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
  • A01N25/00—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, characterised by their forms, or by their non-active ingredients or by their methods of application, e.g. seed treatment or sequential application; Substances for reducing the noxious effect of the active ingredients to organisms other than pests
  • A01N25/002—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, characterised by their forms, or by their non-active ingredients or by their methods of application, e.g. seed treatment or sequential application; Substances for reducing the noxious effect of the active ingredients to organisms other than pests containing a foodstuff as carrier or diluent, i.e. baits
  • A01N25/006—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, characterised by their forms, or by their non-active ingredients or by their methods of application, e.g. seed treatment or sequential application; Substances for reducing the noxious effect of the active ingredients to organisms other than pests containing a foodstuff as carrier or diluent, i.e. baits insecticidal

Definitions

• the present invention is generally directed to a gelled 5 aqueous insect bait.
• the gelled insect bait comprises a gelling agent that is also able to function as an insect- attracting agent.
• the present invention is directed to such an insect bait that utilizes carrageenan not only as the 10 bait gelling agent but also as the insect-attracting agent.
• Carrageenan is a sulfated polysaccharide, derived from red algae. Such algae is commonly known as Irish moss. Carrageenan is reported in the literature as being 15 composed principally of alpha-D-galactopyranose-4-sulfate units as well as 3,6-anhydro-alpha-D-galactopyranose units. Carrageenan can take a variety of forms in accordance with the relative orientation or location of these units to each other within the carrageenan structure. 20 At least five forms of carrageenan are known, respectively designated iota-carrageenan, kappa-carrageenan, lambda-carrageenan, mu-carrageenan, and nu-carrageenan. Kappa-carrageenan, moreover, is known to exhibit certain specific properties in the presence of certain monovalent
• Nelsen et al. suggest that carrageenan (combined with locust bean gum) might provide one such suitable hydrogel agent, it is clear that Nelsen et al. specifically teach inclusion of other ingredients (such as certain commercial formulations for the rearing of insects, certain chemical attractants, pheromones, and the like) for insect-attracting purposes.
• Gelled insect baits are desirable for a number of reasons.
• One such reason involves processing considerations.
• the manufacture of a gelled bait typically does not give rise to a dusty or a powdery residue; and the packaging of such a gelled insect bait is accordingly viewed as a relatively "cleaner" operation than another manufacturing procedure which involves insect baits that e.g. take the form of tablets and/or powder mixtures.
• One particularly notable benefit or advantage that we observed when utilizing carrageenan as our insect bait- gelling agent is that carrageenan can be heated in a manner so as to become a pourable liquid, provided that a requisite minimal level of heat is maintained, so that the temperature of the carrageenan-containing composition is maintained at or below a predetermined value. At such a temperature, the thus-heated carrageenan can then be poured without gelling while it is being poured.
• the carrageenan-containing composition is generally heated to a temperature of 180°F for a specified period of time. Thereafter, the carrageenan-containing composition is allowed to cool to a suitable, desired pouring temperature.
• a suitable, desired pouring temperature generally ranges between about 140 to about 150°F, depending upon the presence or absence of certain other ingredients in the carrageenan- containing composition.
• the carrageenan-containing composition tends to gel and thus is no longer pourable, which is undesirable.
• carrageenan a natural product, demonstrates an observable stimulatory effect on certain insect feeding habits or mechanisms. We found this observation to be quite surprising because, indeed, we could find no teaching — or even a suggestion — in the literature that carrageenan possesses the kinds of insect-attracting properties that we observed.
• a gelled insect bait comprises water, an insecticidally-active chemical ingredient, and an effective amount of carrageenan for causing the water and the insecticidally-active chemical ingredient to form a gel.
• our gelled insect bait is more particularly characterized in that the carrageenan component or ingredient (of our gelled, aqueous insect bait) causes insects to be attracted to the insect bait, for bait- ingesting purposes.
• the gelled, aqueous insect bait of the present invention comprises water, an insecticidally-active chemical ingredient, and an effective amount of carrageenan for causing the water and the insecticidally-active chemical ingredient to form a gel.
• the carrageenan ingredient which not only causes the insect bait to form a gel but also causes insects to be attracted to the gelled bait for bait-ingesting purposes.
• the insect-ingestible, gelled bait of the present invention is particularly effective against ants, cockroaches, crickets, fruit flies, house flies, and the like.
• carrageenan is utilized, it is to be understood that such term generally refers to the so-called “kappa” form of commercially-available carrageenan.
• carrageenan is presently available from the FMC Corporation, under the "Gelcarin PS 402" brand. More particularly, the carrageenan which we utilized in connection with our below-presented examples had a particle size such that more than about 95.0 weight percent passed through a Series No. 80 U.S. Standard Sieve (about 180 microns), had an "as-is” pH of about 8.5 to about 10.5, and had a moisture content of less than about 12.0% (meaning that the carrageenan which we utilized was about 88 percent dry substance) .
• Such dry substance still more particularly, consisted of about 65 weight percent to about 75 weight percent kappa carrageenan; and the remainder of the dry substance consisted of locust bean gum and salts such as sodium chloride and potassium chloride.
• insect bait is understood to mean an insecticidally-active composition-of-matter specifically formulated (1) to attract insects (to such a composition) and (2) to induce such bait-attracted insects either (a) to ingest at least a portion of such a composition, thereby directly causing the death of such insects, or (b) to transport at least a portion of such a composition to an insect colony, for the purpose of destroying such a colony.
• the insecticidally-active chemical ingredient of the present invention can be water soluble or can be water insoluble; and, if water-insoluble, the insect bait of the present invention further preferably comprises a surfactant (or emulsifier) .
• Suitable water-soluble insecticidally-active chemical ingredients include 0,0-dimethyl 2,2,2-trichloro-l-hydroxyethyl phosphonate (also known as Trichlorfon and/or Dipterex) , acetylphosphoramidothioic acid 0,S-di-methyl ester (also known as Acephate and/or Orthene) , sodium fluoride, boric acid, sodium borate, and combinations thereof.
• Suitable water-insoluble insecticidally-active chemical ingredients include N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide (also known as Sulfluramid) , phosphorothioic acid 0,0-diethyl O-(3,5,6- trichloro-2-pyridinyl) ester (also known as Chlorpyrifos and/or Dursban), 2-(1-methylethoxy) phenol methylcarbamate (also known as propoxur and/or Baygon) , Hydramethylnon, Avermectin, and combinations thereof.
• N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamide also known as Sulfluramid
• phosphorothioic acid 0,0-diethyl O-(3,5,6- trichloro-2-pyridinyl) ester also known as Chlorpyrifos and/or Dursban
• 2-(1-methylethoxy) phenol methylcarbamate also known as prop
• Suitable surfactants for purposes of the present invention include ethoxylated sorbitan esters capable of producing an oil-in-water emulsion. Such esters have an HLB value that is greater than 10. The preferred HLB value is between about 12 to 17. (The terms "surfactant” and “emulsifier” are herein utilized in an equivalent sense.)
• the preferred surfactants, for purposes of the present invention include a variety of commercially available non- ionic surfactants, disclosed in greater detail hereinbelow.
• the gelled insect bait of the present invention may further include, as optional additional ingredients, certain specified insect-feeding co-stimulants and/or insect co- attractants.
• suitable co-stimulants and/or co-attractants include, but are not limited to, proteins, oils, and carbohydrates such as sugars, honey and molasses.
• any such co-stimulant and/or co-attractant may further function as a humectant, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
• the term "humectant" is any ingredient which, when incorporated into the insect bait of the present invention, tends to attract and retain environmental moisture.
• the gelled insect bait of the present invention may further include, as yet another optional ingredient, a suitable filler material such as an agricultural product or an agricultural by-product.
• a suitable filler material such as an agricultural product or an agricultural by-product.
• Suitable, for purposes of the present invention, as such a product or by-product, is corn meal, wheat bran, corn bran, wheat germ, and the like.
• the ant bait of Example 1 was made as follows. Water of moderate temperature, namely about 60 to about 80°F, was agitated; and into this agitated water was added the carrageenan at such a rate, while maintaining sufficient agitation, so as to form a carrageenan-in-water dispersion. The carrageenan-in-water dispersion was then heated, while maintaining agitation, to a temperature of 180°F.
• Example 1 While it is possible, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, to incorporate the remainder of the Example 1 ingredients into the agitated dispersion prior to heating the carrageenan-in-water dispersion to 180°F, we prefer to incorporate the remainder of these ingredients at the time when the agitated dispersion achieves a temperature of 180°F.
• Example 1 Accordingly, upon achieving 180°F, and while maintaining agitation, the remainder of the Example 1 ingredients were added to the carrageenan-in-water dispersion and the 180°F temperature was maintained until the resultant dispersion viscosity became noticeably more pronounced. (Utilizing a laboratory beaker-sized quantity of such a dispersion, the noticeable increase in viscosity occurred in the range of between about 5 to about 10 minutes, while such dispersion was maintained at 180°F after inclusion of the additional, above-mentioned ingredients.)
• Example 1 As soon as a noticeable viscosity increase was achieved, while maintaining agitation and a temperature of 180°F, the carrageenan-in-water dispersion was allowed to cool to a suitable dispersion-pouring temperature, which, in Example 1, was 150°F. The pourable, carrageenan-containing dispersion was then poured into a preselected container and was allowed to cool further, to form an insecticidally-active gel. The gelled bait of Example 1 was observed to be effective against ants.
• the roach bait of Example 2 was made as follows. Water of moderate temperature, namely about 60 to about 80°F, was agitated; and into this agitated water was added the carrageenan at such a rate, while maintaining sufficient agitation, so as to form a carrageenan-in-water dispersion.
• the Dursban insecticide and Tween 80 brand surfactant were combined and heated to a temperature effective for forming an insecticide-in-surfactant solution. Such temperature was 120°F.
• Tween 80 is a commercially-available general-purpose sorbitan monooleate-based nonionic surfactant having an HLB value of 15.
• the carrageenan-in-water dispersion was heated, while maintaining agitation, to a temperature of 180°F. While it is possible, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, to incorporate the remainder of the Example 2 ingredients (i.e., the molasses and sucrose co-attractants as well as the corn meal filler material) into the agitated dispersion prior to heating the carrageenan-in-water dispersion to 180°F, we prefer to incorporate such remainder of ingredients into such dispersion at the time when the agitated dispersion achieves a temperature of 180°F.
• the remainder of the Example 2 ingredients i.e., the molasses and sucrose co-attractants as well as the corn meal filler material
• the molasses and sucrose co-attractants as well as the corn meal filler material were added to the carrageenan- in-water dispersion and the 180°F temperature was maintained until the resultant dispersion viscosity became noticeably more pronounced.
• the carrageenan-in-water dispersion was allowed to cool to about 150°F.
• the above-mentioned heated insecticide-in- surfactant solution (at 120°F) was incorporated into the 150°F dispersion; and agitation was maintained for an amount of time effective for forming a mixture. (Utilizing a laboratory beaker-sized quantity of such mixture components, the amount of time necessary to thus form a mixture was no more than about 1/2 hour.) Moreover, during such agitation, the temperature of the dispersion was maintained at 150°F to enable the mixture components to be pourable upon formation of the mixture. The thus-formed pourable carrageenan-containing mixture was then poured into a preselected container and was allowed to cool further, to form a gelled insecticidally-active mixture.
• Example 2 The gelled bait of Example 2 was observed to be effective against cockroaches.
• Carrageenan Insect attractant and gelling agent 1.5 Acephate Chemical insecticide 0.5
• the gelled bait of Example 3 was made as follows. Water of moderate temperature, namely about 60 to about 80°F. , was agitated; and into this agitated water was added the carrageenan at such a rate, while maintaining sufficient agitation, so as to form a carrageenan-in-water dispersion.
• the carrageenan-in-water dispersion, while maintaining agitation, was heated to a temperature of 180°F. Upon achieving 180°F. , the temperature was maintained until the dispersion viscosity became noticeably more pronounced. As soon as a noticeable viscosity increase was achieved, while maintaining agitation, the carrageenan-in-water dispersion was allowed to cool to a temperature of about 150°F.
• the acephate insecticide was added to the carrageenan-in-water dispersion. Agitation was maintained for an amount of time effective for forming a mixture. (Utilizing a laboratory beaker-sized quantity of such mixture components, the amount of time necessary to thus form a mixture was no more than about 1/2 of an hour.)
• the pourable insecticidally-active carrageenan- containing dispersion was then poured into a number of preselected containers and thereafter allowed to cool further, to form a respective number of insecticidally-active gelled insect baits.
• the insecticidal properties of the Example 3 gel were established as follows.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Toxicology (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Plant Pathology (AREA)
• Insects & Arthropods (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Dentistry (AREA)
• Agronomy & Crop Science (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
• Fodder In General (AREA)
• Feed For Specific Animals (AREA)
• Catching Or Destruction (AREA)

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Cited By (19)

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Citations (9)

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• 1990
  • 1990-11-13 EP EP19910900569 patent/EP0502959A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1990-11-13 CA CA002069478A patent/CA2069478A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1990-11-13 KR KR1019920701252A patent/KR927003069A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1990-11-13 AU AU78974/91A patent/AU638137B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1990-11-13 WO PCT/US1990/006672 patent/WO1991007972A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1990-11-13 JP JP3500856A patent/JPH05503087A/ja active Pending
  • 1990-11-28 PT PT96025A patent/PT96025A/pt unknown
  • 1990-11-29 GR GR900100829A patent/GR900100829A/el unknown
  • 1990-11-29 CN CN90110320A patent/CN1052591A/zh active Pending

Patent Citations (9)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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