A bait and a method of making the same

Abstract

The application provides a bait and a preparation method thereof. The bait of the application is prepared from raw materials including bait, active ingredient and film forming agent. The bait includes at least one of peanut powder, soybean powder and milk powder; the active ingredient is one of indoxacarb, fipronil and hydramethylnone; and the film forming agent is a polycarbonate-polyethylene glycol block modified copolymer. After the bait is wetted by rain, the taste of the bait does not decrease, the smell does not disappear, and the bait does not affect the attraction effect on the red imported fire ant. The application further provides a preparation method of the bait.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of insecticide technology, specifically relating to a bait and its preparation method. Background Technology

[0002] Red imported fire ants are a global pest, posing a serious threat to agriculture, ecosystems, and human health. Developing a highly effective, safe, and environmentally friendly bait for controlling their reproduction and spread is a current research focus. In the chemical control of red imported fire ants, baiting offers advantages such as ease of use, safety, precise targeting, and significant effectiveness, achieving the goal of eradicating an entire colony. The method involves placing the bait around the nest in areas where worker ants are active. Utilizing the red imported fire ants' feeding, tidying, and cleaning habits, the bait is transferred to the entire colony, thus killing the entire colony.

[0003] However, existing red imported fire ant baits must be kept dry before application and do not possess the characteristic of being resistant to rain. This is because most of the baits in current red imported fire ant baits are materials that are easily soaked and mushy in rainwater, such as peanut powder, milk powder, and soybean powder. After being wetted by rain, the taste of the bait will deteriorate and the aroma will dissipate, seriously affecting its effectiveness in attracting red imported fire ants.

[0004] Therefore, it is of great significance to develop a new type of red imported fire ant bait that is resistant to rain washout. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to at least solve one of the aforementioned technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the present invention provides a bait that does not lose its taste or aroma when wetted by rainwater, and does not affect its attraction effect on red imported fire ants.

[0006] The present invention also provides a method for preparing bait.

[0007] The first aspect of the present invention provides a bait, the raw materials for which include an active ingredient and a film-forming agent, wherein the active ingredient is one of indoxacarb, fipronil and flufenoxuron, and the film-forming agent is a polycarbonate-polyethylene glycol block modified copolymer.

[0008] One of the technical solutions of the present invention concerning bait has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0009] Common microencapsulation technology involves coating the surface of an object using in-situ polymerization or interfacial polymerization. Since baits are often rough-surfaced particles or powders, coating them is difficult and they easily break. Therefore, this technology is only used to encapsulate the insecticidal active ingredients in baits, and even then, it accounts for less than one percent of the total bait composition. It also has no effect on rain resistance.

[0010] To address these limitations, this invention utilizes a film-forming agent and nanocarrier technology to encapsulate the insecticidal active ingredients of the red imported fire ant bait along with the bait. This film-forming agent, or nanomaterial, is a novel polymer with oxygen-absorbing and self-crosslinking capabilities. It forms a stable covering film on the surface of the red imported fire ant bait, protecting it from rainwater washout while simultaneously allowing it to emit its scent to attract red imported fire ants.

[0011] In the preparation of raw materials, the film-forming agent, polycarbonate-polyethylene glycol block modified copolymer, is a novel polymeric nanocarrier material with oxygen absorption and self-crosslinking function, exhibiting good adhesion and film-forming properties.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the polycarbonate-polyethylene glycol block-modified copolymer is CZ-40.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the amount of active ingredient added to the raw materials is 0.05wt% to 0.2wt%.

[0014] In baits for killing red imported fire ants, the active ingredient is the key component responsible for killing the ants. If the concentration of the active ingredient is below 0.05 wt%, the bait may not be effective in killing the ants and may not be able to effectively control the population. If the concentration of the active ingredient is above 0.2 wt%, it may have unnecessary toxic effects on non-target organisms and cause harm to the environment and other beneficial organisms. Using excessive amounts of active ingredient may increase the cost of bait preparation.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the amount of film-forming agent added to the raw materials is 10wt% to 20wt%.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the raw materials also include preservatives.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the amount of preservative added to the raw materials is 0.3 wt% to 1 wt%.

[0018] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the preservative includes at least one of ammonium benzoate and sodium benzoate.

[0019] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the raw materials also include a thickener.

[0020] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the amount of thickener added to the raw materials is 1 wt% to 5 wt%.

[0021] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the thickener includes carboxymethyl cellulose.

[0022] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the raw materials also include fillers.

[0023] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the amount of filler added is expressed as a percentage by weight, excluding the active ingredient, film-forming agent, feed, preservative and thickener.

[0024] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the bait includes at least one of peanut powder, soybean powder, and milk powder.

[0025] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the raw materials for preparation are:

[0026] Active ingredient: 0.05wt%~0.2wt%;

[0027] Film-forming agent 10wt%~20wt%;

[0028] Preservatives: 0.3wt%–1wt%;

[0029] Thickener 1wt%~5wt%;

[0030] Feed content: 40wt%-60wt%;

[0031] The remainder is filler.

[0032] A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for preparing bait, comprising the following steps:

[0033] S1: Mix and granulate the raw materials except for the film-forming agent in the preparation raw materials;

[0034] S2: Spray the film-forming agent onto the surface of the product from step S1, let it stand to form a film, and obtain the bait.

[0035] One technical solution of the present invention concerning the preparation method of bait has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0036] The preparation method of the present invention does not require expensive equipment and complex process control, the reaction conditions are not harsh, the raw materials are readily available, the production cost is low, and it is easy to industrialize. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The following are specific embodiments of the present invention, and the technical solutions of the present invention will be further described in conjunction with the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0038] In some embodiments of the present invention, a bait is provided, the raw materials for which include an active ingredient and a film-forming agent. The active ingredient is one of indoxacarb, fipronil, and flufenoxuron, and the film-forming agent is a polycarbonate-polyethylene glycol block modified copolymer.

[0039] Understandably, common microencapsulation technology involves coating the surface of an object using in-situ polymerization or interfacial polymerization. Since baits are mostly rough-surfaced particles or powders, coating them is difficult and they are easily ruptured. Therefore, this technology is only used to encapsulate the insecticidal active ingredients in baits, and its proportion is less than one percent of the total bait content. It has no effect on rain resistance.

[0040] To address these limitations, this invention utilizes a film-forming agent and nanocarrier technology to encapsulate the insecticidal active ingredients of the red imported fire ant bait along with the bait. This film-forming agent, or nanomaterial, is a novel polymer with oxygen-absorbing and self-crosslinking capabilities. It forms a stable covering film on the surface of the red imported fire ant bait, protecting it from rainwater washout while simultaneously allowing it to emit its scent to attract red imported fire ants.

[0041] In the preparation of raw materials, the film-forming agent, polycarbonate-polyethylene glycol block modified copolymer, is a novel polymeric nanocarrier material with oxygen absorption and self-crosslinking function, exhibiting good adhesion and film-forming properties.

[0042] In some embodiments of the present invention, the polycarbonate-polyethylene glycol block-modified copolymer is CZ-40.

[0043] In some embodiments of the present invention, the amount of active ingredient added to the raw materials is 0.05wt% to 0.2wt%.

[0044] In baits for killing red imported fire ants, the active ingredient is the key component responsible for killing the ants. If the concentration of the active ingredient is below 0.05 wt%, the bait may not be effective in killing the ants and may not be able to effectively control the population. If the concentration of the active ingredient is above 0.2 wt%, it may have unnecessary toxic effects on non-target organisms and cause harm to the environment and other beneficial organisms. Using excessive amounts of active ingredient may increase the cost of bait preparation.

[0045] In some embodiments of the present invention, the amount of film-forming agent added to the raw materials is 10wt% to 20wt%.

[0046] In baits for killing red imported fire ants, the film-forming agent is a key component for enhancing the bait's persistence. If the amount of film-forming agent added is less than 10 wt%, it may result in poor coating properties, affecting the bait's effectiveness. Insufficient film-forming agent may prevent the bait from remaining stable in the environment for an extended period, affecting its persistence. If the amount of film-forming agent is more than 20 wt%, it may cause the bait to become too hard or difficult to dissolve, making it unacceptable to ants. Excessive film-forming agent may increase the cost of bait preparation and may not significantly improve the bait's effectiveness.

[0047] In some embodiments of the present invention, the raw materials for preparation also include preservatives.

[0048] In some embodiments of the present invention, the amount of preservative added to the raw materials is 0.3 wt% to 1 wt%.

[0049] In some embodiments of the present invention, the preservative includes at least one of ammonium benzoate and sodium benzoate.

[0050] In some embodiments of the present invention, the raw materials also include a thickener.

[0051] In some embodiments of the present invention, the amount of thickener added to the raw materials is 1 wt% to 5 wt%.

[0052] In some embodiments of the present invention, the thickener includes carboxymethyl cellulose.

[0053] In some embodiments of the present invention, the raw materials for preparation also include fillers.

[0054] In some embodiments of the present invention, the amount of filler added is expressed as a percentage by weight, excluding the active ingredient, film-forming agent, feed, preservative and thickener.

[0055] In some embodiments of the present invention, the bait includes at least one of peanut powder, soybean powder, and milk powder.

[0056] In some embodiments of the present invention, the raw materials for preparation are:

[0057] Active ingredient: 0.05wt%~0.2wt%;

[0058] Film-forming agent 10wt%~20wt%;

[0059] Preservatives: 0.3wt%–1wt%;

[0060] Thickener 1wt%~5wt%;

[0061] Feed content: 40wt%-60wt%;

[0062] The remainder is filler.

[0063] In some embodiments of the present invention, a method for preparing bait is provided, comprising the following steps:

[0064] S1: Mix and granulate the raw materials except for the film-forming agent in the preparation raw materials;

[0065] S2: Spray the film-forming agent onto the surface of the product from step S1, let it stand to form a film, and obtain the bait.

[0066] It is understood that the preparation method of the present invention does not require expensive equipment and complex process control, the reaction conditions are not harsh, the raw materials are readily available, the production cost is low, and it is easy to industrialize.

[0067] The technical solution of the present invention will be better understood below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0068] It should be noted that all reagents used in the examples were obtained from commercially available sources.

[0069] Film-forming agent CZ-40 was purchased from Changzhou Chemical.

[0070] Example 1

[0071] A bait preparation, the raw materials of which are:

[0072] Indoxacarb: 0.1 wt%,

[0073] CZ-40: 15wt%,

[0074] Ammonium benzoate: 0.5 wt%.

[0075] CMC: 3wt%

[0076] Peanut powder: 40wt%

[0077] Soy flour: 20wt%

[0078] Flour: Add to 100 wt%.

[0079] The preparation method is as follows:

[0080] S1: Mix and granulate the raw materials except for the film-forming agent CZ-40;

[0081] S2: Spray CZ-40 onto the surface of the product from step S1, let it stand for 3 hours to form a film, and obtain the bait.

[0082] Example 2

[0083] A bait preparation, the raw materials of which are:

[0084] Fipronil: 0.05 wt%.

[0085] CZ-40: 18wt%,

[0086] Ammonium benzoate: 0.5 wt%.

[0087] CMC: 3wt%

[0088] Peanut powder: 30wt%,

[0089] Milk powder: 20 wt%,

[0090] Flour: Add to 100 wt%.

[0091] The preparation method is as follows:

[0092] S1: Mix and granulate the raw materials except for the film-forming agent CZ-40;

[0093] S2: Spray CZ-40 onto the surface of the product from step S1, let it stand for 3 hours to form a film, and obtain the bait.

[0094] Example 3

[0095] A bait preparation, the raw materials of which are:

[0096] Fluorohydrazone: 0.05 wt%.

[0097] CZ-40: 20wt%,

[0098] Sodium benzoate: 1 wt%.

[0099] CMC: 5wt%

[0100] Milk powder: 20 wt%,

[0101] Soy flour: 35wt%,

[0102] Flour: Add to 100 wt%.

[0103] The preparation method is as follows:

[0104] S1: Mix and granulate the raw materials except for the film-forming agent CZ-40;

[0105] S2: Spray CZ-40 onto the surface of the product from step S1, let it stand for 3 hours to form a film, and obtain the bait.

[0106] Comparative Example 1

[0107] A bait preparation, the raw materials of which are:

[0108] Indoxacarb: 0.1 wt%,

[0109] Ammonium benzoate: 0.5 wt%.

[0110] CMC: 3wt%

[0111] Peanut powder: 40wt%

[0112] Soy flour: 20wt%

[0113] Flour: Add to 100 wt%.

[0114] The preparation method is as follows:

[0115] The raw materials are mixed and granulated to obtain the bait.

[0116] Comparative Example 2

[0117] A bait preparation, the raw materials of which are:

[0118] Fipronil: 0.05 wt%.

[0119] Ammonium benzoate: 0.5 wt%.

[0120] CMC: 3wt%

[0121] Peanut powder: 30wt%,

[0122] Milk powder: 20 wt%,

[0123] Flour: Add to 100 wt%.

[0124] The preparation method is as follows:

[0125] The raw materials are mixed and granulated to obtain the bait.

[0126] Comparative Example 3

[0127] A bait preparation, the raw materials of which are:

[0128] Fluorohydrazone: 0.05 wt%.

[0129] Sodium benzoate: 1 wt%.

[0130] CMC: 5wt%

[0131] Milk powder: 20 wt%,

[0132] Soy flour: 35wt%,

[0133] Flour: Add to 100 wt%.

[0134] The preparation method is as follows:

[0135] The raw materials are mixed and granulated to obtain the bait.

[0136] Test Example 1

[0137] The baits from Examples 1, 2, and 3 and Comparative Examples 1, 2, and 3 were used in a field efficacy comparison test for controlling red imported fire ants. Each example and comparative example had three replicates, with 8-12 ant nests in each replicate, and a blank control was set up.

[0138] This test was conducted in strict accordance with the People's Republic of China National Standard GB / T 17980.135-2009 "Guidelines for Field Efficacy Tests of Pesticides (II) Insecticides for the Control of Red Imported Fire Ants".

[0139] The test site was located at Yongfa Garden in Banfu Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province.

[0140] The experimental crop was seedlings.

[0141] The test site was irrigated regularly at 10 a.m. every day using a drip irrigation system. During the application of the pesticide, there was a process of rainwater washing away the pesticide. The weather during the test period was mainly light rain and showers, in order to compare the rainwater washing-off effect of the red imported fire ant bait of the present invention.

[0142] Apply 25g of the pesticide to each nest. One day before application, investigate the number of live ant nests and worker ants. Every 7 days after application, investigate the control effect on live ant nests and worker ants. On the 35th day after application, dig up the ant nests and investigate the control effect on the ant colony.

[0143] A total of 6 investigations were conducted on the control effects of live ant nests and worker ants, and 1 investigation was conducted on the control effects of ant colonies.

[0144] The experimental results are shown in Table 1.

[0145] Table 1

[0146]

[0147] Note: The efficacy (%) in the table above is the average of each replicate.

[0148] The data were analyzed using the Duncan's New Multiple Range (DMRT) method. Data in the same column with the same uppercase letter indicates that there is no significant difference at the 0.01 significance level.

[0149] The presence of the same lowercase letter after the data in the same column indicates that the difference is not significant at the 0.05 significance level.

[0150] As shown in Table 1, a survey was conducted 35 days after the application of the medication. The control effect of Examples 1, 2, and 3 on red imported fire ant nests was around 96%, and the overall control effect was all above 85%.

[0151] The control effect of Comparative Examples 1, 2, and 3 on red imported fire ant nests was only about 50%, and the overall control effect was only about 60%. This shows that the red imported fire ant bait of the present invention has the ability to withstand rain erosion in habitats that are regularly watered every day, and still shows excellent control effect on red imported fire ants.

[0152] Test Example 2

[0153] 100g of red imported fire ant bait was weighed out for each of Examples 1, 2, and 3 and Comparative Examples 1, 2, and 3 and spread evenly on an 800-mesh sieve. The bait was then sprayed evenly for 3 minutes to simulate the state of the bait after being wetted by light rain.

[0154] Then, 3g of the moistened sample was weighed and placed 10cm away from the ant nest. The transport rate of the bait by the red imported fire ants was counted after 1h, 3h, and 1d. The experimental results are shown in Table 2.

[0155] Table 2

[0156]

[0157]

[0158] As shown in Table 2, the carrying rate of Examples 1, 2, and 3 was about 46% after 1 hour, reached 75% after 3 hours, and was over 80% after 1 day, indicating a good attraction effect on red imported fire ants.

[0159] In contrast, in Comparative Examples 1, 2, and 3, the rate of red imported fire ants being moved after 1 hour was less than 20%, while after 3 hours and 1 day, the rate of moving fire ants was almost zero, with the rate still below 20%, indicating a poor attraction effect on red imported fire ants.

[0160] This demonstrates that the red imported fire ant bait of the present invention has good film toughness after being washed by rainwater, is not easily broken, has good resistance to rainwater washing, and still maintains a good attraction effect on red imported fire ants after being wetted by rainwater.

[0161] This invention employs a novel nanocarrier material to encapsulate red imported fire ant bait, providing a preparation method that effectively encapsulates the insecticidal active ingredients and the bait as a whole, thus solving the technical challenge of encapsulating the bait as a whole.

[0162] The preparation method of the present invention has a fast film formation speed at room temperature, and the film has good toughness, is not easy to break, and has good resistance to rain erosion.

[0163] In addition, the nanocarrier coating method is a low-energy coating method that does not require a chemical heating step, and the preparation method is simple and easy to produce.

[0164] The bait of this invention effectively solves the problem of bait being susceptible to erosion by rainwater. Specifically:

[0165] When in contact with rainwater, the covering film on its surface effectively prevents the bait from getting wet. Compared with ordinary red imported fire ant baits, the red imported fire ant bait of this invention is less affected by weather conditions when applied. Even when applied in light rain, it still attracts red imported fire ants and its taste and smell are not affected by rainwater. Furthermore, the red imported fire ant bait of this invention is not affected by scenarios such as nurseries or parks where vegetation is frequently drip-irrigated, and it achieves good control effects in various red imported fire ant habitats.

[0166] The present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bait, characterized in that, The preparation materials include bait, active ingredients, and film-forming agents. The bait includes at least one of peanut powder, soybean powder, and milk powder. The active ingredient is one of indoxacarb, fipronil, and flufenoxuron. The film-forming agent is a polycarbonate-polyethylene glycol block modified copolymer. The amount of the active ingredient added to the preparation materials is 0.05wt%~0.2wt%, and the amount of the film-forming agent added to the preparation materials is 10wt%~20wt%.

2. The bait according to claim 1, characterized in that, The raw materials for preparation also include a preservative, and the amount of the preservative added to the raw materials is 0.3wt%~1wt%.

3. The bait according to claim 2, characterized in that, The preservative includes at least one of ammonium benzoate and sodium benzoate.

4. The bait according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The raw materials for preparation also include a thickener, and the amount of the thickener added to the raw materials for preparation is 1wt% to 5wt%.

5. The bait according to claim 4, characterized in that, The thickener includes carboxymethyl cellulose.

6. The bait according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The raw materials used in the preparation also include fillers.

7. The bait according to claim 6, characterized in that, The filler includes flour.

8. A method for preparing a bait as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Mix and granulate the raw materials other than the film-forming agent in the preparation raw materials; S2: The film-forming agent is sprayed onto the surface of the product from step S1, and after standing, a film is formed to obtain the bait.

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