NZ525907A

NZ525907A - Use of the macrolides abamectin, ememectin or spinosad for contolling molluscs

Info

Publication number: NZ525907A
Application number: NZ525907A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Dieter Hofer; Marius Sutter; Franz Brandl; Bruce Lee; Roger Graham Hall; Max Angst
Original assignee: Syngenta Participations Ag
Priority date: 1997-12-23
Filing date: 1998-12-21
Publication date: 2004-10-29
Also published as: DE19882911T1; ES2232321B1; IT1304796B1; KR20060002021A; GB2380132A; FR2801528A1; BRPI9816227B8; FR2772557A1; GB2380132B; AU2009201218A1; AU744005B2; BR9814318A; HUP0100334A3; FR2801473A1; ITMI982796A1; KR100577834B1; ES2181567A1; FR2801474A1; AR069094A2; NZ525906A

Abstract

A method for controlling molluscs, comprising applying the composition to the molluscs or their environment is disclosed. Also described are the following methods: (1) a method for controlling pests in transgenic crops, comprising applying the composition to the pests or their environment; (2) a method for protecting plant propagation material "and plant organs that grow at a later date" from attack by pests, comprising employing the composition "in the immediate spatial vicinity of, or spatially together with, the planting or use of the propagation material at the site of planting or sowings"; (3) a method for controlling wood pests, comprising applying the composition to the pests or their environment. Also disclosed is a composition for controlling wood pests and molluscs comprising an active pesticide containing at least one macrolide and at least one auxiliary. (62) Divided out of 505208

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number 525907 525 9 07 Patents Form No. 5 Our Ref: CLM218925 DIVISIONAL APPLICATION OUT OF NZ 505208 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION USE OF MACROLIDES IN MOLLUSC CONTROL We, SYNGENTA PARTICIPATIONS AG, a body corporate organised under the laws of Switzerland of Schwarzwaldallee 215, 4058 Basel, Switzerland hereby declare the invention, for which We pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: INTELLECTUAL (7'gPhcF? OF N.Z. | - 6 SEP m j (Followed by page 1 a) RECF?l'--r>. f -1 - PT0533826 100142997_1 - 1a - Use of Macrolides in Mollusc Control The present invention relates to a method of controlling pests with macrolide compounds; more specifically to a method of controlling molluscs with a macrolide compound. 5 This application is a divisional filed out of NZ 505208, the claims of which related to a method of controlling pests in and on transgenic crops of useful plants with a macrolide compound. NZ 525906 is another divisional application filed out of NZ 505208, the claims of which relate 10 to a method of protecting plant propagation material and plant organs formed at a later point in ^ time from attack by pests with such a macrolide compound. Certain pest control methods are proposed in the literature. However, these methods are not fully satisfactory in the field of pest control, which is why there is a demand for providing 15 further methods for controlling and combating pests, in particular molluscs. This object is achieved according to the invention by providing the present method. The present invention relates to a method of controlling molluscs, wherein a pesticidal composition in the form of granules or pellets comprising: 20 0.1-10% by weight of at least one macrolide selected from Abamectin, Emamectin and Spinosad, in free form or agrochemically utilizable salt form, as active ingredient; | 0-90% of carrier material; 10-95% of phagostimulant; 0.5-25% of binder and, if appropriate, 0.15% of other auxiliaries; 25 is applied to the molluscs or their environment. In the case of abamectin, the free form is preferred in accordance with the invention. Especially preferred for the purposes of the present invention is a composition which comprises emamectin in free form or as an agrochemically tolerated salt as the only 30 molluscicidally active component; especially as the salt; more especially as the benzoate, substituted benzoate, benzenesulphonate; citrate, phosphate, tartrate or maleate; preferably as the benzoate or benzenesulphonate, especially preferably as the benzoate. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z - 9 AUG 2004 (Followed by page 2) -2- A larger number of different classes of active ingredient are mentioned in the literature as arthropodecidally acting active ingredients for controlling gastropods. Surprisingly, it has now been found that the compounds known under the collective term macrolides, too, exhibit an important molluscicidal activity, specifically against gastropods, such as slugs and snails. 5 The molluscs include, for example, Ampullariidae; Arion (A. ater, A. circumscriptus, A. hortensis, A. rufus); Bradybaenidae (Bradybaena fruticum); Cepaea (C. hortensis, C. Nemoralis); Cochlodina; Deroceras (D. agrestis, D. empiricorum, D. laeve, D. reticulatum); Discus (D. rotundatus); Euomphalia; Galba 10 (G. trunculata); Helicella (H. itala, H. obvia); Helicidae (Helicigona arbustorum); Helicodiscus; Helix (H. aperta); Umax (L. cinereoniger, L. flavus, L. marginatus, L. maximus, L. tenellus); Lymnaea; Milax (M. gagates, M. marginatus, M. sowerbyi); Opeas; Pomacea (P. canaticulata); Vallonia and Zanitoides. 15 20 25 Gastropodicides which are currently commercially available comprise metaldehyde and carbamates such as, for example, methiocarb. Carbamates are highly effective as molluscicides, but exhibit the serious disadvantage of being highly toxic to mammals such as, for example, cats, dogs and hedgehogs, and other organisms such as, for example, earthworms, which should be left unharmed. While the metaldehyde molluscicides exhibit a lower toxicity, they are not lethal to molluscs but have an anaestheticizing or dehydrating effect, thus immobilizing the pests. There is therefore a demand for a useful molluscicide which is highly effective against, for example, slugs and snails, but has no or a very low, toxic effect on beneficials, such as, for example earthworms, and mammals. This object is achieved with the macrolides of the present invention. The present invention therefore also relates to molluscicides such as emulsifiable concentrates, suspension concentrates, directly sprayable or dilutable solutions, spreadable pastes, dilute emulsions, sprayable powders, soluble powders, dispersible powders, wettable powders, dusts, granules, pellets or encapsulations in polymeric substances, all of INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N Z " 9 AUS 2004 RECEIVPn which are to be chosen to suit the intended aims and the prevailing circumstances and which comprise - at least - one of the active ingredients according to the invention. The active ingredient is employed in these compositions in pure form, for example a solid active ingredient in a particular particle size, or, preferably, together with - at least - one of the auxiliaries or carriers conventionally used in formulation technology. Examples of formulation auxiliaries are solid carriers, solvents, stabilizers, slow-release auxiliaries, colorants and, if appropriate, surface-active substances (surfactants). Suitable carriers and auxiliaries are all substances conventionally used in crop protection products, in particular in gastropodicides. Suitable auxiliaries such as solvents, solid carriers, surface-W active compounds, non-ionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants and other auxiliaries in the compositions employed in accordance with the invention are, for example, those which have been described in EP-A-736'252. Other suitable substances which can be used as carriers for molluscicides are phagostimuiants, that is to say the attractants and/or food (that is to say substances which can be utilized physiologically by slugs and snails) usually coniained in siug and snail bait formulations. Mixtures of phagostimuiants with other suitable organic and/or inorganic carriers may also be used. Suitable phagostimuiants for molluscicides are preferably: ground cereals, such as, for example, wheat flour, barley flour, rye flour, and also rice starch, crushed soya beans, fish meal, molasses, crushed rapeseed and the like. It is possible to employ either only one ^phagostimuiant or else a mixture of phagostimuiants. To make the bait more palatable for the molluscs, one or more of the following substances can be used as additive for slug and snail baits: a) a vitamin B, in particular B1, B2, nicotinic acid or nicotinamide; b) vitamin E; c) animal or vegetable proteinaceous material, for example albumins and their hydrolytic degradation products, in particular those obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis by, for example, pepsin, such as metaproteins, proteoses, peptones, polypeptides, peptides, diketopipera-zines and amino acids; d) one or more amino acids or salts or amides thereof, which may also be synthetic products; INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N2 - 9 AUG 2004 received -4- e) a nucleic acid or a hydrolytic degradation product thereof, such as a nucleotide, a nucleoside, adenine, guanine, cytosine, uracile or thymine; f) urea, carbamic acid; g) an ammonium salt, for example ammonium acetate; h) an amino sugar, for example, glucosamine or galactosamine; i) compounds of sodium, potassium, calcium or magnesium, or traces of compounds of manganese, copper, iron, cobalt, zinc, aluminium, boron or molybdenum, in particular chelates of these, such as Versene®; j) phosphoric acid, or glyceryl or sugar phosphates; k) water. Stabilizers may be all known food stabilizers which have a fungistatic, fungicidal, bacteriostatic and/or bactericidal action, such as sodium benzoate, methyl p-hydroxy-benzoate, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, citric acid, tartaric acid, sorbic acid, phenols, alkylphenols or chlorinated phenols. Slow-release auxiliaries which may be employed include, in addition to the substances mentioned as solid carriers, resins such as urea/formaldehyde resins, soya-bean meal, waxes, stearates and oils such as castor oil. Substances which can be employed as auxiliaries for molluscicides according to the present invention are, for example, binders such as methylcellosolve, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, natural waxes, chemically modified waxes and synthetic waxes, sugars, starch, alginates, agar, lignosulphonates and gum arabic, humectants such as polyalcohols, for example sugars or glycerol, preservatives, colorants, snail and slug attractants, repellents for warm-blooded species and/or other formulation auxiliaries. Combinations with known molluscicidally active ingredients, for example metaldehyde or mercaptodimethur, are also possible. The formulation steps can be complemented by kneading, granulating (granules) and, if appropriate, compressing (pills, tablets, pellets). The molluscicidal compositions which preferably comprise, other carriers and/or auxiliaries in addition to the active ingredient are preferably present in the ready-to-use form as sprayable powders, tracking powders, as granules (the active ingredient being present as a INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z - a AU6 200*1 ;ocrpiwpn ;-5- ;mixture with the carrier material), or as pellets. Especially preferred formulations are tracking powders, granules or pellets. ;Formulations which are specifically suitable for controlling molluscs according to the present invention are granules or pellets which comprise, as a rule, 0 to 90%, preferably 0 to 70%, of carrier material, 0.1 to 10%, preferably 1 to 5%, of active ingredient, 10 to 95%, preferably 25 to 90%, of phagostimulant, 0.5 to 25%, preferably 5 to 20%, of binder and, if appropriate, 0 to 15% of other auxiliaries (% is in each case per cent by weight). ;The amount to be applied in each case as gastropodicide is not critical, due to the lack of, or low, toxicity to warm-blooded species and depends on the prevailing circumstances, such as severity of infestation, climatic conditions and the plants to be protected. The application rate of bait types according to the invention can be varied within a substantial range. In general, between 3 and 15 kg of snail and slug bait are used per hectare, preferably between 5 and 10 kg per hectare. Expediently, the gastropodicides are distributed as uniformly as possible between the crop plants by spraying an aqueous suspension or by .. ;Spieauiriy mo puwucia, yiaiiuico ui uii u its £>uu. n lite fJiarii Cai lu^jy nui uciioc?, 11 ;may also be expedient to establish "trapping strips" around the plants to be protected. ;Since the gastropodicides according to the present invention are outstandingly well tolerated by plants, no limitations apply to the plants to be protected. Thus, all ornamentals and crop plants in agriculture, forests and horticulture (also in greenhouses) in all growth stages can be protected from slug and snail damage. ;The formulation and the use of the slug and snail baits according to the invention and of the compositions for controlling wood pests can be seen from the examples which follow. ;The compositions to be used according to the present invention for controlling gastropods are prepared in the known manner, in the absence of auxiliaries for example by grinding and/or straining, for example to obtain a particular particle size, or by compressing a solid active ingredient, and in the presence of at least one auxiliary for example by intimately mixing and/or grinding the active ingredient with the auxiliary I auxiliaries. These processes for the preparation of the compositions according to the invention and the use of the macrolides for the preparation of these compositions are also the subject of the invention. ;As a rule, the compositions of the present invention comprises 0.1 to 10% active ingredient and 0 to 90% of : —— ;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z ;- 9 AUG 2004 ;-6- ;a carrier, it being possible, as a rule, for surfactants to account for 0 to 25%, in particular 0.1 to 20%, of the compositions (% is in each case percent by weight). While concentrated compositions are more preferred as commercially available goods, the consumer uses, as a rule, dilute compositions which have much lower concentrations of active ingredient. ;The activity of the compositions according to the invention can be widened considerably by adding other, for example insecticidally, acaricidally and/or fungicidally active ingredients and adapted to the prevailing circumstances. ;Suitable additions of insecticidally and acaricidally active ingredients are, for example, representatives of the following classes of active ingredients: organophosphorus compounds, nitrophenols and derivatives, formamidines, triazine derivatives, nitroenamine derivatives, nitro- and cyanoguanidine derivatives, ureas, benzoylureas, carbamates, pyrethroids, chlorinated hydrocarbons and Bacillus thuringiensis products. Especially preferred components in mixtures are NI-25, TI-304, TI-435, MTI-446, fipronii, lufenuron, pyripfoxyfen, thiacloprid, fluxofenime; imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, fenoxycarb, diafenthiuron, pymetrozine, diazinon, disulphoton; profenofos, furathiocarb, cyromazin, cypermethrin, tau-fluvalinate, tefluthrin or Bacillus thuringiensis products, very especially NI-25, TI-304, TI-435, MTI-446, fipronii, thiacloprid, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and tefluthrin. ;Examples of suitable additions of fungicidally active ingredients are the following compounds: azoxystrobin; bitertanol; carboxin; Cu20; cymoxanil, cyproconazole; cyprodinil; dichlofluamid; difenoconazole; diniconazole; epoxiconazole; fenpiclonil, fludioxonil; fluquiconazole; flusilazole; flutriafol; furalaxyl; guazatin; hexaconazole; hymexazol; imazaiil; imibenconazole; ipconazole; kresoxim-methyl; mancozeb; metalaxyl; R-metalaxyl; metaconazole; oxadixyi; pefurazoate; penconazole; pencycuron; prochloraz, propiconazole; pyroquilone; SSF-109; spiroxamin; tebuconazole; teflutrin; thiabendazole; tolifluamide; triazoxide; triadimefon; triadimenol; triflumizole; triticonazole and uniconazole. ;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFF/CE OF N.Z ;- 9 AUG 2004 received ;-7- ;The macrolides according to the present invention are preventative^ and/or curativeiy valuable active ingredients with a very favourable biocidal spectrum in the field of mollusc control, even at low use concentrations, and are well tolerated by warm-biooded species, fish and plants. The active ingredients according to the invention are active against all or individual 5 developmental stages of normally sensitive, but also resistant, molluscs. The molluscicidal action of the active ingredients according to the invention may manifest itself directly, i.e. in destruction of the pests, either immediately or only after some time has elapsed, or indirectly, for example in a reduced oviposition and/or hatching rate, the good action corresponding to a destruction rate (mortality) of at least 50 to 60%. ;10 Using the active ingredients according to the present invention it is possible to control, i.e. ^ contain or destroy, mollusc damage in particular on plants, mainly on useful plants and ornamentals in agriculture, in horticulture and in forests. ;Suitable target crops for mollusc control are, in particular, cereals, such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, rice, maize or sorghum; beet, such as sugar or fodder beet; fruit, for example 15 pome fruit, stone fruit and soft fruit, such as apples, pears, plums, peaches, almonds, ;cherries or berries, for example strawberries, raspberries or blackberries; legumes such as beans, lentils, peas or soya beans; oil crops such as oil seed rape, mustard, poppies, olives, sunflowers, coconuts, castor, cacao or peanuts; the marrow family, such as pumpkins, cucumbers or melons; fibre plants such as cotton, flax, hemp or jute; citrus fruits such as 20 oranges, lemons, grapefruits or tangerines; vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbage species, carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, or capsicums; the laurel family such as avocado, Cinnamonium or camphor; and tobacco, nuts, coffee, egg plants, sugar cane, ^ tea, pepper, grapevines, hops, the banana family, latex plants and ornamentals. ;Other fields of application for the active ingredients according to the present invention are the 25 protection of stored products and stores and of materials from molluscs. ;The compositions according to the present invention are also suitable for the protection of plant propagation material, for example seed, such as fruits, tubers or kernels, or plant propagules, from gastropods. The propagation material can be treated with the composition prior to planting, for example seed prior to sowing. Alternatively, the active ingredients 30 according to the invention can be applied to seed kernels (coating) either by soaking the kernels in a liquid composition or by coating them with a solid composition. Alternatively, the composition can be applied to the site of planting when the propagation material is being planted, for example into the seed furrow during : ;ECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z ;- 9 AUG 2004 ;RECEIVED ;-8- ;sowing. These treatment methods for plant propagation material and the plant propagation material treated thus are further subjects of the invention. ;The examples which follow are intended to illustrate the present invention. They do not impose any iimitation thereto. ;Formulation examples ;Example F3: Preparation of slug pellets ;40 kg of crushed rapeseed (ratio of extracted/non-extracted crushed rapeseed = 65:35), 2.6 kg of a finely ground premix comprising 2.1 kg of macrolide and 500 g of highly-disperse silica, 4.7 kg of cold crosslinked cornstarch, 540 g of urea/formaldehyde resin, 100 g of isopropanol, 3 kg of sugar beet molasses and 140 g of blue colorant (1,4-di(isobutylamino)anthraquinone) are introduced in succession into a mixer and mixed intimately. This is followed by compression moulding. The product is left to cool and dry, and fines are removed using a 0.5 mm screen. This gives a ready-to-use slug and snail bait formulation. ;Instead of the abovementioned compression moulding method, another, customary compacting method may also be used for preparing the slug and snail bait formulation. ;Use examples ;Example A1: Test for determining the efficacy of slug and snail pellets against Deroceras reticulatum ;The efficacy of slug and snail pellets against small slug species, for example Deroceras species, is tested in polycarbonate boxes with a 17 cm x 22 cm base. The bottom of the box is covered with several layers of cellulose paper which is moistened sufficiently. The slug and snail pellets are scattered uniformly over one half of the test area at an application rate of 20 particles; the other half remains untreated. To avoid forced behaviour, the slugs are additionally given untreated supplementary feed: two potato halves arranged in diagonally opposite comers of the box. 10 adult reticulated field slugs (Derocers reticulatum) are introduced to the untreated area of each box. Each test is replicated three times. Temperature and atmospheric humidity are kept virtually constant during the entire test period: 19° and 90 to 95% relative atmospheric humidity. The state of the slugs is checked and scored daily on seven consecutive days. When assessing the efficacy, the mortality ;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z ;- 3 AUS 200*1 received -9- rate and the number of animals which show symptoms of damage are taken into consideration. In this test, the macroiides according to the invention are very effective. Example A2: Test for determining the efficacy of slug and snail pellets against Arion rufus The efficacy of slug and snail pellets against larger slug species is tested in plastic test boxes equipped with a wire mesh. Each box has a base of 0.25 m2. The bottom of the box is covered by a 2 to 3 cm deep layer of potting compost. The potting compost is moistened sufficiently before the beginning of the experiment. Slug and snail pellets are scattered | uniformly over the left half of the experimental area at an application rate of 3.1 g; the right half remains untreated. To avoid forced behaviour, the slugs are additionally given untreated supplementary feed: two potato halves arranged in diagonally opposite comers of the box. 10 adult red slugs (Arion rugus) are introduced to the untreated area of each box. Each test is replicated four times. Temperature and atmospheric humidity are kept virtually constant during the entire test period: 19° and 90 to 95% relative atmospheric humidity. The state of the slugs is checked and scored daily on seven consecutive days. When assessing the efficacy, the mortality rate and the number of animals which show symptoms of damage are taken into consideration. In this test, the macrolides according to the invention are very effective. Example A3: Test for determining systemic efficacy against Deroceras reticulatum 1 a) Lettuce plants A test solution is prepared by dissolving a macrolide sample in 1 ml of acetone and making up the solution with water to 50 ml. The roots, previously cleaned with fresh water, of young lettuce plants 6 cm in height are immersed for at least two days in this solution. For each test, individual leaves are excised from these lettuce plants and placed on a paper filter in a 9 cm Petri dish. 1 ml of water is pipetted onto each paper filter to keep the leaves moist during the experiment. Then, two medium-sized slugs are introduced into each Petri dish and the amount of consumed leaves and the mortality is determined over a period of two days. In this test, the macroiides according to the invention show a good action. b) Seed INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFRCE OF M.Z - 9 AUG 2004 received </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> -10- Batches of 10 slugs are introduced into five sealed boxes containing compost and having a base of 35 cm x 20 cm. In each case 100 treated winter wheat kernels are scattered uniformly into four boxes. In the fifth box, 50 treated winter what kernels are distributed over one side of the box and 50 untreated winter wheat kernels over the other side of the box to test the repellent action. In this test, the macrolides according to the invention are very effective. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z - 9 AUG 2004 RECEIVED What we claim is:

1. A method of controlling molluscs, wherein a molluscidal composition in the form of granules or pellets comprising: 0.1-10% by weight of at least one macrolide selected from Abamectin, Emamectin and Spinosad, in free form or agrochemically utilizable salt form, as active ingredient; 0-90% of carrier material; 10-95% of phagostimulant; 0.5-25% of binder and, if appropriate, 0.15% of other auxiliaries; is applied to the molluscs or their environment.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the active ingredient employed is Abamectin.

3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein gastropods are controlled.

4. A composition for controlling molluscs, comprising: 0.1-10% by weight of at least one macrolide selected from Abamectin, Emamectin and Spinosad, in free form or agrochemically utilizable salt form, as active ingredient; 0-90% of carrier material; 10-95% of pharostimulant; 0.5-25% of binder and, if appropriate, 0-15% of other auxiliaries.

5. Method according to claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the Examples thereof.

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, substantially as herein described.

7. Composition according to claim 4, substantially as herein described. By its Attorneys BALDWINS END OF CLAIMS </div>