trial A test was conducted of aerial spraying of sunflowers in the 1984/1985 growing season. The crop was located near Emerald in Queensland. The sunflowers were 90% flowering and of the size such that 10% of the heads were turning over. The crop was healthy although infested with the pest, Heliothis spp.

The methomyl formulation of Example 1 was sprayed at various dosages on the crop from a Cessna aircraft using Micronair Au3000 Rotary Atomisers, giving a droplet size of about 90 micron when applying 1.5 litres per hectare and about 120 micron when applying 20 litres per hectare. For comparison purposes a commercial formulation of methomyl was also sprayed. This formulation was Shell "Nudrin Insecticide".

The result of the testing was assessed by determining the number of larvae of Heliothis spp. on 10 randomly selected sunflower heads, at each of 10 marked locations per block of sunflowers treated. The sunflower crop was divided into separate blocks and each treatment was applied to a block.

The number of larvae were counted immediately before treatment, and 2 days after application.

The results of the testing is shown in Table V following.

The results showed that the formulation of Example 1 is a more active formulation of methomyl than the commercial formulation. Applied in 1.5 or 20 litre of spray per hectare, Cgts oc QC\Vi ntte.v. ,emc....cLre 225~w-am/- of methomyl formulated as in Example 1 was statistically signficant as being more effective than the same 9 dose formulated as "Nudrin Insecticide", and applied in HS/166e 17

I

litre of spray per hectare. Similarly, the formulation of giro.-ah -t 0cc-L-ve rro.tc pr Vaec-r e Example 1 applied undiluted at 337.5 =amJi (1.5 litre/ha) was statistically significant as being more effective than the same dose formulted as "Nudrin Insecticide" and applied in litre of spray per hectare. The results also showed that the formulation of Example 1 is suitable for both ultra low volume application, and low volume application.

"Shell Monsoon wetting agent" was added to all treatments applied at 20 litre/ha, following the directions for the use of "Nudrin Insecticide" on the label. It was omitted from both treatments applied at 1.5 1/ha in accord with the procedure usually followed for ultra low volume applications.

in The formulation of methomyl of Example 1 was effective in controlling the insect pests in the crop.

Examination of the rotary atomisers used to spray the A formulations of methomyl of the invention (formulations A, B and C) showed that the equipment was clean and functioning properly after each treatment.

HS/166e 18 i TT 1 TABLE V The performance of various methomyl formulations against Heliothis spp. in sunflowers. Emerald, Qld.

1 Mean* Number of Larvae Der 10 Heads Formulation of Methomyl Dose of Methomyl g.am/ha (litres prod./ha) Application Volume 1/ha Day 0* 6 (Prespray) Day 2 A Example 1 B Example 1 C Example 1 225 225 337.5 225 (1.0) 337.5 1.5 20* 4 1.5 10.3 12.2 11.2 12.0 11.3 1.5 (87)* cd 1.5 (86) cd 1.2 (89) d 3.1 (71) b 2.7 D "Nudrin" Insecticide

E

20*4 20*4 F Untreated 11.2

N.S.*

3 10.7 *1 Means Calculated after Transformation y logl0(x+0.5).

*2 Letters Indicate Statistical Separation (P=0.05) of Transformed Means.

*3 No significant (P=0.05) Difference between Means.

*4 To Treatments applied in an application volume of 1/ha "SHELL MONSOON" Wetting Agent was added at 25ml/100 1.

Percentage reductions from untreated shown in brackets.

*6 All treatments applied on same day.

HS/166e 19 w~ I1' i i 7 EXAMPLE 7 A formulation of monocrotophos was prepared as follows: Component Technical monocrotophos (799 g/Kg)

NMP

Methyl Proxitol Methanol Water Amount w/w) 4 i i

I

1 tl Diacetone Alcohol 7 100% The monocrotophos was heated to a maximum of 55 0

C,

added to the other components, and stirred until dissolved.

EXAMPLE 8 A formulation of monocrotophos was prepared as in Example 7 as follows: Component Amount w/w) Technical monocrotophos (799 g/Kg) 47 NMP Methyl Proxitol 22 Methanol Water 6 Diacetone Alcohol 100% EXAMPLE 9 Crop spraying trial Separate plots in a crop of raspberries infested with Epiphyas postvittana were sprayed with the formulation of Example 8, and with "Azodrin 400", a currently available commercial formulation of monocrotophos. The equipment used was a Cooper Pegler Knapsack Sprayer fitted with a single HS/166e 20

I

nozz trea E. p E. p Form Exam Azod Untr inve form S 20 adva arrranr*-~~': -7 le.

The results of these treatments were evaluated. Both tments of monocrotophos were highly effective against the ostvittana infestation, as shown in the following table.

TABLE VI Comparison of monocrotophos formulations against ostvittana infesting raspberries.

kill of larvae at time after treatment ulation Dose (ppm) 8 hour 24 hour +33 hour ple 8 200 56.7 88.3 98.8 rin 200 42.4 76.4 91.4 eated Control 0.8 2.0 These results also indicate that the formulation of the ntion is more effective than the commercial "Azodrin" ulation.

The formulations of Examples 7 and 8 have the same ntages as those of methomyl discussed earlier.

HS/166e 21

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Claims (12)

1. A pesticide formulation comprising at least one pesticide dissolved in a liquid carrier, said carrier comprising at least one lower alkyl ether of mono- or di- ethylene glycol or of mono- or di- propylene glycol solvent, at least one lower alkanol solvent, and at least one dipolar aprotic solvent.

2. The pesticide formulation defined in claim 1 which also comprises at least one ketone solvent.

3. The pesticide formulation defined in claim 1 which also comprises water and/or at least one dispersant or wetting agent.

4. The pesticide formulation defined in claim 1 wherein said pesticide is in an amount of from 50 to 500 g/litre, said glycol solvent is in an amount of from 10 to 750 g/litre, said alkanol solvent is in an amount of from 50 to 500 g/litre, and said dipolar aprotic solvent is in an amount of from 10 to 750 g/litre.

5. The pesticide formulation defined in claim 2 wherein said ketone solvent is in an amount of up to 200 g/litre.

6. The pesticide formulation defined in claim 1 wherein said pesticide is chosen from methomyl or monocrotophos.

7. The pesticide formulation defined in claim 1 wherein said glycol solvent is methyl proxitol.

8. The pesticide formulation defined in claim 1 wherein said alkanol solvent is methanol.

9. The pesticide formulation defined in claim 1 wherein said dipolar aprotic solvent is N-methyl-2- t Is HS/166e 22 pyrrolidinone.

The pesticide formulation defined in claim 1 wherein said pesticide is chosen from methomyl or monocrotophos, said glycol solvent is methyl proxitol, said alkanol solvent is methanol, and said dipolar aprotic solvent is N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone.

11. The pesticide formulation defined in claim 2 wherein said ketone solvent is chosen from diacetone alcohol or cyclohexanone.

12. A pesticide formulation substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the Examples. DATED this TWENTY-FIRST day of JANUARY 1986 SHELL CHEMICAL (AUSTRALIA) PROPRIETARY LIMITED Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON HS/166e 23