MXPA97005257A - Pesticide and accelerator of growth of plants environmentally seg - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pesticide comprising: a) between about 3 and about 10% by weight of a surfactant, b) between about 1 and about 5% by weight of an alkali metal silicate, c) between about 5 and about 25% by weight of a mineral oil, d) between about 0 and about 30% by weight of one or more additional substances, wherein none of the additional substances or substances is itself a pesticide and e) the remainder being

Description

PESTICIDE AND ACCELERATOR OF GROWTH OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE PLANTS Background This invention relates to pesticides that are substantially environmentally safe and are substantially non-toxic to large animals. Productions in agriculture and horticulture are limited by various agents and conditions.

Among the agents and conditions that affect the production of plants are insects, fungi and suboptimal lands. A wide variety of man-made compositions in agriculture and horticulture have been used to control insects and harmful fungi. In addition, various compositions have been used to improve sub-optimal soil conditions, thereby accelerating the growth of the plants. Previously known pesticides have had a variety of problems. Many of these compositions are toxic to large animals, including man, as well as being toxic to insects or fungi. In addition, many compositions that function as pesticides accumulate in the environment at levels considered unsafe. In addition, it has been found that many of these compositions contaminate natural sources of drinking water. Such problems have led the government to ban the use of many pesticides, including DDT, Chlorodan, Lindane, Aldrin, Heptachlor, Dieldrin and Mirex. Other compositions, still in use, exhibit various degrees of undesired toxicity. Apart from unwanted toxicity, currently known pesticides have other problems. They tend to be complex and expensive to produce, and many have unfavorable storage requirements. In addition, it is generally necessary to apply multiple pesticides to obtain satisfactory control of a variety of pests. It is necessary to avoid labor costs in the application of several individual pesticides in several separate applications, one at a time. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a single composition with activity against a wide range of pests but which is substantially non-toxic to large animals and which is environmentally safe. In addition, it would be advantageous if the composition also functions as an accelerator of plant growth. Ideally, such a composition would be easy and inexpensive to produce and use. Summary The present invention is directed to a pesticide that meets these needs. The pesticide comprises between about 3 and about 10% by weight of a surfactant, preferably a nonionic surfactant, between about 1 and about 5% by weight of an alkali metal silicate, preferably sodium metasilicate, and between about 5 and about 25% by weight of a mineral oil, preferably a light mineral oil. Optionally it comprises between about 0 and about 30% by weight of one or more additional substances, wherein none of the additional substances or substances is itself a pesticide. The rest of the pesticide is water. Preferably, the additional substance or substances include a plant growth accelerator such as between about 1 and about 10% by weight of plant extract, between about 0.2 and about 5% by weight of a fish extract and a combination of both. The pesticide of the present invention can be diluted with water in a water to pesticide ratio of between about 0: 1 and about 50: 1 and more preferably in a water to pesticide ratio of between about 2: 1 and about 10: 1. The present invention is also directed to a method for controlling pests, comprising applying an effective amount of the pesticide according to the present invention to the pests or to a surface, plant or soil containing or potentially containing pests. Figures The file of this patent contains at least one color photograph. Copies of this patent will be provided with color photographs by the Trademark Office and Patents after the demand and payment of the necessary fee. The features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with respect to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying photographs wherein: Photographs 1A and IB show a top and bottom view, respectively, at an amplification of about 20X to 25X of a aleurodium prior to the application of the pesticide according to the present invention; The photographs 1C and ID show a top view and a bottom view, respectively, at an amplification of approximately 20X to 25X of the aleurodium in photographs 1A and IB 10 minutes after the application of the pesticide according to the present invention; Photographs 1E and 1F show a top view and a bottom view, respectively, at an amplification of about 20X to 25X of the aleurodium in photographs 1A and IB 20 minutes after the application of the pesticide according to the present invention; and Photographs 1G and 1H show a top view and a bottom view, respectively, at an amplification of approximately 20X to 25X of the aleurodium in photographs 1A and IB 30 minutes after the application of the pesticide according to the present invention. Description The present invention is a pesticide comprising several substances. Each substance, or a chemically related substance, has previously been added to pesticidal compositions for various purposes, such as emulsifying agents, dispersing agents or vehicles. It has also been known in the prior art to combine some of the various substances, or chemically related substances, into a composition that includes at least one additional substance whose specific function was pesticide. However, we discovered that the various substances comprising the present invention, when combined in certain relative proportions, operate synergistically as a potent pesticide per se, without including a separate pesticidal substance. The result is that the various substances comprising the present invention advantageously form a pesticide that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to apply and environmentally safe. In addition, in one embodiment, the invention advantageously functions as a plant growth accelerator in addition to being a pesticide. As used herein, "pesticide" means a composition that exhibits either insecticidal or fungicidal properties or both. As used herein, the term "insecticide" refers to a composition that becomes substantially harmful or kills insects. As used herein, "fungicide" refers to a composition that becomes substantially harmful or kills fungi. As used in the present "insect" it refers to animals of the phylum Arthropoda or related to that phylum. The term includes, but is not limited to, both soft-bodied and hard-bodied animals of the orders of Homoptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Protura, Tisanoptera, Orthoptera, Isoptera, Dermaptera, Malofaga, Anoplura, Hemiptera and Hymenoptera. As used herein, the term "fungus" refers to a group of organisms that include molds, mushrooms and mildews. Examples include, but are not limited to, leaf spot, root rot, black spot, brown rot, anthracnose, Botrytis, dryness, soft mildew, mildew powder, abnormal peach leaf lettuce, whorl wilt, mold withering of fusario, pitio and alterneria. As used herein, the term "plant growth accelerator" refers to a substance that increases the growth rate of plants significantly above the speed without the substance. According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a pesticide comprising a small number of substances easily obtainable in volumetric or weight proportions within specific ranges. When combined, the substances act synergistically to produce an environmentally safe pesticide and, in one embodiment, a pesticide that also functions as a plant growth accelerator. According to the present invention, the pesticide comprises at least three substances; a surfactant, a silicate and a mineral oil. Additionally, the pesticide may include one or more substances where none of the additional substances or substances is itself a pesticide. The rest of the pesticide is water. Preferably, the substance or substances are a plant extract, a fish extract or both. Surfactants are a class of materials that are capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid when it occurs in relatively low concentrations. The surfactants may be ionic, anionic or non-ionic. In the present invention, a nonionic surfactant is preferred. Although a variety of nonionic surfactants are well known to those skilled in the art, and are suitable for incorporation into the pesticide of the present invention, primary alcohol alkoxylate is particularly preferred. This surfactant, alkyloxy polyethyleneoxy polypropylenoxy ethanol, goes under the tradename of Tensi • oacti • vo Tri • tón ™ XL-80N and is available from Union Carbide Corp., Houston, Tx. The pesticide of the present invention further includes an alkali metal silicate. Preferably, it includes a sodium silicate. More preferably, it includes sodium metasilicate, which has the formula Na2Si03. Sodium metasilicate is preferred over other forms of sodium silicate because it tends not to absorb moisture from the atmosphere as easily as some forms of sodium silicate, such as sodium silicate pentahydrate. Also, sodium metasilicate does not naturally contain significant amounts of water. Accordingly, it is a particularly potent form (on a weight% basis) of sodium silicate for its combination with the other substances comprising the invention. Sodium metasilicate is available from a variety of sources known to those skilled in the art, including OxyChem®, from Niagara Falls, New York. When sodium metasilicate is used, the pH of the pesticide should be at least about 7.5 or more and preferably 8.5 or more. The pesticide of the present invention further includes a mineral oil. Preferably, the mineral oil is a light mineral oil, such as a white mineral oil, N. F. The suitable light mineral oil is available from Penreco, Karns City, PA or Los Angeles, CA, under the name Drakeol 7-. Additionally, the pesticide may comprise one or more substances where none of the substance (s) is itself a pesticide. That is, the substance or substances, used alone in a significant concentration, do not exhibit substantial pesticidal properties. The substance or substances are preferably a plant extract. A suitable plant extract is made of seaweed, such as hydrolysed olea. One source of suitable plant extract is the Garden MaxiCrop product, available from Maxicrop USA, Inc. Other sources of suitable plant extract include Kelco Co., Los Angeles, CA and the Acadian Seaplants Seaweed Extract ™ product available from Acadian Seaplants Ltd. , Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. The pesticide of the present invention may also include a fish extract. Preferably, the fish extract is a powder substantially soluble in water, or a liquid. A suitable source of fish extract is the Neptunes "Supreme" product, available from Island Seed and Feed, Schooner, Ca. The function of the plant extract and fish extract is to act as a regulatory agent to prevent or at least substantially reduce the phytotoxicity of the combination of the other substances in the pesticide according to the present invention. The nutritional qualities of the plant extract, particularly combined with the nutritional qualities of the hydrolyzed fish, also act to accelerate the growth of the plants through foliar feeding. The rest of the pesticide of the present invention is water. Although water can be from any of a variety of sources, including filtered or distilled water, ordinary potable water is adequate. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a pesticide is produced as follows. Approximately 303 g of Triton XL-80N surfactant is added to about 3.790 g of water and mixed. Next, approximately 126 g of sodium metasilicate was added to the water / surfactant and mixed. Sufficient mixing time must be allowed to allow the sodium metasilicate to dissolve completely. Then, approximately 755 g of light mineral oil is added and the components are thoroughly mixed while retaining as little air as possible. The resulting composition is a potent pesticide. However, the solution is also phytotoxic to a variety of desirable plant species in an agricultural and horticultural way. In order to nullify the phytotoxic properties of this mixture, approximately 210 g of plant extract and 39 g of fish extract are added. In this manner, the final composition of the pesticide is about 73% by weight of water, about 14.5% by weight of light mineral oil, about 5.8% by weight of Surfactant.

Tri XL TM-80N, approximately 4% by weight of plant extract, approximately 2.4% by weight of sodium metasilicate and approximately 0.75% by weight of fish extract. When the pesticide of the present invention is used in a manner in which phytotoxicity is of importance, the plant extract must be included. Additionally, the fish extract is preferably included.

* Once the pesticide according to the present invention is produced, with or without the plant extract or fish extract, it can be diluted to a suitable potency for use, or alternatively, it can be produced using smaller amounts of the substances other than the Water. For example, one sixth of the amount of substances other than water can be added to water to produce a pesticide. The amount of dilution is based on the type of plant and the type of pest on which the pesticide is about to be used. Therefore, a certain examination should be carried out in order to determine the appropriate amount of dilution. A dilution can be produced by adding water in a ratio of water to pesticide equal to about 0: 1 to 50: 1. More preferably, the dilution is equal to about a ratio of water to pesticide from about 2: 1 to 10: 1. The substances forming the pesticide of the present invention can be present in a range of relative proportions. Table I provides preferred approximate ranges of pre-dilution of substances in percent by weight as well as the most preferred range. Although the preferred ranges are shown, other ranges are possible as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art. TABLE I PREFERRED RANGE OF PRE-DILUTION IN WEIGHT PERCENT Ranso Preferred Breed Substance Most Preferred Water 45-90 68-76 Surfactant 3-10 5-7 Non-ionic Silicate Powder 1-5-3 Mineral Oil 5-25 13-16 Plant Extract 1-10 3-5 Fish Extract 0.2-5 0.2 -2 When the pesticide of the present invention is used in a manner in which phytotoxicity is not of importance, the plant extract and fish extract may be omitted. When the pesticide of the present invention is used in a manner in which phytotoxicity is of importance, the plant extract must be included and, additionally, the fish extract is preferably included. Both the plant extract and the fish extract work to nullify the phytotoxicity and improve the accelerating growth characteristics of the pesticide plants. The pesticide of the present invention is preferably applied at a certain dilution and at a certain rate of application. The application rate refers to the specific amount of pesticide applied per time. If necessary, the total potency solution is diluted according to the crop being treated and the pest for which control is desired. For example, dilution for aphid control or control of the tick spider is one-half of the dilution required for the control of aleurodios. A small-scale test application is preferred before large scale application to determine if any phytotoxic reaction is possible. Any phytotoxic reaction that becomes evident can be reduced by increasing the dilution. The dilution is determined partly by the temperature of the air at the time of application. The higher the air temperature, the greater the dilution must be. Both the dilution and the application rate are determined partly by the amount of new growth and maturity of the culture at the time of application. A minor dilution at an early stage, before the emergence of new tender foliar growth, can stop the larval development of many pests, eliminating the need for future applications as well as the feeding and stimulation of the target crop for greater potency against infestation. of insects. Maximum effectiveness is obtained when the pesticide is applied with sufficient time to dry on the application surfaces. For best results, it is preferred to completely cover all the leaves, rods and branches of wood, including the soil surfaces. Also, early in the morning or very late until night are the preferred application times. The crops respond favorably and vigorously to a thorough soil spray or soaking of the soil for fertilization and growth stimulation purposes. In addition, they exhibit a reduction in tension due to droughts and extreme temperatures. When used as a soil soaker, a dilution of approximately 3-4 gallons to 100 gallons of water is preferred. The same dilution is preferred for inactive spray on temporarily inactive wood trimmings, shade trees and fruit trees as well as a transplant aid or soil conditioner. A second application just before the opening of the bud at the beginning of the spring is preferred as an inactive spray, particularly if wet-rainy weather has appeared or has been anticipated. Clothing and protective equipment must be used in accordance with government regulations and standards. The formula is environmentally safe and non-corrosive. Therefore the rinsing or washing of the equipment and the clothing of application, with water, is optional. Suitable application examples are the following. For mid-season scale or aleurodium control, approximately 4.5 ounces of pesticide for 1 gallon of water or approximately 3.5 gallons of pesticide for 100 gallons of water are diluted for a higher application, for an air temperature of less than approximately 75 F. For control of the same pests at an earlier stage in the season, at the time of growth of the new tender shoot, a higher dilution of approximately 2.5 gallons of pesticide is preferred for 100 gallons of water. So, preferably, a second application of the pesticide is applied within about 5 to 7 days. This second application is particularly preferred for the control of some pests such as the whitefly due to the incubation of eggs in the target culture. The pesticide is a penetrating spray on contact. The application can be carried out, for example, approximately once every 5 to 7 days for serious pest infestations. For infestations of less serious pests, the frequency of application can be reduced.

Spraying the composition at regular intervals of approximately three to five weeks will maintain good control of the pest throughout the growth stage. The composition can be used safely through harvest time. EXAMPLE 1 PROOF OF ACUTE ORAL TOXICITY LIMIT The toxicity of the pesticide in large animals according to the present invention, which occurs from a single dose administered orally, was evaluated as follows. For this evaluation, five male rats and five female rabbits, albinos, derived from healthy young Wistar adults, each weighing between approximately 200 and 300 grams, were used. The animals were fed with water and Purina Rat Chow ad-libi tum. The animals were fasted 18 to 24 hours before the dose but water was allowed to -libitum. The feeding was returned ad-Iijituir. Immediately after the dose. A single oral dose of the pesticide according to the present invention and having a composition of about 73% by weight of water, about 14.5% by weight of light mineral oil, about 5.8% by weight of Surfactant Tri tón ™ XL-80N , approximately 4% by weight of plant extract, approximately 2.4% by weight of sodium metasilicate and approximately 0.75% by weight of fish extract, was supplied by tube feeding at a dose level of 5.9 g / Kg by weight of the body. The rats were individually caged and their mortality or growth signs of toxicity were observed for fourteen days. At the end of the trial period, all surviving animals were weighed and sacrificed, and necropsies were performed. The results of this study are summarized in Table II. All test animals appeared healthy and exhibited a gain in weight throughout the observation period. The necropsies of the surviving test animals revealed that all the organs were intact. No abnormalities or discolorations were observed. TABLE II Animal # Sex Body weight Dosage- Dosage Initial Day End of administration Adminis Mortali (g) (g) (g) trada * dad (mi) 3009 M 236 251 1.18 1.20 NA 3011 M 240 261 1.20 1.22 NA 3020 M 235 242 1.18 1.20 NA 3021 M 238 255 1.19 1.21 NA 3026 M 236 248 1.18 1.20 NA X 237 251 1.19 1.21 Range 190 - 284 3029 F 234 259 1.17 1.19 NA 3031 F 234 263 1.17 1.19 NA 3033 F 236 261 1.18 1.20 NA 3034 F 236 249 1.18 1.20 NA 3038 F 234 256 1.17 1.19 NA X 235 258 1.17 1.19 Range 188 - 282 * - 1 mi weigh 0.9777 g EXAMPLE 2 EFFECTIVENESS AGAINST ALEURODIES The insecticidal effectiveness of the composition according to the present invention, with respect to the aleurodios, was evaluated as follows. Aleurodios are insects that belong to the Homoptera family. Other members of the Homoptera family include aphids, whiteflies and leafhoppers. The aleurodios have elongated oval bodies with very developed legs. One type, the Pseudococcidea, is covered with a wax secretion that helps the insect protect itself from contact with pesticides. The aleurodios receive their nutrition when sucking juices from plants. Its bite in the plant frequently results in the introduction of fungal infections. The fungal infections cause significant damage to the plants in addition to the damage caused by the insect itself. Photographs 1A to 1H illustrate the effect of a single application of the pesticide according to the present invention and having a composition of approximately 73% by weight of water, approximately 14.5% by weight of light mineral oil, approximately 5.8% by weight of Tri Tone XL-80N Surfactant, approximately 4% by weight of plant extract, approximately 2.4% by weight of sodium metasilicate and approximately 0.75% by weight of fish extract. All photographs were taken at an amplification of approximately 20X to 25X. Photographs 1A and IB show a top view and a bottom view of an untreated aleurodium, respectively. The legs of the untreated insect exhibited a substantial movement. A single diluted pesticide application (approximately 4.5 ounces per 1 gallon of water) according to the present invention was sprayed directly on the insect to completely moisten the insect. The insect was then allowed to soak for a period of about 2 minutes before being removed and placed under the photomicroscope. Photographs 1C and ID illustrate a view, upper and lower respectively, of the aleurodium ten minutes after the application. During the first ten minutes after application, the insect exhibited expansive paralysis of its leg segments of proximal onset and distant extension. Photographs 1E and 1F, and 1G and 1H, illustrate the top and bottom views of the insect twenty minutes after application and thirty minutes after application, respectively. As can be seen, the protective wax coating of the insect dissolves substantially. In addition, the body of the insect swells and discolours and the insect dies. EXAMPLE 3 EFFECTIVENESS AGAINST GRAPE FILOXERA The effectiveness of the pesticide of the composition according to the present invention was further examined with respect to the different life stages of the phylloxera of the grape in the three experiments below. Phylloxera is a form of aphid belonging to the Homoptera family. Live basically under the ground and attack the roots of the vine. After attaching to the roots, the insect feeds on the juices of the plants. The root produces a roughness at the phylloxera attachment point, which is evidence of the introduction of foreign material into the root. The fungal invasion in the plant through the attachment point is common. Phylloxera is highly prolific, potentially produces billions of progenies in a single season, and causes extensive monetary losses to grape producers. A. Effectiveness Test Against Phylloxera Eggs The effectiveness of the pesticide according to the present invention was tested against the phylloxera eggs of the grape. The eggs used in this trial were one to three days old. The eggs were refolded in sets of 70 on filter paper discs of 9 cm in diameter that were previously moistened with 0.5 ml of distilled water in plastic Petri dishes. The pesticide, according to one embodiment of the present invention, used in this test had a composition of approximately 73% by weight of water, approximately 14.5% by weight of light mineral oil, approximately 5.8% by weight of Agrepte Surfactant Tri tón TM XL-80N, approximately 4% by weight of plant extract, approximately 2.4% by weight of sodium metasilicate and approximately 0.75% by weight of fish extract. A control using distilled water was included in these trials. The filter paper containing the eggs was moistened with 1 ml of distilled water or 1 ml of pesticide. Three replicates were used for each trial. The Petri dishes were sealed with paraffin and then placed in plastic bags and in a plastic box in a growth chamber. The chamber was maintained at 24 ° C. The egg mortality was determined after seven days. Incubation of eggs was considered the terminal point of the trial. It was considered that an egg succumbed to the treatment if it was dead or if the recently incubated insect (caterpillar) died before emerging from the chorion completely. It was considered that the incubated eggs would have survived the treatment if the caterpillar succumbed to the pesticide on the filter paper immediately after its exit. The results of this study are summarized in Table III. TABLE III Treatment Dead Living Total Mortality% Distilled Water 0 70 70 0 1 69 70 1.4 0 70 70 0 Pesticide 70 0 70 100 70 0 70 100 70 0 70 100 B. Effectiveness Test Against Nymph and Adult Phylloxera The effectiveness of the pesticide according to the present invention was examined to determine its effectiveness against nymphs and adult stages of phylloxera. Sections of root pieces of Cabernet Sauvignon, each 4 cm long by 2-4 mm in diameter, were infected with 20-30 phylloxera eggs per root piece in a Petri dish chamber. After three weeks, small, medium and large nymphs and adults were counted in each of the root pieces. The root pieces with insects were immersed in distilled water or the pesticide having a composition of approximately 73% by weight of water, approximately 14.5% by weight of light mineral oil, approximately 5.8% by weight of Surfactant.

Tri TM TM XL-80N, approximately 4% by weight of plant extract, approximately 2.4% by weight of sodium metasilicate and approximately 0.75% by weight of fish extract for 10 seconds. Root pieces were then allowed to air dry. The treated roots were placed on filter paper in Petri dishes. The boxes were sealed with paraffin, and placed in plastic bags in a plastic box in a growth chamber. The growth chambers were maintained at 24 ° C. 4 pieces of root were used for each trial.

The surviving animals were counted after one week. The results of this study are summarized in Table IV. TABLE IV Dead Dead Treatment Total% Mortality Distilled Water 2 17 19 10.5 1 14 15 6.7 5 16 21 23.8 1 15 16 6.3 Pesticide 15 0 15 100 19 0 19 100 15 0 15 100 16 0 16 100 C. Effectiveness Test Against the Establishment of Phylloxera Chrysalides The pesticide according to the present invention was further examined to determine its effectiveness in preventing the first establishment of pupae (caterpillars). The Cabernet Sauvignon root pieces were immersed in distilled water or the pesticide having a composition of approximately 73% by weight of water, approximately 14.5% by weight of light mineral oil, approximately 5.8% by weight of the Teneioactive Agent.

Tri TM TM XL-80N, approximately 4% by weight of plant extract, approximately 2.4% by weight of sodium metasilicate and approximately 0.75% by weight of fish extract. Root pieces were then allowed to air dry. The treated root pieces were placed on filter paper in plastic petri dishes. Twenty eggs were placed in each root. The boxes were sealed with paraffin, and were then placed in plastic bags in a plastic box in a growth chamber. The growth chambers were maintained at 24 ° C. 4 pieces of root were used for each trial. After two weeks, the root pieces were examined and the number of survivors who survived and was successful in feeding was counted. The results of this study are summarized in Table V. TABLE V Treatment Dead Alive Total% Mortality Distilled Water 6 14 20 30 4 16 20 20 8 12 20 40 4 16 20 20 Pesticide 20 0 20 100 20 0 20 100 20 0 20 100 20 0 20 100 Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. For example, the additional substance (s) may include substances that impart other desirable non-pesticidal properties, such as color or odor. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments contained herein.

Claims (20)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and therefore the property described in the following claims is claimed as property.
2. A pesticide comprising: (a) between about 3 and about 10% by weight of a surfactant, (b) between about 1 and about 5% by weight of an alkali metal silicate, (c) between about 5 and about 25% by weight of a mineral oil, (d) between about 0 and about 30% by weight of one or more additional substances, wherein none of the additional substance (s) is itself a pesticide, and (e) being the rest of water The pesticide according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises between about 5 and about 7% by weight of surfactant, between about 2 and about 3% by weight of alkali metal silicate, and between about 13 and about 16% by weight of mineral oil.
3. 3. The pesticide according to claim 1, characterized in that the surfactant is a non-ionic surfactant.
4. 4. A dilution of the pesticide according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the pesticide of claim 1 and up to 50 additional parts of water.
5. 5. The pesticide according to claim 1, characterized in that the alkali metal silicate is a sodium silicate.
6. 6. The pesticide according to claim 1, characterized in that the mineral oil is a light mineral oil.
7. The pesticide according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional substance (s) is selected from the group consisting of between about 1 and about 10% by weight of a plant extract, between about 0.2 and about 5% by weight of an extract of fish and a combination of the above.
8. 8. The pesticide according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional substance is algae extract or is hydrolysed ocle extract.
9. 9. A method for controlling pests, comprising the step of applying an effective amount of the pesticide according to claim 1 to the pests or to a surface, plant or soil containing or potentially containing pests.
10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises a step selected from the group consisting of repeating the application step at regular intervals of about once every five to seven days to control infestations of the pests, the step of Repeat the application stage at regular intervals of approximately three to five weeks to maintain control of the pests throughout an entire growth stage, and a combination of the previous stages.
11. 11. A pesticide consisting essentially of: (a) between about 3 and about 10% by weight of a surfactant, (b) between about 1 and about 5% by weight of an alkali metal silicate, (c) between about 5 and about 25% by weight of a mineral oil, (d) between about 0 and about 30% by weight of one or more additional substances, wherein none of the additional substance (s) is itself a pesticide, and (e) the rest being water.
12. The pesticide according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises between about 5 and about 7% by weight of surfactant, between about 2 and about 3% by weight of alkali metal silicate, and between about 13 and about 16% by weight of mineral oil.
13. 13. A dilution of the pesticide according to claim 11, characterized in that it consists essentially of the pesticide of claim 11 and up to 50 additional parts of water.
14. 14. The pesticide according to claim 11, characterized in that the surfactant is a non-ionic surfactant.
15. 15. The pesticide according to claim 11, characterized in that the alkali metal silicate is a sodium silicate.
16. 16. The pesticide according to claim 11, characterized in that the mineral oil is a light mineral oil.
17. The pesticide according to claim 11, characterized in that the additional substance (s) is selected from the group consisting of between about 1 and about 10% by weight of a plant extract, between about 0.2 and about 5% by weight of an extract of fish and a combination of the above.
18. 18. The pesticide according to claim 11, characterized in that the additional substance is algae extract or is hydrolysed ocle extract.
19. 19. A method for controlling pests, comprising the step of applying an effective amount of the pesticide according to claim 11 to the pests or to a surface, plant or soil that contains or potentially contains pests.
20. 20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that it further comprises a stage selected from the group consisting of the repetition of the application stage at regular intervals of about once every five to seven days to control infestations of the pests, the repetition step of the application stage at regular intervals of approximately three to five weeks to maintain control of the pests throughout an entire growth stage, and a combination of the previous stages.