MXPA99008140A - Method for protecting surfaces from arthropod infestation - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for protecting surfaces from arthropod infestation which involves treating the surface with an effective amount of finely divided calcined kaolins, hydrophobic calcined kaolins, hydrous kaolins, hydrophobic hydrous kaolins, hydrophobic calcium carbonates, calcium carbonates or mixtures thereof.

Description

METHOD FOR PROTECTING SURFACES OF INFESTATION D? ARTHROPODS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation in part of U.S. Patent Application No. 08/812301, filed March 5, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference, for its teachings related to the disclosed invention. here. The present invention is directed to a method for protecting surfaces from arthropod infestation using certain non-toxic particulate materials. The prior art has discussed the use of certain inert particulate sounds as insecticides, see for example; Driggers, B.F., "Experiment with Tale and Other Dusts Used Against Recently Hatched Larvae of the Oriental and Codling Moths," J. Econ. Ent., 22 327-334 (1929); Hunt, C.R., "Toxicity of Insecticide Dust Diluents and Carriers to Larvae of the Mexican Bean Beetle," J. Econ. Ent., _4_0 215-219 (1947); P. Alexander, J. A. Kitchener and H. V. A. Briscoe, "Inert TDust Insecticides," Parts I, II, and III; Ann. Appl. Biol., 3_1 143-159, (1994), which concluded that "... the relative extermination powers of different powders run parallel with-- their capabilities to promote evaporation."; Chiu, S.F., "Toxicity Studies of So-Called" Inert "Materials with the Rice Weevil and the Granary Weevil," J. Econ. Entomol 32 810-821 (1939); David, W. A. L. and B. O. C. Gardiner "Factors Influencing the Action of Dust Insecticides," Bull. Entomol Res., A 1-61 (1950); Ebling, W. And R. E. Wagner, "Rapid Desiccation of Drywood Termites with Inert Sorptive Dusts and Other Substances," J. Econ. Entomol 52 190-207 (1959); Bar-Joseph, M. and H. Frenkel, "Spraying Citrus Plants with Kaolin Suspensions Reduces Colonization by the Spirea Aphid," Crop Prot. 2 371-374 (1983); Far er, A. M. "The Effect of Dust on Vegetation-a Review," Environ. Pollut. 79: 63-75 (1993); Dahliwal, JS "Effect of Rain Fall and Kaolinite Spray on the Corn Leaf Aphid Infesting Barley," Forage Res. 5_ 155 (1979) and U.S. Patent Nos. 3,159,536 (1964), 3,235,451 (1965), 5,122,518 (1992) ) and 5,414,954 (1995). In particular '954 is related to "methods and means to selectively control crawling arthropod movement and more particularly to non-toxic non-debilitating methods and means to cause crawling arthropods to leave the places they have infested or to discourage crawling arthropods from infesting a where they are not wanted. " According to the '954 this is achieved by "a method for restricting crawling arthropods from climbing an oblique surface that is composed of a uniformly and substantially coarse, continuous coating, which forms an adherent on said surface by applying it to a dispersion of less than 10 microns of titanium dioxide particles in a liquid, and 954 specifically refers to a "method wherein said crawling arthropods are cockroaches", each of which is incorporated herein by reference with respect to its teachings with The chemical insecticides have been used extensively in the production of horticultural crops to control certain arthropod and termite pests.These chemical insecticides generally belong to the following types of chemical compounds: inorganic (aodium fluoaluminate), organic ( dithiocarbamates, organophosphates), and antibiotics (agrimectins, Spinosyns.) These chemical insecticides are physiological toxins that kill arthropod pests. The classes of additional insecticides are hormonal (phenoxyphenoxy) that kill arthropods physiologically interrupting the growth processes, biological (fungi ento opatogenic, bacteria, viruses) that kill causing fatal diseases, soaps (potassium salts of fatty acids) that kill by suffocation, and diatomaceous earths that kill by desicación. The above references are related to particulate solids that are toxic to arthropods and kill these pests. There is still a need for an effective non-toxic method to protect surfaces from arthropod infestation based on particulate materials that are not considered harmful to mammals, birds, fish, beneficial arthropods, and the environment. A method for protecting arthropod infestation surfaces which comprises applying to said surface an effective amount of one or more particulate materials selected from the group consisting of calcined kaolins, hydrophobic calcined kaolins, hydrated kaolins, hydrophobic hydrated kaolins, hydrophobic calcium carbonates, calcium carbonates and mixtures thereof, said particulate materials are finely divided. This invention relates to a method for protecting surfaces from arthropod infestation. The arthropods controlled by this invention (as well as the damage that results from these) refer to arthropods that include insects, termites, spiders and related animals. This invention is particularly effective in controlling the damage caused by plague of flying arthropods, jumpers and crawlers without using insecticides or physiological toxins that are harmful to human health and the environment. In addition, the method of this invention is not toxic to many beneficial arthropods such as lady beetles and bees. There are even other types of damage to crops commonly caused by transmission of diseases by arthropods such as fungus disease, Dutch elm disease, American elm by European elm beetle; bacterial diseases, the lungs of apples and pears by flies, beetles and other insects; virus diseases, the curled top of beet grasshopper on a leaf of beet. Damage control also applies to those secondary infections in places with lesions in a plant that result from the feeding of the arthropods, such as the brown rot infection of the fruits of the bone that result when the organism that carries the disease enters. the plant through feeding places of the plum weevil. The present invention provides a non-toxic environment that is effective to protect surfaces against a broad spectrum of arthropod pest activity by being effective against arthropods that crawl, jump and fly. Although some arthropods can die as a result of contact with the particles of this invention, the main function of the treatment of this invention is to affect the behavior of the arthropods instead of killing the arthropods and therefore not considered harmful to many beneficial insects as the ladybirds and the bees. Since it is not limited by theory, the effects of the particle treatment of this invention protect the surface by creating a hostile environment on the surface that repels arthropod pests in such a way that they will not feed or lay eggs or colonize and, therefore, therefore, they will not start or leave the treated place causing the surface to become unrecognizable by the tapeto, seen or otherwise and / or tasteless or otherwise inadequate as a source of food or for colonization by the failure of the pests of arthropods by recognizing the surfaces altered by particles or otherwise. These effects will vary depending on the species and the size of arthropods. The particulate treatment does not need to have a smooth surface or one that fits at least at an angle of 20 ° with the horizon or a continuous coating free of bubbles and lagoons. A complete surface coating is desirable although certain gaps and gaps may be expected but do not influence the general arthropod control characteristic of the treatment. The particles useful for this invention can be applied to surfaces that are horizontal or inclined, smooth or rough, or complex or simple in structure and a film free of gaps and bubbles are not required for the treatment of particles to be effective against most the arthropods. Surfaces with which this invention is related include surfaces that are subject to arthropod infestation and include, for example, man-made structures made of wood, concrete, plastic pipes, electric cable, etc., and include applications in the art. home such as protecting pipes, clothes closets, cupboards, electrical wiring, foundations, windows, basements, etc; won; land including grassland; stored agricultural products such as grains, seeds, etc; and ornamental and agricultural crops and products thereof, including those selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees, flowers, grasses, roots and ornamental and landscape plants. The particulate materials useful for the purpose of this invention are selected from the group. consisting of calcined kaolins, hydrophobic calcined kaolins, hydrated kaolins, hydrophobic hydrated kaolins, hydrophobic calcium carbonates, calcium carbonates and mixtures thereof. Calcined kaolin is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and can be prepared by calcining hydrous kaolin which is generally represented by the formula Al Si 4 O 0 (OH) 8. The calcined kaolin of this invention would usually have been subject to of calcination temperature in excess of about 350 ° C, more typically in excess of about 500 ° C-- and preferably between about 500aC and about 1100 ° C. Calcium carbonate is a commonly available material. It happens in nature, such as, for example, aragonite, calcite, dolomite gypsum, limestone, etc. or it can be prepared by precipitation of the reaction of calcium chloride and sodium carbonate in water or by passing carbon dioxide through a slurry suspension hydrated in water. Calcined kaolins, hydrated kaolins, and calcium carbonate are usually hydrophilic but their surfaces can be made hydrophobic by adding hydrophobic humidifying agents. Many industrial mineral applications, especially in organic systems such as plastic composites, films, organic coatings or rubbers, depend on just the surface treatments to provide the hydrophobic mineral surface; see, for example, Jesse Edenbaum, Plastics Additives and Modifiers Handbook, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1992, pages 497-500 which is incorporated herein by reference for its teachings of such materials for the surface treatment and its applications. The so-called coupling agents such as fatty acids silanes are commonly used to treat the surface of solid particles as fillers or additives to this industry. Such hydrophobic agents are well known in the art and common examples include: organic titanates such as Tilco® obtained from Tioxide Chemicals; organic zirconates or aluminate coupling agents obtained from Kenrich Petrochemical, Inc .; organofunctional silanes such as Silquest © products obtained from Witco or Prosil © products obtained from PCR; modified silicone fluids such as DM fluids obtained from Shin Etsu; and fatty acids such as Hystrene © or Industrene® products or products obtained from Henkel Corporation (stearic acid and stearate salts are particularly effective fatty acids and salts thereof to obtain a particle with a hydrophobic surface) The term "hydrophobic" as used herein with with respect to particulate materials of calcined kaolins, hydrated kaolins, and calcium carbonates it should mean that the surface of said particle is made hydrophobic by the addition of hydrophobic humidifying agents as described above. Examples of preferred particulate materials suitable for the purpose of this invention that are commercially available from Engelhard Corporation, Iselin, NJ are hydrated kaolins sold under the trade name of ASP®, calcined kaolins sold under the trade name of Satintone © and the calcined kaolins treated with siloxane sold under the registered name of TranslinkT; and calcium carbonate commercially available from English China Clay under the trademark of Atomite © and Supermite® and calcium carbonates landed or treated with stearic acid commercially available from English China Clay under the registered name of Supercoat © and Kotamite®. The term "finely divided" - when used herein means that the particulate material has an average individual particle size of less than about 10 microns, preferably less than about 3 microns, and more preferably the average particle size is one micron. or less. The particle size and particle size distribution as used herein is measured with a Micromeritics Sedigraph 5100 particle size analyzer. The measurements were recorded in deionized water for hydrophilic particles. Dispersions were prepared by weighing 4 grams of dry sample into a plastic flask adding dispersant and dividing to the 80 ml mark with deionized water. The mixtures were then mixed and placed in an ultrasonic bath for 290 seconds. Typically, 0.5% tetrasodium pyrophosphate was used as the dispersant for the kaolin; with Calcium carbonate 1.0% of Calgon T in use was used. The typical densities for the various powders was programmed within the sedigraph, for example, 2.58 g / ml for kaolin. The sample cells were filled with the sample mixtures and X-rays were recorded and converted to particle size distribution curves by the Stokes equation. The average particle size is determined at the 50% level.Preferably, the particulate material has a particle size distribution wherein up to 90% by weight of the particles have a particle size of less than about 10 microns, preferably, less than about 5 microns and more preferably about one or less. Particulate materials particularly suitable for use in this invention are non-toxic. The particulate materials are preferably non-toxic which means that they are not physiological toxins, in the necessary limited quantities they affect the behavior of the arthropods to reduce infestation of arthropods, said materials are not considered harmful to mammals, birds and fish like arthropods , the environment, the applicator and finally the consumer This treatment when applied to horticultural crops should not materially affect the gas exchange on the surface of said crop. The gases that pass through the treatment of particles are those that are typically exchanged through the skin of the surface of living plants. Such gases typically include water vapor, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen and volatile organics. • The surface being protected is treated with a quantity of one or more particulate materials selected from the group consisting of calcined kaolins, hydrophobic calcined kaolins, hydrated kaolins, hydrophobic hydrated kaolins, hydrophobic calcium carbonates, calcium carbonates and mixtures thereof , which is effective to protect the surface from arthropod infestation. The treatment coverage of these surfaces are within the experience of ordinary experts. Less than the total coverage of the surface is within the scope of this invention and can be highly effective, for example, with respect to horticultural crops and the underside of the crop surface (which is not directly exposed to the source of the crop). light) needs to be treated by the method of this invention nor does the upper part of the crop surface need to be completely covered; although total crop coverage may provide additional benefits such as effective disease control, smoother surface of fruit, reduced bark and fruit breakage, and reduced reddish coloration. Reference is made to U.S. Patent Serial No. 08 / 972,648, concurrently recorded herein on November 18, 1997, entitled "Treated Horticultural Substrates" which is incorporated herein by reference for its teachings with respect to methods for achieving these additional benefits. The method of this invention can result in the waste treatment by forming a membrane of one or more layers of said particulate materials on the surface to be treated. The particulate materials useful for the purpose of this invention can be applied as a powder or as a mixture of finely divided particles in a volatile liquid such as water, an organic solvent of the division or a low boiling solvent / organic water mixture. Adjuvants such as surfactants, dispersants or spreaders / adhesives can be incorporated into an aqueous mixture of the particulate materials of this invention. One or more layers of the mixture can be sprayed or otherwise applied to the surface. The volatile liquid is preferably allowed to evaporate between coatings. The residue of this treatment can be hydrophilic or hydrophobic. The application of particles as a powder can be achieved by spraying, pouring or shaking said particles directly on the interwoven surface as an alternative method to carry out the method of this invention. Surfactants that are anionic, cationic or non-ionic materials; and / or propagators / adhesives that can be mixed with the particles useful for this invention (3% more solids in water) to aid in the uniform spraying of treatments on the surfaces to be treated are: modified phthalic alkylated glycerol resins such as Latron B -1956 for Rohm & amp;; Haas Co .; plant oils such as cottonseed oil or plant-based materials (cocoditalimide) with emulsifiers such as Sea-wet from Salsbury lab, Inc. or; polymeric terpenes, Pinene II for Drexel Chem. Co .; non-ionic detergents (high ethoxylated oil fatty acids) such as the Toximul 859 and Ninex MT-600 series by Stephan. The particle treatment can be applied as one or more layers of finely divided particulate material. The amount of material applied is within the experience of one of ordinary skill in the art. The amount will be sufficient to repel or otherwise affect the behavior of arthropods and / or colonization to the surface to which these particles are applied. For example, this can typically be achieved by applying about 25 to about 5000 micrograms of particulate material on a centimeter2 surface area for particles having a density - specific of about 2-3 g / cm3, more typically about 100 to about 3000 and more preferably from 100 to about 500. In addition, environmental conditions such as wind and rain can reduce the coverage of the particulate materials on the protected surface and, therefore, it is within the scope of this invention to apply said particle to the surface to be protected. one or more times to maintain the desired effect of the invention.

The low boiling liquids useful in the present invention are preferably miscible in water and contain from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The term "low boiling" as used herein shall mean organic liquids which have a boiling point generally not higher than 100 ° C. These liquids allow the particulate sounds to remain in a finely divided form in a significant agglomeration. Said low boiling organic liquids are exemplified by: alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, i-propanol, i-butanol and the like, ketones such as ketones, methyl ethyl ketones and the like, and cyclic ethers such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and tetrahydrofuran. Combinations of the aforementioned liquids can also be used. Methanol is the preferred low boiling organic liquid. Low boiling organic liquids can be employed by applying the particles to surfaces for the purposes of this invention. Typically, the liquids are used in a sufficient amount to form a dispersion of the particulate material. The amount of liquid typically is about 30 volume percent of the dispersion, preferably from about 3 to about 5 volume percent, and more preferably from about 3.5 to about 4.5 volume percent. The particulate material is preferably added to a low boiling organic liquid to form a mixture and then this mixture is diluted with water to form an aqueous dispersion. The resulting mixture retains the particles in a generally divided form wherein most of the particles are dispersed to a particle size of less than about 10 microns.

The following examples sor. illustrative of embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention as limited by the claims forming part of the application. Example 1 Acute toxicity of a hydrophilic kaolin made hydrophobic by the treatment of iloxane, Translink® 77, in adult bees. The percentage of mortality was determined 48 hours after the expof ición at different concentrations of kaolins solubilized in 2 μl of methanol.

Mortality was compared with a control without treatment and a control with solvent. Topical applications were applied to 20 adult bees per treatment with 3 replicates per treatment. The data is the summary of an acute toxicity test in bees conducted by Wildlife International, LTD. (Proj. No. 469-l (l) for Engelhard Corporation.

Table 1 Bees mortality 48 hours after TranslinkO 77 Treatment Dose (μg mortality a. I / bees No treatment None 0.3 Control with 2 μl methanol .0.0 Translink solvent 77 6.25 0.0 12.5 0.0 25.0 0.3 100.0 0.0 Treated kaolin is TranslinkO 77 siloxane (Engelhard Corporation) This study shows that Translink © 77 It is not toxic to bees in a wide range of concentrations Example II Acute toxicity of a hydrophilic kaolin made hydrophobic by treatment with siloxane, TranslinkO 77, in adult catarinae compared to the untreated control and the toxic conventional insecticide. pounds of material suspended in 4 gallons of methanol, were added to 100 gallons of water.These treatments were applied to a total yield of 125 gallons / acre using a handheld garden spray gun.There were 5 replicates per treatment with a single replica The mortality of the ladybugs was determined by counting the number of dead ladybugs in the iso in a diameter of 3 feet around the base of each treated tree. The effect of Detrimetal from the application on the number of live ladybugs within treated trees was determined by counting the total number within each treated tree. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and the averages were compared using the method of significant differences, LSD, at P = 0.05. Table II The average number (± SE) of live adult ladybugs within the tree and dead ladybugs on the floor around each treated tree in a pear orchard 2 days after treatment, August 8, 1997, Kearneysville, WV. Treatment Concentration No. of dead ladybugs / tree on the floor / treeTranslink © 77 0.3% in H20 3.8 ± l.la O.O ± 0.0b Kaolin Agrimek 5.0 1.4 ± 0.7b 3.6 ± 0.7a (avermectin) a. i / acre Without 5.4 ± 0.9a 0.0 ± O.Ob Treatment Control Averages within a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different (P> 0.05, LSD) ~~ The data indicate that the hydrophilic particle treated with siloxane, Translink © 77, can not be harmful to populations of ladybugs within the trees treated with this compound compared to the control without treatment. In addition, the ladybugs were not killed by the Translink © treatment 77 although the chemical is toxic, Agrimek © did. This study shows that Translink © 77 is not toxic and is beneficial for ladybugs. Example III This example demonstrates how the calcium carbonate and kaolin particle barriers are repellent and / or prevent the pear psylla from laying eggs. Ten adults were given a free choice between leaves of pears treated with various types of calcium carbonate and kaolin particles that are hydrated, calcined or made hydrophobic by treatment with siloxane or stearate. The leaves were sprayed with a solution composed of 5% particles and 10% methanol in water using a hand sprinkler. Treatments included untreated and controls of the % MEOH. Five adult couples of psylla from the pear (n = 10) were released into a caged arena containing the eleven particle treatments and control and untreated. The experiment was a random block design with 5 replicas. Adult and egg numbers were recorded 24 hours after being released into the sand. The data were subjected to ANOVA and the averages were separated using LSD, P = 0. 05 Table III The dissuasive effects of repellents and oviposition of pear leaves treated with - treatment of calcium carbonate and kaolin particle in adult pear psylla Type of Treatment No. Present 24 hours after particle of the exhibition Adultos Huevos - Control 3.60 + 1.47AB 15.8 ± 7.69A Methanol control 4.40 ± 0.51A 9.40 ± 4.24AB Kaolin ASP 900-hydrated1 5.20 + 1.24A 7.20 + 5.50BC ASP 900- 1.00 + 0.77 CDE 0.00 + 0.00C hydrophobic2 Satintone-W- 2.4010.60BC O.OO ± O.OOC calcined3 Satintone-W- 1.00 + 0.45CDE O.OO ± O.OOC hydrophobic4 Translink 37- O.OO ± O.OOE O.OO ± O.OOC hydrophobic5 Translink-77- 0.40 ± 0.40DE O.OO ± O.OOC hydrophobic5 calcium Kotomite- 0.00 + 0. OOE O.OO ± O.OOC hydrophobic6 carbonate Atomite- 1.80 + 0.58BCDE O.OO ± O.OOC hydrophilic7 1. ASP 900 (Engelhard Corporation) 2. ASP 900 (Engelhard Corporation) treated with stearate. 3. Satintone W (Engelhard Corporation) 4. Satintone (Engelhard Corporation) treated with stearate 5. Translink 37 to 77 (Engelhard Corporation) 6. Kotamite (ECC Tnt) 7. Atomite (ECC inr). The averages within a column followed by the same letter are significantly different, LSD, P = 0.05; Average of £ replicas. The results showed that these particles are repellent to adults since they were not placed on the pear leaves treated with particles with hydrophobic calcium carbonate or calcined or hydrophobic kaolin: the data indicate that the repellent nature of these particles is increased when the materials hydrophilic are calcined or when the hydrophilic materials become hydrophobic. Example IV Apple trees "Red Delicious" received the following treatments: 1) without treatment, 2) with weekly application of particle hydrophobic kaolin treated with siloxane Translink © 77, starting on March 11, 1997, 3) weekly applications of particle Satintone 5HB calcined hydrophilic kaolin, starting on April 29, 1997, and 4) weekly application of hydrophobic calcium carbonate treated with SuperCoat® stearate, (commercially available from English China Clay) beginning April 29, 1997. Carbonate treatments of calcium and kaolin required 25 pounds of suspended material in 4 gallons of methanol and added to 100 gallons of water. Satintone ©% HB required 25 pounds of suspended material in 100 gallons of water with the addition of 27 ounces of Ninex® MT-603 and 2 pints of Toximul®. These treatments were applied at a total speed of 125 gallons / acre using an orchard sprayer. The treatments were accommodated in a random concrete block design with 4 replicas and 3 trees / solar. The treatments were not irrigated and received 21.58 cm of precipitation from May 1 to August 30, 1997. The fruits were harvested at maturity; the number of fruits was measured at harvest. The data were analyzed using a variation of analysis (ANOVA) and the treatment averages were separated using the minimum significance difference method (LSD) at P = 0.05. Table IV The average (+) number of arthropods per terminal in several treatments in apples in 'Red Delicious' on 7/1/97. There were 4 replications per treatment and 25 terminals per replica, Kearneysville, WV.

Arthropods Without Caolin Caolin Carbonate treatment Translink 77 Satinton 5HB calcium superCoat Termite Pests 67.5 ± 27.2 to 1.5 + 0.9 b 1.5 ± 0.9 b 45.8118.2 a " Skippers 61.0 ± 16.0 to 8.0 + 5.2 b 8.0 ± 5.2 b 44.8 ± 7.7 a Thysanoptera 4.5 ± 1.9 to 0.5 ± 0.5 b 1.0 ± 0.6 b 3.0 ± 0.7ab -Leaf Miners 0. O ± O.O at 1.010.6 at 0.5 ± 0.3 to 0.8 ± 0.5 a Beneficial Eggs 1.8 + 0.6 ab 2.3 ± 0.5 ab 0.8 + 0.8 b 0.3 + 0.3 b Laceworm Larvae from 0. O ± OO to 0.3 ± 0.3 to 0.5 ± 0.3 to 0. O ± OO to lacewings Larvae of 0.0 + 0.0 b 1.311 .0 b 4.812.2 to 0.3 ± 0.3 b Catarina Catarina 0. O ± O .0 to 0.5 ± 0.5 to 0.8 ± 0.5 to 0.3 ± 0.3a averages Averages within a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different LSD, P = 0.05 After 10 applications of kaolin, the treatments gave the best levels of control of termites, hoppers and thrips. The treatment with calcium carbonate gave the same levels of control as the treatments with kaolin except for the termites and the hoppers. The treatments with calcium carbonate and / or kaolin did not decrease significantly and the numbers of beneficial arthropods increased compared with the control block without treatment. No plant toxicity was observed in any treatment. The conclusion of these data is that the treatments with calcium carbonate and / or kaolin are effective against a wide range of arthropod pests without being harmful to beneficial arthropods. Example V An arthropod pest control was observed in the blackberries after 6 weekly applications of hydrophobic kaolin particles treated with siloxane, Translink © 77, compared to an untreated control. The applications were treatments that required 25 pounds of material suspended in 4 gallons of methanol and added to 100 gallons of water. These treatments were applied at a total speed of 125 gallons / acre using an orchard sprayer. There were three replicates per treatment the arthropod counts were determined as average number per terminal of 10 terminals per treatment. The accounts were made on June 24, 1997. The data were analyzed using a variation analysis and the treatment averages were separated using a significant experience method (LSD) at P = 0.05. Table V The average numbers (± SE) of arthropods per terminal after 6 weekly applications of kaolin Translink © 77 in the blackberry, June 24, 1997 Kearneysville, WV.

Averages within a column followed by the same letter are not significantly different, LSD, P = 0.05 1 Numbers represents total block accounts The data showed that the particle of hydrophobic kaolin treated with siloxane, Translink © 77 are very effective control agents against a wide range of arthropod plagues of the blackberry.

Claims (9)

1. CLAIMS 1. A method for protecting arthropod infestation surface which is characterized in that it comprises applying to said surface an effective amount of a mixture comprising one or more particulate materials selected from the group consisting of calcined kaolins, hydrophobic calcined kaolins, carbonates hydrophobic calcium, calcium carbonates and mixtures thereof, said particulate materials are finely divided, wherein the surface is selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees, grasses, roots and ornamental plants and for landscaping.
2. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the particulate material has a particle size distribution wherein up to 90% of the particles have a particle size of less than about 10 microns.
3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said hydrophobic calcined kaolins, and hydrophobic calcium carbonates have a hydrophobic outer surface prepared from materials selected from the group consisting of organic titanates, organic zirconate or aluminate coupling agents, silanes organofunctionals, modified silicone fluids and fatty acids and salts thereof.
4. 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface is a horticultural orchard selected from the group consisting of ornamental and agricultural orchards.
5. 5. The method of compliance with the claim 4, characterized in that the horticultural garden is selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables and trees.
6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the finely divided particulate materials have an average individual particle size of less than 3 microns.
7. 7. A method for protecting horticultural orchards from arthropod infestation which is characterized in that it comprises applying to the surface of a horticultural orchard selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees, flowers, grasses, roots and ornamental plants and for landscapes , an effective amount of a mixture comprising water and one or more particulate materials selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, calcined kaolin and mixture thereof, allowing the mixture to dry, said particulate materials having an average individual particle size of about one or less, and wherein said particles so applied allow the exchange of gases on the surface of said orchard.
8. 8. The method according to claim 1 or 7, characterized in that the finely divided particulate materials are applied one or more times during the growing season of said horticultural orchard.
9. 9. A method for protecting surfaces from arthropod infestation which is characterized in that it comprises applying to the selected surface of the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, trees, flowers, grasses, roots and ornamental plants and for landscapes, an effective amount of a mixture comprising water and one or more particulate materials selected from the group consisting of calcined kaolins, hydrophobic calcined kaolins, hydrophobic calcium carbonates, calcium carbonates and mixtures thereof, said articulated materials being finely divided