Synergistic and residual pesticidal compositions containing plant essential oils

Abstract

Synergistic and residual pesticidal compositions containing synergistic and residual mixtures of plant essential oils and / or their constituents, plant essential oils and / or their constituents in admixture with known active pesticidal compounds or plant essential oils and / or their constituents in admixture with other compounds not previously used as active ingredients in pesticidal formulations, such as, for example, so called signal transduction modulators. In addition, the present invention is directed to a method for controlling pests by applying a pesticidally effective amount of the above synergistic and residual pesticidal compositions to a locus where pest control is desired.

Description

[0001] This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 094,463, filed Jul. 28, 1998, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 100,613, filed Sep. 16, 1998, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 122,803, filed Mar. 3, 1999, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates, in general, to pesticidal compositions and, in particular, synergistic and residual pesticidal compositions containing plant essential oils and / or their constituents. In one aspect, the present invention relates to synergistic pesticidal compositions containing synergistic mixtures of plant essential oils and / or their constituents. In another aspect, the present invention relates to synergistic pesticidal compositions containing certain plant essential oils and / or their constituents in admixture with known active pesticidal compounds. In another aspect, the present invention relates to...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] A primary object of the present invention is to provide novel pesticidal compositions that contain at least one plant essential oil, derivatives thereof, and / or their constituents as a synergist and at least one known conventional pesticidal compound.

[0014] A further object of the present invention is to provide pesticidal compositions wherein the active synergistic compositions of the present invention can be employed in a reduced amount and still achieve the desired pest control.

[0015] A further object of the present invention is to provide novel, residual pesticidal compositions that contain admixtures of certain compounds, natural or synthetic, with certain plant essential oils and / or their constituents that act to residualize the toxic effects of pesticidal compositions containing the plant essential oils and / or their constituents.

[0018] A further object of the present invention is to provide a safe, non-toxic pesticidal composition and method that will not harm the environment.

[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a pesticidal composition and method that has a pleasant scent and that can be applied without burdensome safety precautions.

[0020] Still another object to of the present invention is to provide a pesticidal composition and method as described above which can be inexpensively produced or employed.

Problems solved by technology

They have annually cost humans billions of dollars in crop losses and in the expense of keeping them under control.

For example, the losses caused by pests in agricultural environments include decreased crop yield, reduced crop quality, and increased harvesting costs.

However, it has become increasingly apparent that the widespread use of synthetic chemical pesticides has caused detrimental environmental effects that are harmful to humans and other animals.

For instance, the public has become concerned about the amount of residual chemicals that persist in food, ground water and the environment, and that are toxic, carcinogenic or otherwise incompatible to humans, domestic animals and / or fish.

As a result, elimination of effective pesticides from the market has limited economical and effective options for controlling pests.

For example, they require frequent treatments because they readily decompose when exposed to direct sunlight.

Moreover, the supply of pyrethrins is limited and substantial processing is required to bring the natural product to market, and large-scale production is very expensive.

Unless pyrethrins are formulated with a synergist, most initially paralyzed insects recover to once again become pests.

Synergists are required in pesticidal formulations containing pyrethrum, for example, because target insects produce an enzyme (cytochrome P-450) that attacks pyrethrum and breaks it down, thereby making it effective in knocking an insect down, but ineffective for killing in many cases.

Pyrethroids are not as safe as pyrethrins, however, and disadvantageously persist in the environment for longer periods.

Further, many insects disadvantageously develop resistance to pyrethroids.

Many natural products used as insecticides, including plant essential oils, do not provide adequate control of pests in that they are not very stable and break down quickly, thereby failing to provide toxic residual properties.

Products such as pyrethrum, although highly toxic to pests on contact when used properly in pesticidal formulations, are not effective pesticides for many applications because they lack residual properties, thereby increasing the frequency and cost of pesticide applications, as well as increased risk and exposure to the environment.