WO2007002988A1

WO2007002988A1 - Formulation of microbial pesticides

Info

Publication number: WO2007002988A1
Application number: PCT/AU2006/000915
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dudley Edwin Pinnock; David John Cooper
Original assignee: Microbial Products Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-06-30
Filing date: 2006-06-30
Publication date: 2007-01-11

Abstract

The present invention details a pesticidal composition characterised in that it includes a pesticidal effective amount of an alkyl glycol ether that may further include a microbial preparation. The pesticidal composition(s) are effective in controlling ectoparasitic arthropods such as Pediculidae, Lucilia cuprina, L. sericata, and other calliphorid and muscid species.

Description

FORMULATION OF MICROBIAL PESTICIDES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of glycol ethers, particularly alkyl glycol ethers to control arthropod pests.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Prior Art Methods of Control: - 1. Chemical Methods

The prior art chemical methods of pest and fly control used heretofore have proved only partially effective. At present, these consist of the application of various preparations of toxic organophosphate, synthetic pyrethroid, neem, IGR chemicals such as triflumuron, cyromazine and other chemical pesticides. There may be a risk of direct toxic effects on the host or environment to which they are applied, and some of these chemicals may create a serious health hazard to keepers, farmers and pest control personnel using them. On disposal, these chemicals also may create an additional risk of environmental pollution.

The use of vicinal 1 ,2-diols for the control of arthropod pests has been described (WO 02/069707) with mixed results in terms of efficacy.

In addition to the above limitations of the prior art chemical methods of control, the use of these chemical pesticides is generally unsound due to the short term protection which they provide and the evolution of resistance by the flies to the effects of these chemicals.

Prior Art Methods of Control :- 2. Microbial Methods

The use of microbial preparations for control of pest fly populations was revealed in Australian Patent AU-B-27866/84. However, this patent stated merely that a liquid suspension or inert carrier in granular or powdered form may be used; it is silent on the actual specifications or details of the carrier formulation for delivery system of the microbial preparations. To date, various liquid suspensions of microbial pesticide preparations have been made in a range of hydrocarbon carriers. These hydrocarbon liquids usually have unpleasant, harmful vapours, often are combustible and, in some cases, those with low flash points are flammable. They generally have relatively high vapour pressures which can create shelf-life problems and excessive container pressures when these product are stored in farm sheds hot conditions. As a result of their diffusion and penetration propensities, these hydrocarbon products also may necessitate the use of special, more expensive packaging, such as fluorinated high density polyethylene drums or containers. Also, their use reduces the environmental benefits of the otherwise ecologically benign microbial preparations³.

This invention presents a novel method of delivery and use of microbial preparations for control of arthropod pests, for example noxious fly populations, which is achieved by means of novel glycol formulations. For example, the novel method may be used for the control of ectoparasites or larvae of parasitic myiasis flies on animals and of nuisance flies in intensive animal production units, or for the control of plant pests on crops, forests and ornamentals.

In addition, this invention presents novel pesticidal compositions having pesticidal effective amounts of alkyl glycol ethers with or without the use of microbial preparations that hitherto have not be utilised or disclosed.

The method presented by this invention is applicable, but not restricted to, the control of larvae of species of flies causing myiases of sheep, termed "flystrike," for example those caused by Lucilia cuprina, L sericata and Calliphora species. Other applications of this invention relate to the control of ectoparasites or larvae of species of pest flies, for example muscid flies, which cause nuisance to people and livestock, especially where the flies breed in or near sewage treatment plants, or intensive animal production units such as feedlots, poultry sheds or piggeries.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide novel pesticidal compositions having pesticidal effective amounts of alkyl glycol ethers with or without the use of microbial preparations. The object of the present invention is to provide a novel formulation to serve as a delivery system for the aforesaid microbial preparations, which does not entail the many disadvantages of the prior art. The present invention may be directed especially toward the control of ectoparasites or flies, especially myiasis flies affecting sheep and other livestock and nuisance flies in sewage treatment plants, intensive animal production units, and which provides significant operational advantages over the prior art.

It is a further object of the present invention to overcome, or at least substantially ameliorate, the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Definitions

The term "microbial preparation" means the cells, cell components including parasporal proteins, spores, metabolites or toxins derived from cultures of bacteria, and which are instrumental in causing toxicity to, and death of the pest species of flies - as described in Australian Patent AU-B-27866/84..

The term "formulation' means materials or products comprising a glycol ether base containing the above microbial preparations either with or without excipients, additives, diluents, and synergists.

The term "glycol" means any of the suitable glycols ethers, including, but not limited glycol methyl ether, and other, similar glycols and glycol ethers of low mammalian toxicity.

The present invention stems from the applicants' research and discovery of novel formulation systems for the delivery of pesticidal microbial preparations, based on organic chemical glycol ethers. The novel formulations and methods are effective and practical and provide superior performance compared to the prior art methodologies. For example:-

They maintain a very high level of viability of the microbial preparation, providing excellent stability and shelf-life of the formulations;

The glycol ethers generally are benign and of low mammalian oral toxicity, indeed, some meet the regulatory requirements for human food additives, yet have pesticidal properties either alone or as synergists or additives with microbial preparations.

They have low dermal irritancy so that they are safe to handle and use - some are used in cosmetics and baby wipes;

They are fully miscible in water, thus avoiding the need for emulsifiers;

They are non-flammable;

They do not leave undesirable residues or staining on substrates such as sheep fleece;

They generally are free from unpleasant odours.

More particularly, the invention instructs the use of glycol-augmented formulations which enhance the practicability and efficacy of the prior art microbial pesticidal preparations derived or comprising one or more suitable species of bacteria of the genus Bacillus ², or, more specifically, the species Bacillus thuringiensis (Author - Berliner, 1915), Bacillus cereus (Author - Frankland and Frankland, 1887) or Bacillus moritai (Author - Aizawa and Fujiyoshi, 1968).

The novel formulations are applicable to the control of arthropod pests, including, but not limited to, the control of populations of ectoparasites and larvae of noxious myiasis and pest flies, such as Lucilia cuprina, L sericata, other calliphorid and muscid species, pestilential nuisance and filth flies. In these applications, the pestilential larvae are controlled by treating the infested animal or area with one of the novel glycol formulations containing an effective amount of a pesticidal, microbially-derived preparation, the latter as previously described in Australian Patent AU-B-27866/84.

According to the present invention, although this should not be seen as limiting the invention in any way, a pesticidal composition characterised in that it includes a pesticidal effective amount of an alkyl glycol ether.

In preference, the pesticidal composition includes a pesticidal effective amount of an alkyl glycol ether.

In preference, the glycol ether has the general formula:

HO-^-CH₂ -)-O-{-CH₂ -)-0 R₁

where x = y = 2-6, and Ri = OH, CH₃, (CH₂)_XOH, C_nH_2n, where n is an integer between 1 and 4

In preference, the glycol ether is selected from the group including dipropylene glycol, di(propylene glycol) monomethyl ether, di(propylene glycol) butyl ether, diφropylene glycol) tert-butyl ether, In preference, the glycol ether is dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether. In preference, the glycol ether is between 10% to 70% w/w with water. In preference, the glycol ether is between 15% to 40% w/w with water. In preference, the glycol ether is between 20% to 30% w/w with water. In preference, the glycol ether is 25% w/w with water.

In yet a further form of the invention there is provided a method of controlling pests, the method including applying to the animal a solution including a culture of the bacterium of the genus Bacillus and glycol ether, wherein the culture is composed as a suspension within the glycol ether.

In preference, the solution is a microbial formulation.

In preference, the ectoparasites are selected from the group consisting of scab mites, mange mites and sheep lice. In preference, the bacterium is selected from the species Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus cereus or Bacillus moritai, or a combination thereof.

In preference, the solution includes other excipients selected from the group of rainfast agents, emulsifiers, surfactants, and dispersants.

In preference, the final amount of culture is between 20% w/w and 80% w/w relative to glycol ether.

In preference, the solution is diluted with water prior to applying to an animal.

In preference, the solution is applied to the fleece of the animal that has pests that need to be controlled.

In preference, the pests to be controlled are ectoparasites.

A further form of the invention can be said to exist in a parasiticidal / pesticidal formulation that includes a culture of the bacterium of the genus Bacillus and a glycol, or glycol ether, wherein the culture is composed as a suspension within a glycol ether.

In preference, the bacterium is selected from the species Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus cereus or Bacillus moritai, or a combination thereof.

In preference, the parasiticidal formulation includes other excipients selected from the group of rainfast agents, emulsifiers, surfactants, and dispersants.

In preference, the final amount of culture is between 2% w/w and 80% w/w relative to glycol or glycol ether.

In preference, the microbial preparation is present between 2% and 20% w/w. In preference, the microbial preparation is present between 5% and 10% w/w. In preference, the microbial preparation is 6% w/w.

In preference, the pests to be controlled are ectoparasites.

In preference, a germination trigger is added to the solution prior to application. In preference, the germination trigger is an amino acid.

In preference, the amino acid is alanine or glutamine.

In preference, the germination trigger is nicotinic acid.

The present invention provides and instructs novel methods of delivery, by means of glycol ether formulations, with and without microbial preparations for control of pestiferous fly larvae causing myiases on animals or in local environments such as sewage treatment plants or intensive animal production units.

The formulations also may be used for the control of other susceptible noxious ectoparasitic arthropods such as sheep lice and mange mites.

The new methods are appropriate for such applications as the control of sheep blowfly larvae Lucilia cuprina and L. sericata causing "flystrike" on sheep, and for the control of filth or nuisance flies in sewage treatment plants and intensive animal production units such as feedlots, poultry houses and piggeries.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Production of the Microbial Preparations

The following examples set forth details of production of the bacterial preparations. It should be understood that the specific materials and techniques set forth hereinafter are exemplary only and may vary according to circumstances, so that the following is presented as illustrative, but not restrictive, of the present invention.

Suitable species of bacteria are of the genus Bacillus, or, specifically, the species Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner, 1915), Bacillus cereus (Frankland and Frankland, 1887) or Bacillus moritai (Aizawa and Fujiyoshi, 1968).

The selected strain of Bacillus may be produced by standard, conventional fermentation procedures, for example by growing the cells in a suitable liquid medium in a stirred fermenter. During production by fermentation, the following parameters are examples, but not restrictive of the parameters maintained: pH = 7.2; pθ₂ = 70-90%; temperature 32⁰C

In general, the above mentioned Bacillus species are not nutritionally fastidious, and a wide variety of conventional bacterial fermentation media and parameters may be used.

Selection of the Suitable Bacterial Strains by Means of Bioassay

Suitable bacteria are those having high anti-larval activity. The selection of candidate strains of the abovesaid Bacillus species for insecticidal activity is made by employing appropriate bioassays, for example, as described hereinafter.

Serial concentrations or dilutions of microbial preparations and/or formulations are administered to target larvae in one or more appropriate bioassay systems, such as the examples described below. The bioassays consist of treating or exposing replicated samples of numbers of the target pest larvae to a graded range of dilutions or doses of the microbial preparations or formulations as described above derived from the candidate bacterial strains. In general, no less than sixty larvae per replicate, per dose are used, and no less than five graded dose levels are tested with a minimum of two, and preferably, four replicates of each dose.

A similar number of samples of pest larvae are treated or exposed without the bacterial preparation component but are otherwise kept under identical bioassay conditions. These untreated larvae constitute a reference to ensure that undue larval mortality has not occurred as a result of handling injuries or unsuitable bioassay conditions. From the resulting larval mortality data, the corrected LD₅O LC50, or LT50, is calculated as required. Where appropriate, probit analysis of the bioassay data may be used; these calculations are in general and widespread use and are well known to persons familiar with the art of bioassays, and who will have no difficulty in performing them.

In general, for a given larval species, the bacterial strain showing the highest potency - i.e. the lowest LD50 or LC50, and/or most rapid larval mortality - i.e. the lowest LT₅₀, is selected as the strain to be used for implementation of this invention for control of that larval fly species.

Depending on the species of pest fly, the bioassay procedures may involve a step-wise process. The first step is to bioassay on artificial or semi-natural diet where one is available for that species so that one or more candidate microbial preparations may be selected. The second step is to follow with bioassays using topical applications of the formulated preparation on the infested host or substrate. The results are read subsequently as the LC50 and/or LT₅₀.

The production of the microbial preparation may follow one of two pathways:-

Production of the Microbial Preparation:- Pathway 1.

The fermentation broth or culture is harvested when the Bacillus cells are in the vegetative stage, prior to sporulation. The timing of this harvesting will depend on the Bacillus strain under culture and on the fermentation medium and parameters used. In general, harvesting will occur when the cell population reaches the "plateau" stage of the fermentation - typically at 7 to 10 hours' post- inoculation if an inoculum of 10% of fermenter volume containing 5 x 10⁹ cells per millilitre is used.

Harvesting may be accomplished by one or more standard procedures such as centrifugal separation, filtration, co-precipitation or membrane concentration. The harvested material, in the form of a slurry or cake, which includes the vegetative Bacillus cells and the fermentation broth metabolites, is then formulated to produce a stable, non-aqueous glycol formulation together with conventional excipients. The glycol concentrate maintains cell viability. Alternatively, the harvested bacterial material is dried by one or more conventional processes such as vacuum drying, spray drying. Freeze-drying or by air-drying the harvested material after addition of two volumes of acetone. Following homogenisation of the dried material to a fine powder, the material is then formulated with a non-aqueous glycol and conventional excipients to form a stable, emulsifiable concentrate. The selected strains of Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus moritai produce a complex of metabolites, such as proteins, proteolytic enzymes and nucleotides, in their vegetative growth stages.¹ The most notable of the latter is the adenine nucleotide thuringiensin. Thuringiensin is an inhibitor

5 of RNA polymerase, an essential enzyme in the fly larvae, and this is a major contributor to the pesticidal effect of the microbial preparations. When ingested by the pest larvae, the pesticidal effect of these metabolites, plus, where it occurs, the invasion of the larval alimentary canal by the Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus cereus, or Bacillus moritai. cells, causes the death or severe debilitation

^•to of the larvae. In this way, the larval infestation is controlled and thus the fly population is controlled.

Production of the Microbial Preparation:- Pathway 2.

After about 28 to 30 hours' fermentation post inoculation as above, sporulation occurs and the bacterial culture is harvested by one or more standard

15 procedures, eg by centrifugal separation, filtration, co-precipitation or membrane concentration. The harvested material, which includes the sporulated Bacillus cells cell membranes, spores and fermentation broth metabolites, is then formulated with conventional excipients to produce a stable, glycol-based emulsifiable liquid concentrate which maintains a high degree of

20 cell viability or the material is dried to a powder by one or more conventional processes such as vacuum drying, spray drying. Freeze-drying or by air-drying the harvested material after addition of two volumes of acetone. Following homogenisation of the dried material to a fine powder, the material is then formulated with conventional excipients to form a stable, glycol emulsifiable

25 concentrate.

In addition to the metabolites described above in Pathway 1, at sporulation of the Bacillus culture, spores and various proteins are produced, some of which aggregate into parasporal bodies or crystals within the cytoplasm of the sporulating cell. These protein aggregates are stable, are harvested with the 30 spores, cells and cell membranes and metabolites and have effective entomocidal properties in insect larvae. Production of the Finished Glycol Formulations

In the above production pathways, the glycol or glycol ether to be used in the formulation is combined or blended with any desired excipients by conventional means, for example in a high-shear mixer. Excipients such as rainfast agents, emulsifiers, surfactants and dispersants may be incorporated into the glycol prior to or after the microbial preparation to yield a final, complete formulation containing the microbial preparation. The proportion or rate of incorporation of the microbial preparation into the final formulation will vary according to the intended use of the formulation, and this is best determined by bioassay as described above. While not restrictive, typical rates of incorporation vary between 20% w/w and 80% w/w, but can be as low as 5%. For example, as formulated, a 30% w/w formulation will contain about 2x10¹⁰ viable cells (Pathway 1) or spores (Pathway 2) per gram.

Method of Application of the Novel Formulations

The method of application of the novel formulations used to effect the control or eradication of the pest may vary according to the species and developmental stage being controlled, the host species and sites of infestation, the environmental conditions or circumstances such as husbandry practices, and the physical nature of the microbial preparation being employed.

To accommodate the wide range of application methods required, the microbial glycol formulations can be amended or diluted to produce working suspensions for example for spraying on to plants for control of pest insects or as a jetting or dipping liquid for the treatment of animals such as sheep. Alternatively, the formulations may be made so that they can be used directly as spray or pour-on formulation, for example for control of animal ectoparasites such as sheep lice or mange mites.

For example, when controlling sheep blowfly larvae, Lucilia cuprina or L. sericata the microbial formulation is produced and formulated in a glycol base as instructed above and may be applied directly as a spray or may be diluted with water to provide a jetting or dipping liquid. For other applications, for example on filth fly breeding sites, the glycol formulation concentrate can be diluted with water and applied as a broad-area spray.

If desired, germination of the microbial formulation can be initiated by the use of a germination initiator such as a suitable amino acid, for example alanine, glutamine, or others that can be determined using standard assay methodology known to those skilled in the art. The germination initiator is added to the formulation, and then left for approximately 30 min prior to application to the animal. In this manner, the spores will have become activated and will immediately start to be productive against the sheep blowfly larvae.

Further example of the implementation of the novel microbial formulations include their use for controlling ectoparasites such as sheep lice, Bovicola ovis, or mange mites such as Psoroptes ovis. In these examples the microbial formulation may be used directly as an off-shears backline ("pour on") treatment, or the formulation may be used as a spray or diluted with water to form a dipping or jetting liquid for control of lice on long-wool sheep.

Implementation methods and/or bacterial strains may be combined

A further embodiment of this invention is the combination of one or more of the aforementioned application methods with microbial preparations derived from one or more Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus cereus or Bacillus moritai strains into the glycol formulation. Such combinations may be advantageous when employing this invention for control of more than one pest species or stage and/or on more than one host species.

Alkyl Glycol Ethers

In a bioassay of dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether against sheep lice, Bovicola ovis, on sheep wool, a topical application at the rate of 50 microlitres of 25% glycol ether topically applied to 10 cm² of wool resulted in a lice mortality of 66.7% The incorporation of 6% of a microbial preparation of a selected strain of Bacillus thuringiensis into the 25% glycol ether treatment as above resulted in an increase of mortality of the lice to 97.8%.

A topical application at the rate of 50 microlitres of a 6% suspension of the said microbial preparation alone, topically applied to 10 cm² of wool resulted in a lice mortality of 13.6%. The mortality of lice on the untreated wool was only 1.7%

In a parallel series of bioassays conducted using the same method and conditions described above, an application rate of 50 microlitres of 25% dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether topically applied per 10 cm² of wool resulted in a sheep lice, Bovicola ovis, mortality of 76.3%.

The incorporation of 6% of a microbial preparation of a selected strain of Bacillus thuringiensis into the 25% glycol ether treatment as above resulted in an increase in mortality of the lice to 98.3%

In this bioassay series the mortality of lice on the untreated wool was 0%.

All bioassays were conducted in a climate controlled incubator at a constant temperature of 34⁰C and a constant humidity of 70%.

These bioassays clearly demonstrated the high degree of pesticidal action of the glycol ether against ectoparasitic lice, and demonstrate both the additive and synergistic pesticidal effect of the glycol ether when incorporated into a formulation with the microbial preparation of the selected strain of Bacillus thuringiensis, an effect that until now has not be either reported or utilised in this manner.

As would be readily appreciated, the glycol ethers could be selected from the group of alkyl glycol ethers having the general formula (I):

HO -f CH₂4- O -f CH₂-)" O R₁ ^{v y}χ 'y

(I) where x = y = 2-6, and R₁ = OH, CH₃, (CH2)_XOH, C_nH₂π, where n is an integer between 1 and 4. This then includes alkyl glycol ethers such as, but not limited to, dipropylene glycol, diφropylene glycol) monomethyl ether, di(propylene glycol) butyl ether, diφropylene glycol) tert-butyl ether, di(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether, di(ethylene glycol) monopropyl ether and di(ethylene glycol) monobutyl ether. Currently, glycol ethers are registered as inert chemicals in relation to pest control, and are typically used as adjuvants or solvents in order to better aid the application or dispersal of the main active ingredient such as an organophosphate like Fenthion.

Although the invention has been hearing shown and described in one is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures can be made within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details described herein but it is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus

References Cited

1. Luthy, P and H. R. Ebersold 1981 The Entomocidal Toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis. Pharmac. Ther. 13 : 257 - 263.

2. Buchanan, R.E. and N. E. Gibbons Eds. 1974. Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore, USA. p. 536 et seq.

3. Entwistle, P.E., J. S. Cory, M.J. Bailey and S. Higgs; 1993. Bacillus thuringiensis, An Environmental Biopesticide: Theory and Practice. John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, England.

Claims

1. A pesticidal composition characterised in that it includes a pesticidal effective amount of an alkyl glycol ether.

2. A pesticidal composition characterised in that it includes a pesticidal effective amount of at least one alkyl glycol ether or mixtures thereof.

3. The pesticidal composition of claim 2, wherein the glycol ether has the general formula (I):

where x = y = 2-6, and R₁ = OH, CH₃, (CH₂)_XOH, C_nH_2n, where n is an integer between 1 and 4

4. The pesticidal composition of claim 2,wherein the glycol ether is selected from the group including dipropylene glycol, di(propylene glycol) monomethyl ether, di(propylene glycol) butyl ether, di(propylene glycol) tert- butyl ether.

5. The pesticidal composition of claim 3,wherein the glycol ether is dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether.

6. The pesticidal composition of claim 4, wherein the glycol ether is between 10% to 70% w/w with water.

7. The pesticidal composition of claim 5, wherein the glycol ether is between 15% to 40% w/w with water.

8. The pesticidal composition of claim 6, wherein the glycol ether is between 20% to 30% w/w with water.

9. The pesticidal composition of claim 7, wherein the glycol ether is 25% w/w with water.

10. The pesticidal composition of claim 9, wherein the pests are ectoparasites.

11. The pesticidal composition of claim 9, further including a microbial preparation of a selected strain of bacteria of the genus Bacillus.

12. The pesticidal composition of claim 11 , wherein the Bacillus is of the species Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus cereus, or Bacillus moritai.

13. The pesticidal composition of claim 12, wherein the microbial preparation and glycol ether are present in additive or synergistically effective amounts.

14. The pesticidal composition of claim 13, wherein the microbial preparation is present between 2% and 20% w/w.

15. The pesticidal composition of claim 14, wherein the microbial preparation is present between 5% and 10% w/w.

16. The pesticidal composition of claim 15, wherein the microbial preparation is 6% w/w.

17. The pesticidal composition of claim 16, further including excipients selected from the group consisting of rain fast agent, emulsifiers, surfactants and dispersants.

18. The pesticidal composition of claim 17, further including a germination trigger is added to the solution prior to application.

19. The pesticidal composition of claim 18, wherein the germination trigger is an amino acid.

20. The pesticidal composition of claim 19, wherein the amino acid is alanine or glutamine.

21. The pesticidal composition of claim 19, further wherein the germination trigger is nicotinic acid.

22. The pesticidal composition of claim 21 , wherein the ectoparasites are plant or mammalian ectoparasites.

23. The pesticidal composition of claim 22, wherein the mammalian ectoparasites are human ectoparasites.

24. The pesticidal composition of claim 23, wherein the ectoparasites are arthropods.

25. The pesticidal composition of claim 24, wherein the ectoparasites are arthropods of the family Phthiraptera.

26. The pesticidal composition of claim 25, wherein the ectoparasites are arthropods of the family Phthiraptera and the order Pediculidae.

27. A method of controlling insect pests that includes applying thereto an insecticidal effective amount of a composition of claim 1.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the insect pests are ectoparasites.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the ectoparasites are plant or mammalian ectoparasites.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the ectoparasites are arthropods.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein mammalian ectoparasites are selected from the group consisting of mange mites and sheep lice..

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the ectoparasites are arthropods of the family Phthiraptera.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the ectoparasites are arthropods of the family Phthiraptera and the order Pediculidae.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the arthrapods are selected from the group consisting of Lucilia cuprina, L. sericata, and other calliphorid and muscid species

35. A method of controlling insect pests that includes applying thereto an insecticidal effective amount of a composition of claim 11.