WO1994003066A1

WO1994003066A1 - Method and composition for controlling cockroaches

Info

Publication number: WO1994003066A1
Application number: PCT/EP1993/001921
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rudolf Schenker; Stephanie Janssen
Original assignee: Ciba-Geigy Ag
Priority date: 1992-07-29
Filing date: 1993-07-21
Publication date: 1994-02-17
Also published as: AU4571493A

Abstract

A method of controlling cockroaches is described, which essentially comprises bringing the cockroaches into contact with an insecticidal amount of a benzoylphenylurea derivative known per se in combination with living insect-pathogenic nematodes. Also described is an improved cockroach trap that contains such a benzoylphenylurea derivative and living insect-pathogenic nematodes.

Description

Method, and composition for controlling cockroaches

The present invention relates to a method of controlling cockroaches by means of a combination of benzoylphenylurea derivatives known per se and living insect-pathogenic nematodes. It relates also to the corresponding use of such combinations and to an improved cockroach trap that contains the benzoylphenylurea derivatives in combination with living insect-pathogenic nematodes. The invention relates also to cockroach control compositions that consist essentially of such combinations.

A large number of entomopathogenic nematodes is known, and some are available commercially for insect control. The methods of application are varied and depend upon the insect to. be controlled. For example, immobilised nematodes are available, which are transferred to a liquid medium, for example tap- water, before application and are then applied to the soil for controlling soil insects.

That method is not suitable for noxious insects in buildings, for example cockroaches. In that case it is necessary to provide traps in which the nematodes are provided with a medium in which they can live, so that infestation can take place over a relatively long period of time. For example, traps have been developed which make use of the cock-roach's typical behaviour of seeking protection and cover in narrow cracks. The fact that the cockroaches spend time in those traps increases the rate of infestation and therefore the success of this method of cockroach control.

However, in controlling cockroaches with nematodes, a particular problem is encountered. For rapid and reliable control it is a disadvantage that the susceptibility of the cockroaches to infestation is not the same in all larval stages. For example, young nymphs (1st to 4th larval stage) are infested by nematodes to a far lesser extent than are adult cockroaches. The order cockroach, Blattodea, belongs to the hemimetabolic insect orders. In their development from a larva (nymph) to an adult insect (imago), they undergo several moultings (no pupal stage), which involve not only an increase in size but also a stepwise approach to the organisation of the imago. In addition, the larva and the imago are similar in many respects. A final moulting leads directly to the imago. If any cockroach population is controlled with nematodes, it will be found that although the adult cockroaches are quickly destroyed, the nymphal stages continue to live relatively unchecked and multiply further. The object of the present invention is, therefore, to improve the method, which is in itself successful, of controlling cockroaches with nematodes in such a manner that the nymphal stages are also included, so that the entire population is destroyed quickly and permanently and the cockroaches are prevented from multiplying further via the nymphal stages.

A solution could lie in a combination of nematodes and an insecticide that is active against the cockroaches (nymphs). Such insecticides that are active against cockroaches include, for example, the benzoylphenylurea derivatives disclosed in WO 86/03941, in the literature cited therein, and in Research Disclosure 304103 August 1989. However, it is known from WO 86/03941 that those benzoylurea derivatives also exhibit nematicidal, that is to say nematode-killing, activity and are therefore unsuitable from the outset for use in combination with insect-pathogenic nematodes.

Surprisingly, there has now been found within the large group of known benzoylphenyl-urea derivatives a sub-group of formula I below which exhibits excellent activity against young larval stages of cockroaches and at the same time leaves insect-pathogenic nematodes completely unaffected.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to the use of compounds of formula I

wherein

Z is oxygen or sulfur;

R₁ is hydrogen, methyl, methoxy, trifluoromethyl, nitro, methylthio or halogen;

R₂ is hydrogen, methyl, methoxy, methylthio or halogen;

R₃ is hydrogen, halogen or the group -NHR₉;

R₄ is hydrogen or halogen; R₅ is hydrogen, halogen or the group

Y is -N= or -C=;

R₆ is hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl, halogen, C₁-C₇haloalkyl having from 1 to 15 halogen atoms that is bonded via oxygen, or C₃-C₇halocycloalkyl having from 1 to 13 halogen atoms that is bonded via oxygen;

R₇ is hydrogen or halogen;

R₈ is hydrogen or halogen;

R₉ is hydrogen, R₁₃CO- or R₁₄NHCO-;

R₁₀ is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl or haloalkyl;

R₁₁ is hydrogen or halogen;

R₁₂ is hydrogen or halogen;

R₁₃ is C₁-C₄alkyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by from one to three identical or different substituents from the group halogen, C₁-C₄alkoxy, C₁-C₄acyloxy and

-COOG, wherein G is hydrogen, an alkali metal cation or an alkaline earth metal cation;

R₁₄ is unsubstituted or halo-substituted C₁-C₄alkyl or phenyl; and

X is O, S(O)_n or NH, wherein n is 0, 1 or 2,

or an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salt thereof, in combination with living insect-pathogenic nematodes,

for controlling cockroaches, and to a method of controlling cockroaches in all development stages, which method comprises bringing the cockroaches into contact with such a combination of living insect-pathogenic nematodes and an amount of one of the compounds of formula I that is lethal to cockroaches.

The following sub-groups of compounds are especially preferred on account of their high activity in the said combinations: Group Ia: Compounds of formula la

wherein

R₁ is hydrogen, methyl, methoxy, methylthio or halogen;

R₂ is hydrogen, methyl, methoxy, methylthio or halogen;

R₃ is hydrogen or the group -NHR₈;

R₄ is hydrogen or halogen;

R₅ is halogen or the group

R₇ is hydrogen or halogen;

R₈ is hydrogen;

R₉ is hydrogen, R₁₃CO- or R₁₄NHCO-;

R₁₀ is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl or haloalkyl;

R₁₁ is hydrogen or halogen;

R₁₂ is hydrogen or halogen;

R₁₃ is C₁-C₄alkyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by from one to three identical or different substituents from the group halogen, C₁-C₄alkoxy, C₁-C₄acyloxy and -COOG, wherein G is hydrogen, an alkali metal cation or an alkaline earth metal cation;

R₁₄ is unsubstituted or halo-substituted C₁-C₄alkyl or phenyl; and

X is O, S(O)_n or NH, wherein n is 0, 1 or 2,

and the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salts thereof. Group Ib: Compounds of formula Ib

Group Ic: Compounds of formula Ic

and

Group Id: Compounds of formula Id

the substituents R₁, R₂, R₄, R₆, R₇, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂ and X in formulae Ib, Ic and Id being as defined for formula I or, especially, formula la.

The compounds of formulae I, Ia, Ib, Ic and Id are substances known per se that can be prepared according to published processes. The compounds of formulae I and Ia can be prepared, for example, analogously to the methods described in WO 86/03941. EP 79 311 describes the preparation of compounds of formula Ib. The compounds of formula Ic can be prepared according to the processes described in EP 179 022. Compounds of formula Id and their preparation are disclosed in EP 320448.

In a preferred embodiment, R₆ in formulae Ib and Id is hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl or halogen and in formula Ib is C₁-C₇haloalkyl having from 1 to 15 halogen atoms that is bonded via oxygen or C₃-C₇halocycloalkyl having from 1 to 13 halogen atoms that is bonded via oxygen.

Within the scope of the present invention, halogen as a substituent or as part of a substituent is to be understood as meaning fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, preferably fluorine, chlorine or bromine and especially fluorine or chlorine.

The present invention relates especially to compounds of formula I wherein

R₁ and R₂ are each independently of the other chlorine or fluorine;

R₃ and R₄ are each independently of the other hydrogen or halogen, preferably hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine;

Z is oxygen;

R₅ is hydrogen, chlorine or the group

Y is -N=;

R₆ is hydrogen, methyl, trifluoromethyl, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or C₁-C₄haloalkyl having from 1 to 9 halogen atoms, preferably fluorine atoms, that is bonded via oxygen;

R₇ is hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine;

R₈ is hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine;

R₁₀ is C₁-C₃haloalkyl;

R₁₁ is hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine;

R₁₂ is hydrogen; and

X is O,

or an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salt thereof.

Alkyl groups as substituents or as part of a substituent may be straight-chained or branched. Unless otherwise defined, alkyl is preferably C₁-C₆alkyl, for example methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl and n-hexyl. Preference is given to alkyl groups having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, especially methyl and ethyl.

Suitable haloalkyl groups are halogenated alkyl radicals wherein the alkyl radical corresponds to the definitions given above and is partially or completely halogenated. Examples of such groups are CF₃, CCl₃, C₂H₄F and CF₂CCl₂F.

Examples of alkoxy within the scope of the present invention are methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy and butoxy. Examples of cycloalkyl are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl and cyclopentyl. C₁-C₄Acyloxy is to be understood as meaning radicals from the group C₁-C₃alkyl-COO-, C₁-C₃alkenyl-COO-, C₁-C₃alkynyl-COO- and cyclopropyl-COO-. Alkyl may be methyl, ethyl or propyl, alkenyl may be, for example, vinyl or methylvinyl, and alkynyl may be, for example, ethynyl or propynyl.

Examples of suitable alkali metal cations for G are sodium, potassium and lithium cations, and suitable alkaline earth metal cations are, for example, magnesium, calcium and barium cations. Calcium and, especially, sodium cations are preferred.

Preference is given to compounds of formula Ib wherein R₁ is methyl, fluorine or chlorine, R₂ is hydrogen, methyl, fluorine or chlorine, R₆ is hydrogen, methyl, fluorine, chlorine or bromine, and R₁₁ is hydrogen or chlorine. Also of particular interest are compounds of formula Ib wherein R₁ is fluorine or chlorine, R₂ is hydrogen or fluorine, R₆ is hydrogen, methyl or chlorine, and R₁₁ is hydrogen or chlorine.

Preference is given also to compounds of formula Ib wherein R₆ and/or R₁₁ is hydrogen. Special mention is to be made of such compounds of formula Ib wherein R₁ and R₂ are fluorine. The compound N-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)-N'-[4-chloro-3-(3-chloro-5-trifluoromethylpyrid-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-urea is of very special interest.

Preference is given to compounds of formula Ib wherein R₂ is methyl, methoxy or methylthio when R₁ is hydrogen; R₂ is fluorine, methyl, methoxy or methylthio when R₁ is fluorine; and R₂ is chlorine, methyl, methoxy or methylthio when R₁ is chlorine.

Special mention is to be made on account of their activity of compounds of formula Ic wherein R₁ and R₂ are both fluorine or chlorine or independently of each other are methyl, methoxy or methylthio, especially those wherein R₁ and R₂ are both fluorine or chlorine, preferably fluorine.

Preference is given also to compounds of formula Ic wherein R₆ is C₁-C₃al-kyl that is substituted by from 1 to 7 halogen atoms and is bonded via oxygen, preferably one of the radicals -CHF₂, -CF₃, -CF₂CHF₂, -CH₂CF₃, -CF₂CHClF, -CF₂CHCl₂, -CF₂CCl₃,

-CF₂CHBr₂, -CF₂CHBrF, -CF₂CHBr₂, -CH₂CHBrCH₂Br, -CF₂-CHF-CF₃,

-CF(CF₃)CHFCF₃, -CF₂CHFCF(CF₃)₂, -CF₂CHF(CF₂)₄CF₃ and

especially one of the radicals -CF₂CHF₂, -CF₂CHFCl, -CF₂CHCl₂ and -CF₂CCl₃. Also of interest are compounds of formula Ic wherein R₆ is C₅-C₇haloalkyl having from 1 to 15 halogen atoms that is bonded via oxygen. The compound N-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)-N'- [2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropoxy)-phenyl]-urea is of very special interest.

Preference is given to compounds of formula Id wherein a) R₁ is halogen, preferably fluorine or chlorine, especially fluorine;

b) R₂ is halogen, preferably fluorine or chlorine, especially fluorine;

c) R₄ is hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine, preferably hydrogen;

d) R₆ is hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₄alkyl or C₁-C₄haloalkyl, preferably hydrogen, methyl, CF₃, fluorine, chlorine or bromine, especially fluorine or chlorine; e) R₇ is hydrogen, fluorine, bromine or chlorine, preferably hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine, especially hydrogen;

f) R₉ is hydrogen, R₁₃CO- or R₁₄NHCO-, wherein R₁₃ is C₁-C₄alkyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by -COOG, wherein G is hydrogen, an alkali metal cation or an alkaline earth metal cation, and R₁₄ is an unsubstituted or halo-substituted C₁-C₄alkyl or phenyl group, the preferred meaning being hydrogen; g) R₁₀ is hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₄alkyl or C₁-C₄haloalkyl, preferably hydrogen or

C₁-C₂haloalkyl, especially CF₃;

h) R₁₁ is hydrogen, fluorine, bromine or chlorine, preferably hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine, especially chlorine;

i) R₁₂ is hydrogen, fluorine, bromine or chlorine, preferably hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine, especially hydrogen; or

j) X is sulfur, NH or oxygen, preferably oxygen. Preference is given also to compounds of formula Id that belong to one of the following groups wherein

a) R₁ and R₂ are halogen, R₆ and R₁₀ are each independently of the other hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₄alkyl or C₁-C₄haloalkyl, R₉ is hydrogen, R₁₃CO- or R₁₄NHCO-, wherein R₁₃ is C₁-C₄alkyl that is unsubstituted or substituted by -COOG, and R₇, R₁₁ and R₁₂ are each independently of the others hydrogen, fluorine, bromine or chlorine, and R₄, R₁₄, G and X are as defined in formula Id;

b) R₁ and R₂ are each independently of the other fluorine or chlorine, R₄ is hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine, R₆ is hydrogen, methyl, CF₃, fluorine, chlorine or bromine, R₉ is hydrogen, R₁₀ is hydrogen or C₁-C₂haloalkyl, R₇, R₁₁ and R₁₂ are each independently of the others hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine, and X is sulfur or oxygen;

c) R₁ and R₂ are each independently of the other fluorine or chlorine, R₄ is hydrogen, R₆ is hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or methyl, R₇ is hydrogen or fluorine, R₉ is hydrogen, -COCH₃, -COCH₂CH₂COOH or -CONHCH₃, R₁₀ is CF₃ or CF₂CCl₂F, R₁₁ and R₁₂ are each independently of the other hydrogen or chlorine, and X is oxygen, sulfur or NH;

d) R₆ is fluorine or chlorine, R₁₀ is CF₃, R₁₁ is chlorine, R₇ and R₁₂ are hydrogen, and X is oxygen, and R₁, R₂, R₄ and R₈ are as defined in group c); or

e) R₁ and R₂ are fluorine, R₄ and R₉ are hydrogen, R₆ is fluorine or chlorine, R₁₀ is CF₃, R₁₁ is chlorine, R₇ and R₁₂ are hydrogen, and X is oxygen.

Special mention is to be made of the following compounds of formula I: N-(2,6-difluoro-3-aminobenzoyl)-N'-[4-fluoro-3-(3-chloro-5-trifluoromethylpyrid-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-urea and N-(2,6-difluoro-3-aminobenzoyl)-N'-[4-chloro-3-(3-chloro-5-trifluoromethylpyrid-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-urea, especially N-(2,6-difluoro-3-aminobenzoyl)-N'-[4-chloro-3-(3-chloro-5-trifluoromethylpyrid-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-urea.

In a preferred embodiment the combination according to the invention of a compound of formula I and insect-pathogenic nematodes is used in a trap. The trap is, for example, a closed apparatus having slots in the side walls which allow the cockroaches to enter the trap. The upper part and the lower part each contain an agar gel as a water reservoir. On the lower agar gel there is a paper insert that has been treated, for example, as follows: An aqueous suspension of a compound of formula I is sprayed onto the insert so that from 5 mg to 500 mg of active ingredient/m² of insert, preferably from 10 mg to 50 mg of active ingredient/m² of insert, are applied. From 1 to 2 million living nematodes are then placed on the dried paper insert. The trap may also contain further devices, for example a wooden grid which provides the cockroaches with good hiding-places.

Accordingly, the present invention relates especially to a cockroach trap having a moist, flat, absorbent carrier on which there are located living nematodes, the carrier additionally having from 5 mg to 500 mg of a compound of formula I per m². Examples of suitable flat, absorbent carriers are, in addition to paper and cardboard, fabrics made of natural or synthetic fibres, as well as thickened or solidified liquids. Blotting paper is very suitable.

The present invention relates principally to the control of cockroaches of the order Blattodea, such as members of the genus Blattella.

The insect-pathogenic nematodes used are preferably representatives of the genus Steinernema.

Example 1: Effect of N-(2,6-difluorobenzoyI)-N'-[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3- hexafluoropropoxy)-phenyI]-urea on Steinernema carpocapsae

The tests are carried out in transparent plastics containers (32 × 21.5 × 12 cm³) with air holes in the lids. They contain a trap, a hiding-place (egg box), food (a small petri dish containing ground dog-biscuits) and water in a small glass closed with cotton. The traps consist of an upper and a lower part each of which contains agar gel as a water reservoir. The paper inserts having approximately from 1 to 2 million living nematodes

(Steinernema carpocapsae strain #25) on the upper side and, as appropriate, 50 mg of N-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)-N'-[2,5-dichloro-4-(l, 1,2,3,3, 3-hexafluoropropoxy)-phenyl]-urea/m² are placed on the lower part. A wooden grid is placed over the paper inserts to provide the cockroaches with a hiding-place. The upper part is placed on the grid and the two parts, upper and lower, are secured by means of adhesive tape.

25 male adults (age approximately from 4 to 6 weeks, i.e. 14 weeks including nymph development) are introduced into the plastics containers and their mortality is determined after 2, 3, 6 and 7 days. Surviving cockroaches are removed and the test is continued for a further week with a new cockroach population. This step is repeated until the end of the fourth week. The experiments are carried out at 22°C and 55 % relative humidity. Table 1: Mortality of Blattella germanica male adults in the presence of

N-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)-N'-[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro- propoxy)-phenyl] -urea

Days Insert Mortality (%)

7 treated 98

untreated 99

14 treated 98

untreated 100

21 treated 100

untreated 98

28 treated 99

untreated 96

During the first 14 days of this experiment the dead insects are studied for signs of nematode reproduction. Nematodes visible through the cuticle and those projecting from the dead cockroaches are taken into account

Table 2: Cockroaches with F1 nematode progeny

Days Insert Cockroaches with F1 nematode progeny

(%)

7 treated 76

untreated 82

14 treated 94

untreated 94

21 treated 89

untreated 84

28 treated 52

untreated 69

In the two Tables, treated/untreated insert is to be understood as meaning an insert that has/does not have 50 mg of N-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)-N'-[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropoxy)-phenyl]-urea/m².

The results given in the two Tables show that N-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)-N'-[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropoxy)-phenyl]-urea neither kills nor immobilises the nematodes, and it evidently also has no effect on their reproductive behaviour. Example 2: Effect of N-(2,6-difluorobenzoyI)-N'-[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3- hexafluoropropoxy)-phenyl]-urea on Blattella germanica nymphs

The tests are carried out in transparent plastics containers (13.5 × 18 × 6 cm³) with air holes in the lids. They contain a trap with a paper insert having, as appropriate, 50 mg of N-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)-N'-[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropoxy)-phenyl]urea/m², a hiding-place (egg box), food (a small petri dish containing ground dog-biscuits) and water in a small glass closed with cotton. The experiments are carried out at 25°C and 55 % relative humidity. Each week for a period of six weeks, adult females carrying oothecae are transferred to new containers, the young nymphs being left behind. 25 nymphs from the three-week-old group are introduced into the test container 24 hours before the start of the test.

Dead insects are counted after 14 and 21 days. At the end of the test, all insects, living and dead, are counted.

Table 3: Mortality of three-week-old Blattella germanica nymphs in the

presence of N-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)-N'-[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3- hexafluoropropoxy)-phenyl]-urea

Weeks Insert Mortality (%)

2 treated 98

untreated 4

3 treated 100

untreated 7

The results given in Table 3 show that three-week-old nymphs of Blattella germanica are killed by N-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)-N'-[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropoxy)phenyl]-urea. Example 3: Effect of N-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)-N'-[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3- hexafluoropropoxy)-phenyl]-urea and nematodes on Blattella germanica adults

The tests are carried out in transparent plastics containers as indicated in Example 1.

25 male or 25 female adults (age approximately from 4 to 6 weeks, i.e. 14 weeks including nymph development) are introduced into the plastics containers and their mortality is determined after 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 days. Surviving cockroaches are removed and the test is continued for a further week with a new cockroach population. This step is repeated until the end of the twelfth week.

Table 4: Mortality of Blattella germanica adults in the presence of N-(2,6- difluorobenzoyl)-N'-[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropoxy)phenyl]-urea and nematodes

End of Mortality (%)

week male female

1 99 100

2 100 100

3 97 98

4 100 75

5 94 78

6 85 62

7 97 67

8 95 85

9 97 60

13 80 34

Activity can still be observed especially against male cockroaches even after three months. In the case of the female cockroaches, decreasing activity is to be observed after approximately four weeks. Example 4: Effect of N-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)-N'-[2,5-dichIoro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3- hexafluoropropoxy)-phenyI]-urea and nematodes on Blattella germanica nymphs and adults

The test is carried out in plastics containers (32 × 21.5 × 12 cm³) each of which is covered with a cotton cloth. The containers contain a trap, a hiding-place (egg box), a water vessel (a bottle filled with water and provided with a cotton plug) and food (a petri dish containing ground dog-biscuits). The experiments are carried out at 25°C and 55 % relative humidity.

The traps contain paper inserts which are populated with approximately from 1 to

2 million living S. carpocapsae and, as appropriate, have 50 mg of N-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)-N'-[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropoxy)-phenyl]-urea/m² (active ingredient). For the test, 100 nymphs and 50 male and 50 female adults of Blattella germanica are used. The nymphs are from 7 to 12 days and 5 weeks old, and the adults are from 2 to 3 weeks old (i.e. 11 weeks including nymph development). Dead and living insects are counted after 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 17 days and then weekly up to the 7th week. Dead insects are removed at each count. Fresh food and water are given weekly. All traps containing nematodes are replaced after 2 weeks.

Table 5: Development of the population in total number of insects in

dependence upon the agent used for control

Weeks

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Nematodes + active

ingredient 400 154 68 98 330 284 39 19

Nematodes 400 180 140 88 447 481 440 375

Active ingredient 400 288 209 346 1094 863 287 227

Control 400 382 371 488 1649 2085 2039 1851 Table 6: Reduction (%) in the original nymph population with time in dependence upon the agent used for control

Days

3 5 7 10 14 17 21 29

Nematodes + active

ingredient 28 42 56 90 97 99.5 100 100

Nematodes 31 42 48 56 62 79 84 87

Active ingredient 6 12 55 85 94 99 99.5 100

Control 0 2 5 8 9 12 15 29

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling cockroaches in all development stages, which comprises bringing the cockroaches into contact with a combination of living insect-pathogenic nematodes and an amount that is lethal to cockroaches of a compound of formula I

wherein

Z is oxygen or sulfur;

R₂ is hydrogen, methyl, methoxy, methylthio or halogen;

R₃ is hydrogen, halogen or the group -NHR₉;

R₄ is hydrogen or halogen;

R₅ is hydrogen, halogen or the group

Y is -N= or -C=;

R₇ is hydrogen or halogen;

R₈ is hydrogen or halogen;

R₉ is hydrogen, R₁₃CO- or R₁₄NHCO-;

R₁₀ is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl or haloalkyl;

R₁₁ is hydrogen or halogen;

R₁₂ is hydrogen or halogen;

-COOG, wherein G is hydrogen, an alkali metal cation or an alkaline earth metal cation; R₁₄ is unsubstituted or halo-substituted C₁-C₄alkyl or phenyl; and

X is O, S(O)_n or NH, wherein n is 0, 1 or 2,

or an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salt thereof.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the compound is a compound of formula Ia

wherein

R₁ is hydrogen, methyl, methoxy, methylthio or halogen;

R₂ is hydrogen, methyl, methoxy, methylthio or halogen;

R₃ is hydrogen or the group -NHR₈;

R₄ is hydrogen or halogen;

R⁵ is halogen or the group

R₇ is hydrogen or halogen;

R₈ is hydrogen;

R₉ is hydrogen, R₁₃CO- or R₁₄NHCO-;

R₁₀ is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl or haloalkyl;

R₁₁ is hydrogen or halogen;

R₁₂ is hydrogen or halogen;

R₁₄ is unsubstituted or halo-substituted C₁-C₄alkyl or phenyl; and

X is O, S(O)_n or NH, wherein n is 0, 1 or 2, or an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salt thereof.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the compound is a compound of formula Ib

wherein R₁, R₂, R₆ and R₁₁ are as defined in claim 2, or an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salt thereof.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the compound of formula Ib is N-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)-N'-[4-chloro-3-(3-chloro-5-trifluoromethylpyrid-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-urea.

5. A method according to claim 2 wherein the compound is a compound of formula Ic

wherein R₁, R₂ and R₆ are as defined for formula I in claim 2, or an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salt thereof.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the compound of formula Ic is N-(2,6-difluorobenzoyl)-N'-[2,5-dichloro-4-(1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropoxy)-phenyl]-urea.

7. A method according to claim 2 wherein the compound is a compound of formula Id

wherein R₁, R₂, R₄, R₆, R₇, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₂ and X are as defined for formula I in claim 2, or an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salt thereof.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the compound of formula Id is N-(2,6-difluoro-3-aminobenzoyl)-N'-[4-fluoro-3-(3-chloro-5-trifluoromethylpyrid-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-urea or N-(2,6-difluoro-3-aminobenzoyl)-N'-[4-chloro-3-(3-chloro-5-trifluoromethylpyrid-2-yl-oxy)-phenyl]-urea.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the compound of formula Id is N-(2,6-difluoro-3-aminobenzoyl)-N'-[4-chloro-3-(3-chloro-5-trifluoromethylpyrid-2-yloxy)-phenyl]-urea.

10. A method according to claim 2 wherein the compound of formula I is applied to a paper insert in a concentration of from 5 mg to 500 mg of active ingredient/m².

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the compound of formula I is applied to a paper insert in a concentration of from 10 mg to 50 mg of active ingredient/m².

12. A cockroach trap having a carrier on which living nematodes are immobilised, the carrier additionally having from 5 mg to 500 mg of a compound of formula I per m².

13. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the nematodes are immobilised on a suitable flat, absorbent carrier and a compound of formula I according to claim 1 is applied to that carrier.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein from 5 to 50 mg of active ingredient are used per m² of carrier.

15. The use of a compound of formula I or an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salt thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 9 in combination with insect-pathogenic nematodes for controlling cockroaches in all development stages.

16. A cockroach control composition comprising living insect-pathogenic nematodes and a compound of formula I according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salt thereof, as well as a carrier that is suitable for the nematodes and for the compound of formula I.