Title - INSECTICIDAL COMPOSITION, AQUEOUS COMPOSITION COMPRISING THE INSECTICIDAL COMPOSITION, AND METHOD FOR COMBATING AND CONTROLLING AN INSECT PEST WITH THE SAME

Abstract

Claim 1: A pesticide composition comprising: (i) 25 to 35% by weight of spiropidion; (ii) 20 to 30% by weight of acetamiprid; and (iii) 2.5 to 10% by weight of a buffering agent, which, based on the total weight of the composition, comprises: (a) 2 to 7% by weight of an alkali metal sulfate and / or an alkaline earth metal sulfate, and (b) 0.1 to 5% by weight of an organic acid. Claim 9: An aqueous composition comprising the pesticide composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising optionally one or more adjuvants or carriers. Claim 11: A method for combating and controlling pests comprising applying to a pest, to a locus of a pest or to a crop of a useful plant susceptible to attack by a pest a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Description

Pesticide compositions The present invention relates to a composition comprising a combination of insecticidal active ingredients, to the preparation of such compositions, and to a method of using such a composition to control pests in useful plant crops. Insecticidal compositions containing combinations of the insecticidal active ingredient spiropidion with another active ingredient are known, for example, from WO 2013 / 107793. However, in certain compositions for use in controlling insects in crops, the chemical instability of the active ingredient (e.g., spiropidion) can be a problem, resulting in a loss of insecticidal performance. Consequently, there remains a strong incentive to develop insecticidal compositions in which, for practical purposes, the active ingredient component retains long-term chemical stability. According to the present invention, a pesticide composition is provided comprising: (i) 25 to 35% by weight of spiropidion; (ii) 20 to 30% by weight of acetamiprid; and (iii) 2.5 to 10% by weight of a buffering agent, which, based on the total weight of the composition, comprises: (a) 2 to 7% by weight of an alkali metal sulfate and / or an alkaline earth metal sulfate, and (b) 0.1 to 5% by weight of an organic acid. The pesticide compositions of the invention, for practical purposes, have a very advantageous level of activity in the control of insect pests in useful plant crops after foliar or soil application. 1593356 of 22 while also maintaining acceptable crop safety (phytotoxicity) results. By activity, it is understood that the compositions of the invention are capable of killing or controlling pests, retarding the growth or reproduction of insects, reducing the insect population and / or reducing the damage to plants caused by insects. Furthermore, it has been surprisingly found for the present invention that the addition of an organic acid (e.g. citric acid) to certain compositions comprising spiropidion and acetamiprid significantly improves the chemical stability of the spiropidion active ingredient component and thus the storage life of compositions containing these two active ingredients. Furthermore, according to the invention, an aqueous composition is provided comprising the pesticide composition according to the invention, which optionally further comprises one or more adjuvants or carriers. Furthermore, according to the invention, a (non-therapeutic) method is provided for combating and controlling pests, comprising applying a composition according to the invention to a pest, a pest locus, or a crop of a useful plant susceptible to pest attack. ([3-(4-chloro-2,6-dimethylphenyl)-8-methoxy-1-methyl-2oxo-1,8-diazaespiro[4.5]dec-3-en-4-yl]ethyl carbonate of spiropidion. CAS No. 1229023-00-0) is known, among others, from WO 2010 / 066780, WO 2018 / 114648 and WO 2018 / 114649. ((1E)-N-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-N'-cyano-N-methylacetamidine of acetamiprid. CAS No. 135410-20-7) is known, among others, from EP 0 456 826. Certain pesticide mixtures comprising spiropidion and 1593356 of 22 acetamiprid as active ingredients are known from document WO 2013 / 107793. Preferably, the compositions according to the invention comprise as the active pesticide ingredient component (i) 28 to 32% by weight of spiropidion and (ii) 22 to 26% by weight of acetamiprid, and more preferably (i) 29 to 31% by weight of spiropidion and (ii) 23 to 25% by weight of acetamiprid. The compositions according to the invention comprise as the active pesticide ingredient component spiropidion and acetamiprid, respectively, in a weight ratio of 5:6 to 7:4, and preferably a weight ratio of 1:1 to 3:2. Preferably, the compositions according to the invention comprise 4.5 to 8% by weight of a buffering agent, which, based on the overall composition, comprises 4 to 6% by weight of an alkali metal sulfate, and 0.5 to 2.5% by weight of an organic acid. More preferably, the compositions according to the invention comprise 4.5 to 6.5% by weight of a buffering agent, which, based on the overall composition, comprises 4 to 6% by weight of an alkali metal sulfate, and 0.5 to 1.5% by weight of an organic acid. More preferably, the compositions according to the invention comprise 4.5 to 8% by weight of a buffering agent, which, based on the overall composition, comprises 4 to 6% by weight of an alkali metal sulfate, and 0.5 to 2.5% by weight of citric acid. More preferably, the compositions according to the invention comprise 4.5 to 6.5% by weight of a buffering agent, which, based on the overall composition, comprises 4 to 6% by weight of an alkali metal sulfate, and 0.5 to 1.5% by weight of citric acid. 1593356 of 22 The buffering agent component of the compositions of the invention may include an alkali metal sulfate or an alkaline earth metal sulfate, or a combination of an alkali metal sulfate and an alkaline earth metal sulfate. Preferably, the alkali metal sulfate used in the compositions of the invention is potassium sulfate or sodium sulfate, and more preferably sodium sulfate. Preferably, the organic acid used according to the present invention is an organic acid containing one, two, or three carboxylic acid groups. More preferably, the organic acid is a tricarboxylic acid (i.e., it contains three carboxylic acid groups). Even more preferably, the organic acid is citric acid, or a salt thereof, such as the sodium or potassium salt of citric acid (sodium citrate or potassium citrate). Most preferably, the organic acid is citric acid. In preferred embodiments, the compositions of the invention further comprise, based on the total weight of the composition (i.e., up to 100% by weight): (iv) 15 to 20% by weight of one or more dispersants; (v) 1 to 5% by weight of an antifoaming agent; and (vi) 15 to 30% by weight of a filler, wherein optionally the filler based on the total weight of the composition comprises: (c) 5 to 15% by weight of a polymethylurea resin charge, and (d) 10 to 15% by weight of a lactose monohydrate charge. In other preferred embodiments, the compositions of the invention may comprise from 1 to 3% by weight of a 1593356 of 22 antifoaming agent, and preferably 1.5 to 2.5% by weight of an antifoaming agent. In other preferred embodiments, the compositions of the invention may comprise from 15 to 25% by weight of a load, and preferably from 18 to 22% by weight of a load. Preferably, the composition of the invention is a water-dispersible granule (WG), which can be defined as a granular, solid formulation that can be rapidly dispersed or dissolved when added to water in a spray tank, thus providing a suspension of fine particles comprising a pesticide active ingredient or ingredients. A water-dispersible granule comprising the composition according to the present invention can be prepared using standard methods. The water-dispersible granule can take the form of an extruded granule or a spray-agglomerated granule. Preferably, in an aqueous composition according to the invention (e.g., a tank mix preparation for application to a crop), the adjuvant is selected from a mineral oil, a vegetable oil, an esterified vegetable oil, a methylated vegetable oil, or an alkyl ester phosphate-based adjuvant. A pesticide adjuvant can be defined as a substance present in a pesticide composition (e.g., a concentrated active ingredient formulation diluted in water in a tank for foliar spray application to a crop) that enhances the performance of the pesticide active ingredient, for example, by facilitating the spreading of the active ingredient on the surface of a leaf or penetration into the leaf of the crop plant. Examples of adjuvant classes that can be used according to the present invention include an oil 1593356 of 22 mineral, a vegetable oil, an esterified vegetable oil, a methylated vegetable oil, or an alkyl ester phosphate-based adjuvant. Commercially available adjuvant products that can be tank-mixed to produce a spray formulation with the composition of the present invention include HASTEN™ (Victorian Chemical Co. Pty. Ltd. - a mixture of an esterified vegetable oil and nonionic surfactants), OCHIMA® (Syngenta - phosphoric acid alkyl ester (EC formulation)), LEDNATM (Polaquimia - an EC formulation comprising a soybean oil methyl ester), Atplus® 463 (CRODA Europe Limited - the 60% paraffin oil with surfactant mixture), Actirob®B (Bayer AG - rapeseed oil methyl ester (esterified vegetable oil)), Destiny®HC (Winfield Solutions LLC - methylated soybean oil), DYNE-AMIC® (HELENA - mixture of vegetable oil (methylated) and organosilicone-based nonionic surfactants), and FS OptiqueTM (GROWMARK, Inc - canola oil methyl ester). If an alkyl ester phosphate-based adjuvant is used in conjunction with the pesticide composition according to the invention (i.e., in a tank mix), the alkyl ester phosphate of the adjuvant is preferably tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate, preferably in combination with ethoxylated sorbitol hexaoleate, for example, OCHIMA® - EC, Syngenta. A dispersant or dispersing agent is typically a surfactant that, when added to a suspension of solid particles in a liquid, facilitates the separation of the particles to prevent sedimentation or agglomeration. Dispersants that can be used according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, lignosulfonate salts (e.g., Ufoxane 3A, Borregard). 1593356 of 22 ACE; Borresperse NA, Borregard AS; Polyfon™ H, Ingevity; Marasperse CBOS-4 powder, LignoTech), naphthalenesulfonic acid salts (e.g., Dispergator B Gran, TFL Ledertechnik GmbH), a copolymer of 2,5-furandione and 2,4,4-trimethylpentene (e.g., Geropon® Ta / 72, Solvay). An antifoaming agent is a chemical additive that reduces and hinders foam formation in a composition, such as a pesticide formulation. Antifoaming agents that can be used according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, polydimethylsiloxanes (e.g., XIAMETER™ ACP-1500, Dow, Inc.; Antifoam MSA, Univar; Xiameter ACP-0001, Dow Brazil; Xiameter ACP-0100, Dow Chemical). The fillers that can be used according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, a polymethylurea resin (Pergopak® M, Huber Engineered Materials; Cropal UF100H, Yoo Sung Chem R&T Co. Ltd), lactose monohydrate (Pharmatose® 200M, DFE Pharma; lactose monohydrate, Foremost Farms USA; ExcipressTM, Armor Pharma; ExcipureTM, Armor Pharma; anhydrous lactose, Kerry Inc). Examples of pests that can be controlled according to the compositions of the present invention include the following: of the order Acarina, for example, Acalitus spp, Aculus spp, Acaricalus spp, Aceria spp, Acarus siro, Amblyomma spp., Argas spp., Boophilus spp., Brevipalpus spp., Bryobia spp, Calipitrimerus spp., Chorioptes spp., Dermanyssus gallinae, Dermatophagoides spp, Eotetranychus spp, Eriophyes spp., Hemitarsonemus spp, Hyalomma spp., Ixodes spp., Olygonychus spp, Ornithodoros spp., Polyphagotarsone latus, Panonychus spp., Phyllocoptruta oleivora, Phytonemus spp, Polyphagotarsonemus spp., Psoroptes spp., Rhipicephalus spp., 1593356 of 22 Rhizoglyphus spp., Sarcoptes spp., Steneotarsonemus spp., Tarsonemus spp. y Tetranychus spp.; of the order Anoplura, por ejemplo, Haematopinus spp., Linognathus spp., Pediculus spp., Pemphigus spp. y Phylloxera spp.; of the order of coleoptera, for example, Agriotes spp., Amphimallon majale, Anomala orientalis, Anthonomus spp., Aphodius spp., Astylus atromaculatus, Ataenius spp., Atomaria linearis, Chaetocnema tibialis, Cerotoma spp., Conoderus spp., Cosmopolites spp., Cotinis nitida, Curculio spp., Cyclocephala spp., Dermestes spp., Diabrotica spp., Diloboderus abderus, Epilachna spp., Eremnus spp., Heteronychus arator, Hypothenemus hampei, Lagria vilosa, Leptinotarsa ​​decemLineata, Lissorhoptrus spp., Liogenys spp., Maecolaspis spp., Maladera castanea, Megascelis spp., Melighetes aeneus, Melolontha spp., Myochrous armatus, Orycaephilus spp., Otiorhynchus spp., Phyllophaga spp., Phlyctinus spp., Popillia spp., Psylliodes spp., Rhyssomatus aubtilis, Rhizopertha spp., Scarabeidae, Sitophilus spp., Sitotroga spp., Somaticus spp., Sphenophorus spp., Sternechus subsignatus, Tenebrio spp., Tribolium spp. and Trogoderma spp.; of the order of diptera, for example, Aedes spp., Anopheles spp., Antherigona soccata, Bactrocea oleae, Bibio hortulanus, Bradysia spp., Calliphora erythrocephala, Ceratitis spp., Chrysomyia spp., Culex spp., Cuterebra spp., Dacus spp., Delia spp., Drosophila melanogaster, Fannia spp., Gastrophilus spp., Geomyza tripunctata, Glossina spp., Hypoderma spp., Hyppobosca spp., Liriomyza spp., Lucilia spp., Melanagromyza spp., Musca spp., Oestrus spp., Orseolia spp., Oscinella frit, Pegomyia hyoscyami, Phorbia spp., 1593356 of 22 Rhagoletis spp., Rivelia quadrifasciata, Scatella spp., Sciara spp., Stomoxys spp., Tabanus spp., Tannia spp. y Onions spp.; of the order of hemiptera, for example, Acanthocoris scabrator, Acrosternum spp, Adelphocoris lineolatus, Amblypelta nitida, Bathycoelia thalassina, Blissus spp, Cimex spp., Clavigralla tomentosicollis, Creontiades spp, Distantiella theobroma, Dichelops furcatus, Dysdercus spp., Edessa spp, Euchistus spp., Eurydema pulchrum, Eurygaster spp., Halyomorpha halys, Horcias nobilellus, Leptocorisa spp., Lygus spp, Margarodes spp, Murgantia histrionic, Neomegalotomus spp, Nesidiocoris tenuis, Nezara spp., Nysius simulans, Oebalus insularis, Piesma spp., Piezodorus spp, Rhodnius spp., Sahlbergella singularis, Scaptocoris castanea, Scotinophara spp. , Thyanta spp , Triatoma spp. and Vatiga illudens; of the order of homoptera, for example, Acyrthosium pisum, Adalges spp, Agalliana ensigera, Agonoscena targionii, Aleurodicus spp, Aleurocanthus spp, Aleurolobus barodensis, Aleurothrixus floccosus, Aleyrodes brassicae, Amarasca biguttula, Amritodus atkinsoni, Aonidiella spp., Aonidiella auranti, Aphididae, Aphis spp., Aspidiotus spp., Aulacorthum solani, Bactericera cockerelli, Bemisia spp, Brachycaudus spp, Brevicoryne brassicae, Cacopsylla spp, Cavariella aegopodii Scop., Ceroplaster spp., Chrysomphalus aonidium, Chrysomphalus dictyospermi, Cicadella spp, Cofana spectra, Cryptomyzus spp, Cicadulina spp, Coccus hesperidum, Dalbulus maidis, Dialeurodes spp, Diaphorina citri, Diuraphis noxia, Dysaphis spp, Empoasca spp, Eriosoma larigerum, Erythroneura spp., Gascardia spp., Glycaspis brimblecombei, Hyadaphis pseudobrassicae, Hyalopterus spp., Hyperomyzus pallidus, Idioscopus clypealis, Jacobiasca lybica, Laodelphax spp., Lecanium corni, Lepidosaphes spp., 1593356 of 22 Lopaphis erysimi, Lyogenys maidis, Macrosiphum spp., Mahanarva spp., Metcalfa pruinosa, Metopolophium dirhodum, Myndus crudus, Myzus spp., Neotoxoptera sp, Nephotettix spp., Nilaparvata spp., Nippolachnus piri Mats, Odonaspis ruthae, Oregma lanigera Zehnter, Parabemisia myricae, Paratrioza cockerelli, Parlatoria spp., Pemphigus spp., Peregrinus maidis, Perkinsiella spp, Phorodon humuli, Phylloxera spp., Planococcus spp., Pseudaulacaspis spp., Pseudococcus spp., Pseudatomoscelis seriatus, Psylla spp., Pulvinaria aethiopica, Quadraspidiotus spp., Quesada gigas, Recilia dorsalis, Rhopalosiphum spp., Saissetia spp., Scaphoideus spp., Schizaphis spp., Sitobion spp., Sogatella furcifera, Spissistilus festinus, Tarophagus Proserpina, Toxoptera spp, Trialeurodes spp, Tridiscus sporoboli, Trionymus spp, Trioza erytreae, Unaspis citri, Zygina flammigera and Zyginidia scutellaris; of the order Hymenoptera, for example, Acromyrmex, Arge spp., Atta spp., Cephus spp., Diprion spp., Diprionidae, Gilpinia polytoma, Hoplocampa spp., Lasius spp., Monomorium pharaonis, Neodiprion spp., Pogonomyrmex spp., Slenopsis invicta, Solenopsis spp. and Vespa spp.; del orden de los isópteros, por ejemplo, Coptotermes spp, Corniternes cumulans, Incisitermes spp, Macrotermes spp, Mastotermes spp, Microtermes spp, Reticulitermes spp.; Solenopsis twin; of the order of Lepidoptera, for example, Acleris spp., Adoxophyes spp., Aegeria spp., Agrotis spp., Alabama argillaceae, Amylois spp., Anticarsia gemmatalis, Archips spp., Argyresthia spp., Argyrotaenia spp., Autographa spp., Bucculatrix thurberiella, Busseola fusca, Cadra cautella, Carposina nipponensis, Chilo spp., Choristoneura spp., Chrysoteuchia topiaria, Clysia ambiguella, Cnaphalocrocis 1593356 of 22 spp., Cnephasia spp., Cochylis spp., Coleophora spp., Colias lesbia, Cosmophila flava, Crambus spp., Crocidolomia binotalis, Cryptophlebia leucotreta, Cydalima perspectalis, Cydia spp., Diaphania perspectalis, Diatraea spp., Diparopsis castanea, Earias spp., Eldana saccharina, Ephestia spp., Epinotia spp., Estigmene acrea, Etiella zinckinella, Eucosma spp., Eupoecilia ambiguella, Euproctis spp., Euxoa spp., Feltia jaculiferia, Grapholita spp., Hedya nubiferana, Heliothis spp., Hellula undalis, Herpetogramma spp., Hyphantria cunea, Keiferia lycopersicella, Lasmopalpus lignosellus, Leucoptera scitella, Lithocollethis spp., Lobesia botrana, Loxostege bifidalis, Lymantria spp., Lyonetia spp., Malacosoma spp., Mamestra brassicae, Manduca sexta, Mythimna spp., Noctua spp., Operophtera spp., Orniodes indica, Ostrinia nubilalis, Pammene spp., Pandemis spp., Panolis flammea, Papaipema nebris, Pectinophora gossypiela, Perileucoptera coffeella, Pseudaletia unipuncta, Phthorimaea operculella, Pieris rapae, Pieris spp., Plutella xylostella, Prays spp., Pseudoplusia spp., Rachiplusia nu, Richia albicosta, Scirpophaga spp., Sesamia spp., Sparganothis spp., Spodoptera spp., Sylepta derogate, Synanthedon spp., Thaumetopoea spp., Tortrix spp., Trichoplusia ni, Tuta absoluta and Yponomeuta spp.;. of the order Mallophaga, for example, Damalinea spp. y Trichodectes spp.; del orden de los ortópteros, por ejemplo, Blatta spp., Blattella spp., Gryllotalpa spp., Leucophaea maderae, Locusta spp., Neocurtilla hexadactyla, Periplaneta spp. , Scapteriscus spp., and Schistocerca spp.; del order Psocoptera, por ejemplo, Liposcelis spp.; of the order Siphonaptera, por ejemplo, Ceratophyllus spp., Ctenocephalides spp. y Xenopsylla cheopis; 1593356 of 22 of the order Thysanoptera, e.g. Calliothrips phaseoli, Frankliniella spp., Heliothrips spp, Hercinothrips spp., Parthenothrips spp, Scirtothrips aurantii, Sericothrips variabilis, Taeniothrips spp., Thrips spp; and / or of the order Thysanura, for example, Lepisma saccharina. Some examples of soil-dwelling pests that can damage a crop in the early stages of plant development are: of the order Lepidoptera, for example, Acleris spp, Aegeria spp., Agrotis spp., Alabama argillaceae, Amylois spp., Autografa spp., Busseola fusca, Cadra cautella, Chilo spp., Crocidolomia binotalis, Diatraea spp., Diparopsis castanea, Elasmopalpus spp., Heliothis spp., Mamestra brassicae, Phthorimaea operculella, Plutella xylostella, Scirpophaga spp., Sesamia spp., Spodoptera spp. and Tortrix spp.; of the order Coleoptera, for example, Agriotes spp., Anthonomus spp., Atomaria linearis, Chaetocnema tibialis, Conotrachelus spp., Cosmopolites spp., Curculio spp., Dermestes spp., Diabrotica spp., Dilopoderus spp., Epilachna spp., Eremnus spp., Heteronychus spp., Lissorhoptrus spp., Melolontha spp., Orycaephilus spp., Otiorhynchus spp., Phlyctinus spp., Popillia spp., Psylliodes spp., Rhizopertha spp., Scarabeidae, Sitotroga spp., Somaticus spp., Tanymecus spp., Tenebrio spp., Tribolium spp., Trogoderma spp. and Zabrus spp.; of the order Orthoptera, for example, Gryllotalpa spp.; of the order of Isoptera, for example, Reticulitermes spp.; of the order of psocoptera, for example, Liposcelis spp.; 1593356 of 22 of the order of the Anoplura, for example, Haematopinus spp., Linognathus spp., Pediculus spp., Pemphigus spp. and Phylloxera spp.; of the order of Homoptera, for example, Eriosoma larigerum; of the order Hymenoptera, for example, Acromyrmex, Atta spp., Cephus spp., Lasius spp., Monomorium pharaonis, Neodiprion spp., Solenopsis spp. and Vespa spp.; of the order Diptera, for example, Tipula spp.; cruciferous flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.), root grubs (Delia spp.), cabbage sheath weevil (Ceutorhynchus spp.) and aphids. In particular, the compositions of the invention can be applied against insects of the order Homoptera (in particular, whiteflies, aphids, psyllids, and armored and soft scale insects), Thysanoptera (thrips), Acarina (mites), and Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths, and their larvae). Preferably, the compositions of the invention can be applied against whiteflies, aphids, and spider mites. Useful plant crops in which the compositions according to the invention can be used include perennial and annual crops such as berry plants, for example, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and strawberries; cereals, for example, barley, corn, millet, oats, rice, rye, sorghum, triticale, and wheat; fiber-producing plants, for example, cotton, flax, hemp, jute, and sisal; field crops, for example, sugar and fodder beets, coffee, hops, mustard, rapeseed (canola), poppy, sugarcane, sunflower, tea, and tobacco; fruit trees, for example, those producing apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, cherries, citrus fruits, nectarines, peaches, pears, and plums; and grasses, for example, 1593356 of 22 common grass, bluegrass, bentgrass, Eremochloa ophiuroides, fescue, Lolium, St. Augustine grass and Zoysia grass; herbs such as basil, borage, chives, coriander, lavender, lovage, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme; pulses, for example, beans, lentils, peas and soybeans; nuts, for example, almonds, cashews, peanuts, hazelnuts, groundnuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts; palm trees, for example, oil palm; ornamental plants, for example, flowers, shrubs and trees; other trees, for example, cacao, coconut, olive and rubber; Vegetables, for example, asparagus, eggplant, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, zucchini, melon, watermelon, okra, onion, leek, pepper, potato, squash, pumpkin, rhubarb, spinach, and tomato; and vines, for example, grapes. The compositions of the invention can also be applied to grass, lawns, and meadows. Preferably, the compositions of the invention can be applied to a crop of a useful plant selected from: - the order Solanaceae (including tomato, potato, chili pepper, bell pepper, tobacco); - the order Cucurbitaceae (including courgette, pumpkin, watermelon, melon, cucumber); - the order Alliaceae (including onion, garlic, leek); - the order Asparagacea (including asparagus); Preferably, the composition of the invention can be applied to a crop of a selected useful plant such as cucumber, pumpkin, pepper, melon, watermelon, tomato, eggplant, zucchini or squash. The rate at which the agrochemical compositions of the invention are applied will depend on the particular type of insect, etc., to be controlled, the degree of control 1593356 of 22 required and the time and method of application, and can be easily determined by a person skilled in the art. In general, the compositions of the invention can be applied at an application rate between 0.005 kilograms / hectare (kg / ha) and approximately 5.0 kg / ha, based on the total amount of the active ingredient in the composition. An application rate between approximately 0.1 kg / ha and approximately 1.5 kg / ha is preferred, with an application rate between approximately 0.3 kg / ha and 0.8 kg / ha being particularly preferred. The pesticide compositions of the present invention can be used as an insecticide for pest control in cotton plants or soybean plants, in particular for the control of insects of the order Homoptera (in particular, whiteflies, aphids, psyllids and armored and soft scales), Thysanoptera (thrips) and Acarina (mites). In particular, the transgenic cotton events that express useful traits that can be used in combination with the compositions of the invention include BXN10211, BXN10215, BXN10222, BXN10224, COT102, COT67B, GHB614, GHB119, LLCotton25, MON531, MON757, MON15985, MON1445, MON88913, MON1076, MON1698, MON88701, T304-40, 281-24-236, 3006-210-23, 31707, 31803, 31808, 42317, and the like. Such combinations of the compositions of the invention with cotton events expressing one or more useful traits can provide longer-lasting field protection, provide a resistance management strategy for target pest control, and reduce farmer inputs with savings in time and monetary value. Furthermore, transgenic soybean plants that express toxins, for example insecticidal proteins such as delta-endotoxins, for example, can be treated with Cry1Ac. 1593356 of 22 (Cry1Ac Bt protein) in combination with the compositions of the invention. Accordingly, this may include transgenic soybean plants comprising event MON87701 (see U.S. Patent No. 8,049,071 and related applications and patents, as well as WO 2014 / 170327 A1 (e.g., see paragraph

[008] reference to Intacta RR2 PROTM soybean)), event MON87751 (Publication of U.S. Patent Application No. 2014 / 0373191), or event DAS-81419 (U.S. Patent No. 8632978 and related applications and patents). Other transgenic soybean plants may include the SYHT0H2 event, HPPD tolerance (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0201860 and related applications and patents), the MON89788 event, glyphosate tolerance (U.S. Patent No. 7,632,985 and related applications and patents), and the MON87708 event, dicamba tolerance (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2011 / 0067134 and related applications and patents), event DP-356043-5, glyphosate and ALS tolerance (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2010 / 0184079 and related applications and patents), event A2704-12, glufosinate tolerance (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2008 / 0320616 and related applications and patents), event DP-305423-1, ALS tolerance (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2008 / 0312082 and related patents and applications), event A5547-127, glufosinate tolerance (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2008 / 0196127 and related applications and patents), event DAS-40278-9, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and aryloxyphenoxypropionate tolerance (see documents WO 2011 / 022469, WO 2011 / 022470, WO 2011 / 022471, and applications 1593356 of 22 and related patents), event 127, tolerance to ALS (WO 2010 / 080829 and related applications and patents), event GTS 40-3-2, tolerance to glyphosate, event DAS-68416-4, tolerance to 2,4dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and glufosinate, event FG72, tolerance to glyphosate and isoxaflutol, event BPS-CV127-9, tolerance to ALS and GU262, tolerance to glufosinate or event SYHT04R, tolerance to HPPD. In an aqueous composition comprising the pesticide composition according to the invention (e.g., a tank mix composition), an additional component comprising a pesticide active ingredient selected from one or more of: Abamectin, Acequinocil, Acetoprol, Acrinathrin, Acinonapyr, Afidopyropene, Afoxalaner, Alanicarb, Allethrin, Alpha-Cypermethrin, Alphamethrin, Amidoflumet, Aminocarb, Azocyclotine, Bensultap, Benzoximate, Benzpirimoxan Betacyfluthrin, Beta-cypermethrin, Bifenazate, Bifenthrin, Binapacryl, Bioallethrin, Bioallethrin (S)-cyclopentyl isomer, Bioresmethrin, Bistrifluron, Broflanilide, Brofluthrinate, Bromophos-ethyl, Buprofecin, Butocarboxim, Cadusafos, Carbaryl, Carbosulfan, Cartap, CAS number: 1472050-04-6, CAS number: 1632218-00-8, CAS number: 180811549-2, CAS number: 2032403-97-5, CAS number: 2044701-44-0, CAS number: 2128706-05-6, CAS number: 2249718-27-0, Chlorantraniliprole, Chlordane, Chlorfenapyr, Chloropralethrin, Chromafenozide, Clempirin, Chloetocarb, Clotianidin, 2-chlorophenyl Nmethylcarbamate (CPMC), Cyanofenphos, Cyantraniliprole, Cyclaniliprole, Cyclobutrifluram, Cycloprotrine, Cycloxaprid, Cycloxaprid, Cienopirafen, Cietpyrafen (or Etpirafen), Cyflumethofen, Cyfluthrin, Cyhalodiamide, Cyhalothrin, Cypermethrin, Cyfenothrin, 1593356 of 22 Ciproflanilida, Ciromazina, Deltametrina, Diafentiurona, Dialifos, Dibrom, Dicloromezotiaz, Diflovidazina, Diflubenzurona, Dimpropiridaz, Dinactina, Dinocap, Dinotefurano, Dioxabenzofos, Emamectina, Empentrina, Epsilon - monfluorotrina, Epsilon-metoflutrina, Esfenvalerato, Etión, Etiprol, Etofenprox, Etoxazol, Famphur, Fenazaquina, Fenflutrina, Fenitrotión, Fenobucarb, Fenotiocarb, Fenoxicarb, Fenpropatrina, Fenpiroximato, Fensulfotión, Fentión, Fentinacetato, Fenvalerato, Fipronil, Flometoquina, Flonicamid, Fluacripirim, Fluazaindolizina, Fluazurón, Flubendiamida, Flubenzimina, Flucitrinato, Flucicloxurón, Flucitrinato, Flunsulfona, Flufenerim, Flufenprox, Flufiprol, Fluhexafon, Flumetrina, Fluopiram, Flupiradifurona, Flupirimina, Fluralaner, Flupentiofenox, Fluvalinato, Fluxametamida, Fostiazato, Gamma-cihalotrina, Gossyplure™, Guadipir, Halofenozida, Halofenozida, Halofenprox, Heptaflutrina, Hexitiazox, Hidrametilnona, Imiciafos, Imidacloprid, Imiprotrina, Indoxacarb, Yodometano,Iprodione, Isocicloseram, Isothioate, Ivermectin, Kappa-bifenthrin, Kappa-tefluthrin, LambdaCyhalothrin, Lepimectin, Lufenuron, Metaflumizone, Metaldehyde, Metam, Methomyl, methoxyfenozide, metofluthrin, Metolcarb, Mexacarbate, Milbemectin, Monfluorothrin, nicofluprol Niclosamide, Nitenpyram, Nithiazine, Omethoate, Oxamyl, Oxazosulfyl, Parathion-ethyl, Permethrin, Phenothrin, Fosfocarb, Piperonyl butoxide, Pirimicarb, Pirimifosetil, Virus de la polihedrosis, Prallethrin, Profenofos, Profenofos, Proflutrin, Propargite, Propetanphos, Propoxur, Protiofos, Protrifenbuto, Piflubumide, Pymetrozine, Piraclofos, Pirafluprol, Pyridabene, Pyridalyl, Pyrifluquinazone, Pyrimidifen, Pyrimoestrobin, Piriprole, Pyriproxyfen, Resmethrin, Sarolaner, Selamectin, 1593356 of 22 Silafluofen, Spinetoram, Spinosad, Spirodiclofen, Spiromesifene, Spirotetramat, Sulfoxaflor, Tebufenozide, Tebufenpyrad, Tebupirimifos, Tefluthrin, Temefos, Tetrachloraniliprol, Tetradifon, Tetramethrin, Tetramethylfluthrin, Tetranactin, Tetraniliprole, Thetacypermethrin, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, thiocyclam, Thiodicarb, Tiofanox, Thiometón, Tiosultap, Thioxazafen, Tolfenpyrad, Toxaphene, Tralomethrin, Transfluthrin, Triazamate, Triazophos, Trichlorfon, Trichloronate, Trichlorfon, Triflumezopyrim, Ticlopyrazoflor, Zeta-Cypermethrin. EXAMPLES: The following examples serve to illustrate the invention and, in particular, demonstrate the surprising effect of using specific amounts of the organic acid citric acid as a buffering component on the stability of spiropidion in a heat storage test, thus demonstrating a viable composition for use in commercial pest control. The compositions according to the present invention are prepared according to known formulation methods, for example, for a water-dispersible (wettable) granule. Referring to Table 1 below, Composition A is a water-dispersible granule composition not according to the invention (without citric acid present), and Composition B is a water-dispersible granule composition according to the invention (with citric acid present). Composition A and Composition B are identical except for the inclusion of citric acid and a slightly lower amount of filler present in Composition B to compensate for the inclusion of the citric acid component. 1593356 of 22 To test the robustness of the chemical stability of the active ingredients (spiropidion and acetamiprid), samples of Composition A and Composition B were suspended in 50% by weight water and stored at 54°C for 2 weeks. Table 1: Component Composition A (% by weight) Composition B (% by weight) Spiropidion 30 30 Acetamiprid 24 24 Sodium sulfate 5 5 Citric acid - 1 Dispersant 17 17 Antifoaming agent 2 2 Filler 22 21 As can be seen in Table 2 below, after suspension, Composition B according to the invention remains within a 5% degradation limit for spiropidion, which is considered acceptable, whereas Composition A not according to the invention refers to unacceptable degradation of spiropidion (greater than 20% loss). Table 2: Composition A (not according to the invention) Composition B % by weight remaining after 2 weeks at 54°C (Spiropidion) 23.9 28.7 % by weight remaining after 2 weeks at 54°C (Acetamiprid) 23.8 23.9 1593356 of 22 % degradation (Spiropidion) - 20.33 - 4.33 % degradation (Acetamiprid) - 0.83 - 0.42 It is hereby stated that, as of this date, the best method known to the applicant for putting the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention. 1593356 of 22 Santiago Ferrer Reyes - 20142227887 Digitally signed by PORTALTRAM ITES - INPI Date: 2021.11.25 10:30:49 -03:00 Reason: Digitally Signed by INPI Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina 1593356

Claims

1. An insecticidal composition characterized in that it comprises: (i) 25 to 35% by weight of spiropidion; (ii) 20 to 30% by weight of acetamiprid; and (iii) 2.5 to 10% by weight of a buffering agent which, based on the total weight of the insecticidal composition, comprises: (a) 2 to 7% by weight of an alkali metal sulfate and / or an alkaline earth metal sulfate, and (b) 0.1 to 5% by weight of an organic acid. 19 Claims follow