Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
  • A01N47/00—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing organic compounds containing a carbon atom not being member of a ring and having no bond to a carbon or hydrogen atom, e.g. derivatives of carbonic acid
  • A01N47/02—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing organic compounds containing a carbon atom not being member of a ring and having no bond to a carbon or hydrogen atom, e.g. derivatives of carbonic acid the carbon atom having no bond to a nitrogen atom

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a dust composition
• a dust composition comprising at least one insecticide selected from GABA antagonists and at least one organic carrier selected from cellu- loses and cellulose derivatives.
• the invention further relates to the use of the dust composition for combating insects and to a method for controlling insects by bringing them, their food supply or their habitat, or the materials, soils, surfaces or spaces to be protected from insect attack or infestation into contact with the dust composition.
• the invention also relates to a method for protecting wood material from termite attack or infestation by bringing the wood material to be protected or a soil, surface or space near the wood material to be protected into contact with the dust composition.
• Control of soil living pests, in particular of existing termite infestations in structures and prevention of termite invasions is a difficult non-agricultural pest control problem. Control methods are tedious and labour intensive and therefore expensive. Termites are ubiquitous and forage constantly for new food sources. Wood or wood products in homes provide an inviting target if such foraging termites are undeterred or not removed.
• a widely accepted strategy to prevent termite infestation or control existing infestations is treatment of soil under or surrounding a structure. Treatment of the soil is generally effected by applying a liquid composition containing a termiticide to the soil where the structure touches the soil. By applying a liquid treatment a continuous or contiguous barrier is established wherein foraging termites that encounter it either are repelled or are contacted and receive a dose of termiticide.
• Pest control technicians are specifically directed to provide such barriers by applying large amounts of an aqueous termiticidal composition to the soil. Creating a thorough barrier is of utmost importance because foraging subterranean termites can detect gaps between application points and dig through them. Once a food source (i.e. the structure intended to be protected) is reached, a colony of termites can then be signalled to attack the food source and tunnel through the gap between applications.
• a food source i.e. the structure intended to be protected
• WO 98/28973 discloses a process for protection of buildings against damage caused by insects, in particular termites, whereby an effective amount of an insecticidally active compound, preferably a 1-arylpyrazole compound, is spread around or under the building at discrete locations.
• the active compounds are applied as dilutions of conventional formulations.
• aqueous insecticide formulations may cause various problems, including microbial or fungal degradation of the building materials themselves. Therefore it is desirable to provide solid insecticidal formulations which do not damage the material to be protected.
• US 6,264,968 describes insecticidal compositions containing an insecticidally active compound selected from nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists or antagonists, phosphorus-containing compounds, pyrethroides, carbamates, amidines, juvenile hormones and juvenile hormone- like substances combined with an organic natural and/or synthetic compounds carrier material that delays degradation and release of the active ingredient.
• an insecticidally active compound selected from nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists or antagonists, phosphorus-containing compounds, pyrethroides, carbamates, amidines, juvenile hormones and juvenile hormone- like substances combined with an organic natural and/or synthetic compounds carrier material that delays degradation and release of the active ingredient.
• US 2007/0157507 describes a particulate termiticidal composition
• a termiti- cidally active ingredient preferably selected from nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists and antagonists and an inorganic carrier.
• Arsenic trioxide-containing dusts have been used for nearly a century as termiticides.
• arsenic trioxide is highly toxic for man and other mammals, too, and its application requires fastidious precaution measures from the pest control operator.
• arse- nic trioxide is repellent.
• the pest control operator generally has to find the nest for being able to bring enough termites into contact with the active substance.
• the other known dust formulations work only topically, too, and thus require that enough insects come into contact with a sufficient amount of the formulation.
• the mortal effect on the insect is too fast, which prevents that the insect which has come into contact with the formulation returns to the nest and brings more insects into contact with the insecticidal formulation adhering to it.
• the formulation should have a delayed mortal effect.
• the formulation shall not only act topically, but also non-topically, e.g. when swallowed.
• the formulation shall allow a pest control operator to find the nest of the insects to be combated and their local extension.
• Insects in particular wood-destroying insects, nourish on cellulosic material. Since the dust composition of the invention contains cellulose or a cellulose derivative as a main component, and since GABA antagonist insecticides are not repellent, the insects will be appealed to eat the composition and thus to incorporate the insecticide, in particular if the organic carrier is a cellulose. Accordingly, the insects can be combated not only by topical contact with the composition of the invention, but also non-topically by way of eating it.
• the composition of the invention is a dust composition.
• dusts are defined as gas-dispersible, powdery solid materials.
• the solid particles can be of any shape, structure, and density. Dusts are characterized by having a small particle size, for example of at most 500 ⁇ m, preferably of at most 400 ⁇ m, more preferably of at most 300 ⁇ m, even more preferably of at most 200 ⁇ m and in particular of at most 100 ⁇ m.
• Particle size refers to the mean diameter of the particles. For non- spherical particles, the diameter is defined to be the longest extension of the particle.
• Dust particles may also be characterized by having a relatively large specific surface area, such as up to several hundreds of m 2 /g. However, more characteristic is the par- tide size.
• the GABA antagonists are preferably selected from acetoprole, endosulfan, vaniliprole, pyrafluprole, pyriprole, the phenylpyrazole compound of the formula Il
• R a is Ci-C4-alkyl or Ci-C4-haloalkyl; or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof; and the phenylpyrazole compound of the formula
• the organic moieties mentioned in the above definitions of the variables are - like the term halogen - collective terms for individual listings of the individual group members.
• the prefix C n -Cm indicates in each case the possible number of carbon atoms in the group.
• Halogen will be taken to mean fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo, preferably fluoro, chloro, and bromo and in particular fluoro and chloro.
• Ci-C4-alkyl is a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples are methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl and tert-butyl.
• Ci-C4-haloalkyl is a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, as de- fined above, wherein at least one hydrogen atom is replaced by a halogen atom.
• Examples are chloromethyl, bromomethyl, dichloromethyl, trichloromethyl, fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, chlorofluoromethyl, dichlorofluoromethyl, chlorodi- fluoromethyl, 1-chloroethyl, 1-bromoethyl, 1-fluoroethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2-fluoroethyl, 2-chloro-2,2-difluoroethyl, 2,2-dichloro-2- fluoroethyl, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl, pentafluoroethyl and
• some of the GABA antagonist insecticides are capable of forming salts or adducts with inorganic or organic aids or with metal ions. They can be formed in a customary method, e.g. by reacting the compounds with an acid of the anion in question.
• Suitable agriculturally useful salts are especially the salts of those cations or the acid addition salts of those acids the cations and anions of which do not have any adverse effect on the action of the compounds according to the present invention.
• Suitable cations are in particular the ions of the alkali metals, preferably lithium, sodium and potassium, of the alkaline earth metals, preferably calcium, magnesium and barium, and of the transition metals, preferably manganese, copper, zinc and iron, and also ammonium (NH 4 + ) and substituted ammonium in which one to four of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by Ci-C4-alkyl, Ci-C4-hydroxyalkyl, Ci-C4-alkoxy, Ci-C4-alkoxy-Ci- C4-alkyl, hydroxy-Ci-C4-alkoxy-Ci-C4-alkyl, phenyl or benzyl.
• substituted ammonium ions comprise methylammonium, isopropylammonium, dimethylammonium, diisopropylammonium, trimethylammonium, tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammo- nium, tetrabutylammonium, 2-hydroxyethylammonium, 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl- ammonium, bis(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium, benzyltrimethylammonium and benzyl- triethylammonium, furthermore phosphonium ions, sulfonium ions, preferably tri(Ci-C4- alkyl)sulfonium, and sulfoxonium ions, preferably tri(Ci-C4-alkyl)sulfoxonium.
• Anions of useful acid addition salts are primarily chloride, bromide, fluoride, hydrogen sulfate, sulfate, dihydrogen phosphate, hydrogen phosphate, phosphate, nitrate, hy- drogen carbonate, carbonate, hexafluorosilicate, hexafluorophosphate, benzoate, and the anions of Ci-C4-alkanoic acids, preferably formiate, acetate, propionate and bu- tyrate.
• They can be formed by reacting the compounds of the formulae I or Il or III (as to compounds Il and III see below) with an acid of the corresponding anion, preferably of hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or nitric acid.
• an acid of the corresponding anion preferably of hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or nitric acid.
• the GABA antagonists are selected from compounds of formula II.
• R a is preferably ethyl or trifluoromethyl.
• the compound where R a is ethyl is also known under the common name ethiprole and the compound where R a is trifluoromethyl is known under the common name fipronil. More preferably, R a is trifluoromethyl.
• the GABA antagonist insecticide is in particular fipronil.
• GABA antagonists and methods for producing them are generally known.
• the commercially available compounds may be found in The Pesticide Manual, 13 th Edition, British Crop Protection Council (2003) among other publications.
• the organic carrier of the composition of the invention is a cellulose or a cellulose derivative.
• the carrier material is in dust form in the composition of the invention.
• Cellulose the most widely spread biopolymer, is a polysaccharide of the formula (CeHiOOs) n and is more precisely an isotactic ⁇ -1 ,4-polyacetal of cellobiose, which in turn is formed of two D-glucose molecules condensed through ⁇ -(1 ⁇ 4)- glycosidic bonds.
• Cellulose is classified into ⁇ -, ⁇ - and ⁇ -cellulose, the two latter forms also being known as hemicellulose.
• ⁇ -Cellulose is the fraction which is not soluble in 17.5% aqueous NaOH or 24% aqueous KOH and has an average degree of polymeri- zation (DP) of > 200.
• DP polymeri- zation
• ⁇ -Cellulose is the fraction which can be precipitated from the NaOH solution with methanol and ⁇ -cellulose is the fraction which can not.
• the hemi- celluloses also contain polyoses and/or degraded short-chain cellulose.
• the cellulose carrier is preferably ⁇ -cellulose.
• Suitable cellulose derivatives are cellulose esters with carboxylic acids such as acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid, and cellulose ethers with C1-C3 mono- and dihy- dric alcohols.
• Preferred cellulose esters are selected from cellulose acetate and mixed cellulose acetate/propionate and cellulose acetate/butyrate. More preferred is cellulose acetate.
• Preferred cellulose ethers are selected from methylcellulose, ethylcelluose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylmethylcellulose, hy- droxyethylethylcellulose and hydroxypropylethylcellulose.
• cellulose esters are preferred, cellulose acetate being particularly preferred.
• the organic carrier is selected from cellu- loses and cellulose derivatives which are edible (and, of course, not repellent), preferably edible for insects, more preferably for insects which destroy or damage industrial materials, in particular wood and timber products, and in particular for termites.
• Preferred edible organic carriers are selected from celluloses, particular preference being given to ⁇ -cellulose.
• the organic carrier is selected from cellulose derivatives.
• suitable and preferred cellulose derivatives reference is made to the above remarks.
• the dust composition of the invention preferably also contains the below-described component (iii).
• the organic carrier is selected from ⁇ -cellulose and cellulose acetate and specifically is ⁇ -cellulose.
• Dust form Cellulose and cellulose derivatives in dust form are commercially available.
• the dust form can be prepared by submitting granules, a powder or crystalline form to a grinding, milling or other process for comminuting solid material known to those skilled in the art.
• the weight ratio of organic carrier to insecticide is preferably of from 10000:1 to 5:1 , more preferably from 10000:1 to 9:1 , even more preferably from 10000:1 to 20:1 , particularly from 1000:1 to 50:1 , more particularly from 1000:1 to 90:1 and specifically from 500:1 to 100:1.
• the dust composition of the invention further comprises (iii) at least one fluorescent dye.
• Fluorescent dyes in the proper sense absorb and emit light in the visible region of the spectrum.
• fluorescent dyes as used in terms of the present invention also encompass substances which absorb in the invisible UV region and emit blue to blue- violet light or UV-light and which are usually termed "optical brighteners " or “fluorescent brighteners”.
• Fluorescent dyes are in most cases organic molecules with extremely rigid, extended ⁇ -systems. Rigidity is of importance because it suppresses the release of energy due to activated nuclear vibrations. Substituents such as heavy atoms (chlorine and bromine) or nitro groups are detrimental to fluorescence because they favour intersystem crossing.
• Fluorescent dyes also encompass fluorescent pigments.
• Pigments are generally defined as being a specific class of dyes, namely dyes which are not soluble in the (liquid) application medium.
• Fluorescent pigments usually consist of finely divided matrix particles that contain fluorescent dyes. Their luminosity and brilliance make them particularly useful if intense or long-distance visibility is needed. Daylight fluorescent pigments absorb UV and visible light from daylight and reemit it at a higher wavelength as visible radiation. As a rule, the time interval between light absorption and emission is very short (about 10" 8 s), and the fluorescence persists only in the presence of an exciting light source. UV fluorescent pigments only fluoresce under UV light.
• fluorescent pigments can also be defined as being fluorescent dyes insoluble in a liquid application medium (i.e. without necessarily containing a particulate matrix).
• a liquid application medium i.e. without necessarily containing a particulate matrix.
• the fluorescent dyes are used in a dust, i.e. in a solid composition, it is of no relevance whether the dye is soluble or insoluble in a liquid medium. Therefore, in the terms of the present invention, no distinction is made between soluble dyes and insoluble pigments not containing matrix particles.
• fluorescent dye classes are naphthalenes, anthracenes, phenan- threnes, tetracenes, perylenes, terrylenes, quaterrylenes, pentarylenes, hexarylenes, naphtholactams, azlactones, methines, acridines, carbazoles, dibenzofurans, dinaph- thofurans, benzimidazoles, benzothiazoles, phenazines, oxazines, thiazones, dioxazi- nes, quinacridones, coumarins, dibenzofuranones, dinaphthofuranones, benzimida- zolones, xanthenes, thioxanthenes, indigo compounds, thioindigo compounds, qui- nophthalones, naphthoquinophthalones and diketopyrrolopyrroles.
• Naphthalenes, an- thracenes, phenanthrenes, tetracenes, perylenes, terrylenes, quaterrylenes, pentary- lenes and hexarylenes preferably carry one or more, e.g. 1 , 2, 3 or 4 carboxylic or car- boxylic derivative groups, such as carboxyl (COOH), a carboxylic amide group, a carboxylic ester group, a carboxylic anhydride group or a carboxylic imide group, lmide groups are most frequent.
• Such dyes are often called naphth(yl)imides, anthraceneim- ides, phenanthreneimides, tetraceneimides, peryleneimides, terryleneimides, quaterry- leneimides, pentaryleneimides and hexaryleneimides.
• Preferred fluorescent dyes classes are naphthalenes (in particular naphthylimides), perrylenes (perylenes and perylenimides), terrylenes (terrylenes and terryleneimides), quaterrylenes (quaterry- lenes and quaterryleneimides), coumarins, xanthenes, thioxanthenes, naphtholactams, azlactones, methines, oxazines, thiazines and thioindigoid. More preferred classes are naphthalenes (in particular naphthylimides) and perrylenes (perylenes and perylenimides).
• Fluorescent dyes and methods for preparing them are well known in the art and are for example described in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 5 th edition on CD ROM, 1997, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Germany and in the literature cited therein.
• Suitable matrices for fluorescent pigments are all materials to which fluorescent dyes can bind. Moreover, the resulting fluorescent pigment should allow its processing to a dust.
• the matrix is an organic polymer or resin, such as toluenesulfonamide- melamine-formaldehyde resins, benzoguanamine-formaldehyde resins, urethane resins, polyamides, polyesters, polyvinylchlorides, polycarbonates, polyacrylates (in particular polymethylacrylates) and polymethacrylates (in particular polymethylmethacry- lates).
• Preferred matrices are polyamides, polyesters, polyvinylchlorides, polycarbonates, polyacrylates (in particular polymethylacrylates) and polymethacrylates (in particular polymethylmethacrylates).
• Fluorescent pigments and matrices therefor as well as methods for preparing them are well known in the art and are for example described in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 5 th edition on CD ROM, 1997, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Germany and in the literature cited therein.
• Lumogen® brands of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany such as Lumogen F Yellow (a perrylene), e.g. Lumogen F Yellow 083, Lumogen F Orange (a perrylene), e.g. Lumogen F Orange 240, Lumogen F Red (a perrylene), Lumogen F Violet (a naphthylimide), Lumogen F Blue (a naphthylimide) and Lumogen Yellow SO 790, further Hostasol Yellow 3G, Oraset Yellow 8GF, Fluorol 088 (BASF), Thermoplast F Yellow 084 (BASF), Golden Yellow D-304 (DayGlo, Cleveland, Ohio), Mohawk Yellow D-299 (DayGlo, Cleveland, Ohio), Potomac Yellow D-838 (DayGlo, Cleveland, Ohio), Polyfast Brilliant Red SB (Keystone, Chicago, III.), Cl Solvent Yellow 98, Cl Solvent Yellow 160:1 , Cl Solvent Green 4, Cl Solvent Green 5, Cl Pigment Yellow 101 , Golden Yellow D304 (Day-Gl
• component (iii) is a fluorescent pigment without matrix, for example Lumogen Yellow SO 790.
• the weight ratio of organic carrier to fluorescent dye or pigment is preferably of from 10000:1 to 10:1 , more preferably from 10000:1 to 20:1 , even more preferably from 10000:1 to 50:1 , particularly from 10000:1 to 90:1 , more particularly from 10000:1 to 100:1 and specifically from 5000:1 to 500:1.
• the presence of the fluorescent dye in the composition of the invention has the advantage that it marks the insects which have come into contact with it. This allows a pet control operator to follow the insects' traces, which either fluoresce at daylight or in the light of a lamp emitting visible light or a UV lamp, und thus to find their nest. This in turn allows combating the insects directly in their nest and thus in a concentrated and effective manner. Following the insects' trace also helps finding out their local extension, which of course also helps combating them.
• the dust composition of the invention may contain further ingredients, such as further insecticides (different from the at least one GABA antagonist insecticide), microbio- cides, further solid carriers and antibaking agents.
• further insecticides different from the at least one GABA antagonist insecticide
• microbio- cides different from the at least one GABA antagonist insecticide
• further solid carriers and antibaking agents.
• Further solid carriers are, for example, mineral earths such as silica gels, silicates, talc, kaolin, attaclay, limestone, lime, chalk, bole, loess, clay, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, ground synthetic materials, fertilizers such as, for example, ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ureas and plant products such as cereal meal, tree bark meal, wood meal and nutshell meal.
• mineral earths such as silica gels, silicates, talc, kaolin, attaclay, limestone, lime, chalk, bole, loess, clay, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, ground synthetic materials, fertilizers such as, for example, ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ure
• Suitable further insecticides are for example:
• Juvenile hormone mimics hydroprene, kinoprene, methoprene, fenoxycarb, pyriproxyfen;
• Nicotinic receptor agonists/antagonists compounds acetamiprid, bensultap, cartap hydrochloride, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, nitenpyram, nico- tine, spinosad (allosteric agonist), thiacloprid, thiocyclam, thiosultap-sodium, and AKD1022.
• Chloride channel activators abamectin, emamectin benzoate, milbemectin, Ie- pimectin;
• METI I compounds fenazaquin, fenpyroximate, pyrimidifen, pyridaben, tebufen- pyrad, tolfenpyrad, flufenerim, rotenone;
• METI Il and III compounds acequinocyl, fluacyprim, hydramethylnon;
• Inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation azocyclotin, cyhexatin, diafenthiuron, fen- butatin oxide, propargite, tetradifon;
• A.1 Moulting disruptors: cyromazine, chromafenozide, halofenozide, methoxy- fenozide, tebufenozide; A.12. Synergists: piperonyl butoxide, tribufos;
• Mite growth inhibitors clofentezine, hexythiazox, etoxazole;
• A.17. Chitin synthesis inhibitors buprofezin, bistrifluron, chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron, flucycloxuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron, lufenuron, novaluron, noviflumuron, te- flubenzuron, triflumuron;
• Lipid biosynthesis inhibitors spirodiclofen, spiromesifen, spirotetramat
• A.21 Various: aluminium phosphide, amidoflumet, benclothiaz, benzoximate, bifenazate, borax, bromopropylate, cyanide, cyenopyrafen, cyflumetofen, chinomethionate, dicofol, fluoroacetate, phosphine, pyridalyl, pyrifluquinazon, sulfur, tartar emetic;
• Anthranilamides chloranthraniliprole, the compound of formula r 2
• Microbial disruptors Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Israelensi, Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Aizawai, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Kurstaki, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Tenebrionis;
• Thioamides of formula r 1 and their preparation have been described in WO 98/28279.
• Lepimectin is known from Agro Project, PJB Publications Ltd, November 2004. Ben- clothiaz and its preparation have been described in EP-A1 454621. Methidathion and Paraoxon and their preparation have been described in Farm Chemicals Handbook, Volume 88, Meister Publishing Company, 2001. Acetoprole and its preparation have been described in WO 98/28277. Metaflumizone and its preparation have been described in EP-A1 462 456. Flupyrazofos has been described in Pesticide Science 54, 1988, p.237-243 and in US 4822779.
• Anthranilamide derivatives of formula r 2 have been described in WO 01/70671 , WO 04/067528 and WO 05/118552. Cyflumetofen and its preparation have been described in WO 04/080180. The aminoquinazolinone compound pyrifluquinazon has been described in EP A 109 7932.
• the malononitrile compounds CF 3 (CH 2 ) 2 C(CN) 2 CH 2 (CF 2 ) 3 CF 2 H, CF 3 (CH 2 ) 2 C(CN) 2 CH 2 (CF 2 ) 5 CF 2 H, CF 3 (CH 2 ) 2 C(CN) 2 (CH 2 ) 2 C(CF 3 ) 2 F, CF 3 (CH 2 ) 2 C(CN) 2 (CH 2 ) 2 (CF 2 ) 3 CF 3 , CF 2 H(CF 2 ) 3 CH 2 C(CN) 2 CH 2 (CF 2 ) 3 CF 2 H, CF 3 (CH 2 ) 2 C(CN) 2 CH 2 (CF 2 ) 3 CF 3 , CF 3 (CF 2 ) 2 CH 2 C(CN) 2 CH 2 (CF 2 ) 3 CF 2 H, CF 3 CF 2 CH 2 C(CN) 2 CH 2 (CF 2 )SCF 2 H, 2-(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyl)
• the dust composition of the invention does not contain further solid carriers or further insecticides.
• the dust composition of the invention consists essentially of components (i), (ii) and optionally (iii).
• Consists essentially means that the composition may contain traces of water and other substances being present, for example, from the production or purification process or for stabilization purposes. These are preferably present in an amount of less than 5, more preferably of less than 2, even more preferably of less than 1 , in particular of less than 0.5 % by weight, based on the total weight of components (i), (ii) and (iiii).
• the dust composition of the invention has a particle size of for example at most 500 ⁇ m, e.g. 0.1 ⁇ m to 500 ⁇ m or 1 ⁇ m to 500 ⁇ m, preferably of at most 400 ⁇ m, e.g. 0.1 ⁇ m to 400 ⁇ m or 1 ⁇ m to 400 ⁇ m, more preferably of at most 300 ⁇ m, e.g. 0.1 ⁇ m to 300 ⁇ m or 1 ⁇ m to 300 ⁇ m, even more preferably of at most 200 ⁇ m, e.g. 0.1 ⁇ m to 200 ⁇ m or 1 ⁇ m to 200 ⁇ m, and in particular of at most 100 ⁇ m, e.g. 0.1 ⁇ m to 100 ⁇ m or 1 ⁇ m to 100 ⁇ m.
• Particle size refers to the mean diameter of the particles. For non- spherical particles, the diameter is defined as the longest extension of the particle.
• the dust composition comprises
• the dust composition comprises (i) 0.01 to 5, preferably 0.05 to 2, more preferably 0.1 to 1 % by weight, based on the total weight of the dust composition, of the at least one insecticide;
• composition of the invention is advantageously prepared by known techniques for preparing dust formulations (e.g. DP or DS). For instance, components (i), (ii), optionally (iii) and further optional components are intimately mixed and then subjected to a comminuting process, such as milling or grinding.
• a comminuting process such as milling or grinding.
• Suitable comminuting techniques are well known to those skilled in the art and encompass, for example, the comminuting in knife mills, ball mills, hammer mills, pulverizers, fluid energy mills, colloid mills, ultra- centrifugal mills, and the like.
• the milling/grinding step can be followed by a further comminuting process which provides even smaller particle sizes, such as ultrasonifica- tion or cavitation.
• the single components or a part of the components can be first comminuted separately and then be mixed with the others or with the remaining part of the components.
• Suitable mixing apparatuses are known to those skilled in the art and encompass, for example, drum blending machines, tumble mixers, conus mixers, and the like.
• Another aspect of the invention refers to the use of the dust composition of the invention for combating insects.
• Using the dust composition of the invention is generally carried out as described with respect to the below methods.
• a further aspect of the invention refers to a method for controlling insects, which method comprises bringing the insects, their food supply or their habitat, or the materials, soils, surfaces or spaces to be protected from insect attack or infestation into contact with a pesticidally effective amount of the dust composition of the invention.
• insects to be controlled by the use and the method according to the invention are preferably insects which destroy or damage industrial materials.
• Industrial materials in the terms of the present invention are to be understood as meaning non-living materials, such as plastics, adhesives, glues, papers and cardboards, leather, wood and timber products and paints.
• insects to be controlled by the use and the method according to the invention are insects which destroy or damage wood and timber products, and also wood-containing buildings or parts of buildings.
• Wood and timber products which can be protected by the composition according to the invention are, for example, construction timber, wooden beams, railway sleepers, bridge components, jetties, wooden vehi- cles, boxes, pallets, containers, telephone poles, wood cladding, wooden windows and doors, plywood, particleboard, joinery articles, or wood products which, quite generally, are used in the construction of houses or boats or in joinery.
• insects to be controlled are:
• Ptilinus pecticornis Dendrobium pertinex, Ernobius mollis, Priobium carpini, Lyctus brunneus, Lyctus africanus, Lyctus planicollis, Lyctus linearis, Lyctus pubescens, Trogoxylon aequale, Minthes rugicollis, Xyleborus spec. Tryptodendron spec. Apate monachus, Bostrychus capucins, Heterobostrychus brunneus, Sinoxylon spec. Dino- derus minutus; Hymenopterans, such as
• Termites such as insects
• Calotermes spp e.g. Calotermes flavicollis, Coptotermes spp., e.g. Coptotermes aci- naciformis, Coptotermes formosanus, Coptotermes havilandi or Coptotermes lacteus, Cryptotermes spp., e.g. Cryptotermes brevis, Heterotermes spp., e.g. Heterotermes aureus or Heterotermes indicola, Leucotermes spp., e.g. Leucotermes flavipes, Mas- totermes spp., e.g. Mastotermes darwiniensis, Reticulitermes spp., e.g.
• Bristletails such as Lepisma saccharina.
• insects to be controlled are termites.
• Bringing the insects, their food supply or their habitat, or the materials, soils, surfaces or spaces to be protected from insect attack or infestation into contact with a pesti- cidally effective amount of the dust composition of the invention is generally carried out by distributing a sufficient, i.e. a pesticidally effective amount, of the dust composition of the invention on the insects themselves, on their food supply or their habitat, or the materials, soils, surfaces or spaces to be protected from insect attack or infestation.
• the distribution is carried out by known techniques for distributing a dust, such as dispersing, spreading, scattering, dusting, blowing, puffing and the like.
• the pesticidally effective amount depends on several factors, for example on the object which is treated, on the environmental conditions, such as humidity or air current, on the insect species and on the insect pressure and can be determined in each case by the skilled person.
• the invention relates to a method for protecting wood material from termite attack or infestation, which method comprises bringing the wood material to be protected into contact with a pesticidally effective amount of the dust composition of the invention.
• the dust composition of the invention implies a delayed mortality of the insects which have come into contact with it as compared to dust compositions of the prior art. Consequently, there is more time for a contaminated insect to come into contact with other insects and thus to spread the insecticide onto a bigger part of the insect population. The insecticidal effectivity of the composition is thus enhanced. At the same time, the overall mortality of the composition of the invention is comparable to or even higher than of compositions of the prior art. Moreover, the composition is not limited to a topical effect, it being also taken up via eating because of its content of edible cellulosic material.
• Leftover dust composition is eaten by the insects of the new colony and can display its insecticidal effect via a non-topic pathway, thus making a new topical application superfluous or at least delaying the need thereof.
• the particular embodiment of the composition additionally containing a fluorescent dye/pigment furthermore allows an easier chasing of the insects and discovery of their nest, which in turn facilitates combating them.
• a dust composition formulated as a DP (dispersible powder) containing 0.5 % by weight of fipronil, 0.1 % by weight of the fluorescent pigment Lumogen Yellow SO 790 (BASF AG) and 99.4 % by weight of ⁇ -cellulose was prepared as follows: Separate containers of a premix were prepared for each batch by milling and blending 15.6 g of Fipronil (used in the form of the commercially available product Termidor 80WG), 2.5 g of the Lumogen dye and approximately 100g of ⁇ -cellulose within a
• KnifeTech milling apparatus (closed vessel). 2.4 g of ⁇ -cellulose were placed in a 20 I HDPE container and the contents of a pre-prepared batch load of premix were added. The mixture was then placed in a drum blending machine and blended for 1 hour.
• Example 1.1 Analogously to example 1.1 was prepared a dust composition containing 0.5 % by weight of fipronil and 95.5 % by weight of cellulose acetate.
• example 1.2 the composition of example 1.2 was used.
• a dust composition containing 0.6 % by weight of arsenic trioxide on talcum powder was used.
• the dust compositions were applied using two techniques, either the roll technique or the puff technique. There were ten replicates for each dust formulation, for each technique and for each species of termite.
• the efficacy of the dust formulation of example 1.1 as a curative treatment against Mastotermes darwiniensis was assessed in a domestic situation in Townsville, north Queensland, Australia. A termite infestation was located in an old timber horse drawn wagon. The dust formulation of example 1.1 was topically applied to as many termites as possible using a standard hand held puffer. This was done to the wagon wheel only, the other sites remaining undisturbed for monitoring purposes. 19 days after treatment the Mastotermes darwiniensis infestation had been eliminated.
• the efficacy of the dust formulation of example 1.1 as a curative treatment against Coptotermes sp was assessed in a domestic situation in Macksville, New South Wales, Australia. An active termite infestation was located in the bathroom of a house.
• the dust formulation of example 1.1 was topically applied to as many termites as possible using a standard hand held puffer. 13 days after treatment the Coptotermes infestation had been eliminated.
• the efficacy of the dust formulation of example 1.1 as a curative treatment against Coptotermes acinaciformis was assessed in a domestic situation in Brunswick Heads, New South Wales, Australia. Active termite infestations were located throughout the entire house.
• the dust formulation of example 1.1 was topically applied to as many termites as possible using a standard hand held puffer. 16 days after treatment the extensive Coptotermes acinaciformis infestation had been eliminated.
• Pest control operators reported that dust formulation of example 1.1 left over from the topical treatment was eaten by termites.

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• 2007
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