Insecticide for use in agriculture and horticulture

Abstract

To provide an insecticide for use in agriculture and horticulture that is inexpensive, safe for humans and environmentally friendly, enables reduction of the risk of phytotoxicity, and further exhibits reduced risk of acquiring resistance; and a method of pest control by means of the insecticide for use in agriculture and horticulture.SOLUTION: An insecticide for use in agriculture and horticulture contains smectite as an active ingredient.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to pesticides for agricultural and horticultural use and pest control methods.

Background Art

[0002] When the leaves of agricultural and horticultural crops are damaged by sap-sucking pests, the sucked parts become small white spots, and if the damage progresses further, the white spots may spread over the entire leaf and then turn brown and wither. For such damage caused by pests, various techniques for controlling pests from agricultural and horticultural crops have been proposed. As typical techniques, there are insecticidal techniques for exterminating pests from agricultural and horticultural crops, repellent techniques for preventing pests from approaching agricultural and horticultural crops, attracting techniques for attracting pests to pest control means, and the like. Further, as a new approach other than the above, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a pest control agent for controlling pests and diseases, which contains a layered silicate mineral and a solvent. This pest control agent is a control technique (attraction component suppression technique) for suppressing the volatilization of aroma components that attract the peach fruit fly, which is a pest, by forming a dense planar coating film of the pest control agent on the fruit surface.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] As the insecticidal technology, the technology using chemical pesticides such as organophosphorus insecticides has been widely spread. Organophosphorus insecticides bind to cholinesterase in pests to inhibit its action, causing acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, to accumulate without being decomposed and resulting in abnormal neurotransmission, thereby exerting an insecticidal effect. Many compounds having such insecticidal activity have been identified so far. On the other hand, particularly spider mites are known as pests that easily acquire drug resistance to insecticides, and there are already species that have acquired resistance to many drugs. Therefore, the spraying of insecticides (acaricides) against spider mites is recommended to be used 1 to 2 times a year per the same crop from the viewpoint of resistance avoidance, and it is common to use insecticides with different mechanisms of action in rotation.

[0005] Furthermore, while the above-mentioned organophosphorus insecticides exhibit a strong insecticidal effect, poisoning symptoms may appear if the user inhales them, etc., and the development of safer and more effective insecticides is underway. Under such circumstances, insecticides (stomatal blockers) that physically exert an insecticidal effect by blocking the stomata of pests instead of chemical pesticides have been developed. For such stomatal blockers, for example, machine oil, formulated oil, starch solution, etc. are used. In particular, stomatal blockers have the merit that they are less likely to acquire resistance compared to chemical pesticides because they adhere to pests and block the stomata to physically exert an insecticidal effect. However, many stomatal blockers do not have ovicidal activity, and are likely to cause phytotoxicity to agricultural and horticultural crops. For example, small black spots may appear on the leaves, or oil-soaked stains may be observed.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an insecticide for agricultural and horticultural use that is inexpensive, safe for the human body, has a low environmental load, can reduce the risk of phytotoxicity occurrence, and further has a low risk of acquiring resistance. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling pests using the above-mentioned insecticide for agricultural and horticultural use.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In view of the above problems, the present inventors have conducted intensive studies. As a result, when smectite, which is highly safe for the human body and has a track record of use in cosmetics, was sprayed as an aqueous dispersion on horticultural crops damaged by spider mites, it was found that spider mites could be effectively killed, and that the dispersion also had ovicidal activity against spider mite eggs. The present invention has been completed based on these findings.

[0008] The above problems of the present invention have been solved by the following means. [1] An insecticide for horticulture containing smectite as an active ingredient. [2] The insecticide for horticulture according to [1], wherein the insecticide contains a thickener. [3] The insecticide for horticulture according to [1] or [2], wherein the insecticide has ovicidal activity. [4] The insecticide for horticulture according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the smectite is one or more selected from montmorillonite, beidellite, nontronite, saponite, hectorite, sauconite, and stibnite. [5] The insecticide for horticulture according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the insecticidal target is one or more of mites, nematodes, insects, spiders, and mollusks. [6] The insecticide for horticulture according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the insecticidal target is one or more of spider mites, rust mites, dust mites, russet mites, thrips, aphids, ladybugs, bedbugs, and whiteflies. [7] The insecticide for horticulture according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the horticultural crops to be applied are selected from fruit trees, vegetables, grains, flowers / foliage plants, trees, and tea. [8] An insecticidal method comprising treating horticultural crops or soil with the insecticide for horticulture according to any one of [1] to [7]. 〔9〕 The insecticide for agricultural and horticultural use according to any one of the above 〔1〕 to 〔7〕 is a dispersion containing smectite, and the insecticidal method according to the above 〔8〕 includes spraying the dispersion on agricultural and horticultural crops or soil.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] The insecticide for agricultural and horticultural use of the present invention is inexpensive, has little burden on the human body and the environment, reduces the risk of phytotoxicity while reducing the risk of resistance acquisition, and can effectively control pests. Also, according to the insecticidal method of the present invention, pests can be effectively controlled by using the insecticide for agricultural and horticultural use.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] [Insecticide for Agricultural and Horticultural Use] The first aspect of the present invention is an insecticide for agricultural and horticultural use having smectite as an active ingredient (hereinafter, also referred to as "the insecticide of the present invention"). In the present invention or this specification, "for agricultural and horticultural use" means being used for agricultural and horticultural crops (agricultural crops, horticultural crops). Also, in the present invention or this specification, "insecticide" means including "acaricide".

[0012] (Mode of Action) The insecticide of the present invention exhibits physical insecticidal activity by adhering to pests in the form of a dispersion due to the high swelling property and viscosity of the active ingredient, smectite, and causing starvation or the like by incapacitating or significantly restricting their behavior. Further, the insecticide of the present invention also functions as a spiracle blocker for pests in the form of a dispersion. Therefore, the insecticide of the present invention can reduce the risk of acquiring resistance like chemical pesticides. Furthermore, since the viscosity of the insecticide of the present invention is lost when the moisture evaporates and dries, it can be naturally peeled off from the leaf surface or the like together with the pests while remaining attached to the pests starved to death as described above. Furthermore, the insecticide of the present invention has ovicidal activity. Although the specific mechanism by which the ovicidal activity is exhibited is not clear, for example, it is presumed that the insecticide of the present invention is sprayed as a dispersion containing smectite, and after the dispersion adheres to the eggs of pests, the dispersion or smectite exerts ovicidal activity by depriving the eggs of pests of moisture.

[0013] (Smectite) In the insecticide of the present invention, smectite acts as an active ingredient. The type of the smectite is not particularly limited and can be appropriately set according to the purpose. Also, natural smectite or synthetic smectite can be used. From the viewpoint of supplying raw materials at a lower cost, natural smectite is preferably used, and from the viewpoint of having a low content of impurities, synthetic smectite is preferably used. The synthetic smectite may be a smectite having a hydroxyl group at the crystal terminal, or a fluorinated smectite in which the hydroxyl group is substituted with a fluorine atom. The synthetic smectite can be produced by a conventional method. The smectite is preferably one or more selected from montmorillonite, beidellite, nontronite, saponite, hectorite, fluorohectorite, sauconite, and stibnite, and more preferably one or more selected from saponite, hectorite, fluorohectorite, and stibnite. Examples of commercially available products include, for example, Smeton - SA (trade name, synthetic saponite, manufactured by Kunimine Industries Co., Ltd.), Kunipia (purified bentonite, manufactured by Kunimine Industries Co., Ltd.), Neo Kunibond (Na - type bentonite, manufactured by Kunimine Industries Co., Ltd.), Kunibond (Ca - type bentonite, manufactured by Kunimine Industries Co., Ltd.), and the like. In addition, it is also possible to make the pesticide contain smectite by adding bentonite to an existing pesticide.

[0014] The interlayer cation species of the smectite are not particularly limited. Considering easy swelling property, sodium ions or lithium ions are preferably used. By using sodium ions or lithium ions as the interlayer cations, for example, when smectite is dispersed in a liquid medium (preferably an aqueous medium), excellent swelling property can be imparted, and dispersion stability can also be imparted. From the viewpoint of improving the swelling property during dispersion, the cation exchange capacity (CEC: Cation Exchange Capacity) of the smectite is preferably 15 meq (milliequivalent) / 100 g or more, more preferably 20 meq / 100 g or more, still more preferably 25 meq / 100 g or more. Usually, the cation exchange capacity of the smectite that can be used in the present invention is 250 meq / 100 g or less.

[0015] When the smectite, which is the active ingredient of the pesticide of the present invention, is made into an aqueous dispersion with a concentration of 2% by mass (solid content concentration), at 25 °C, the viscosity is preferably 10 mPa·s or more, more preferably 100 mPa·s or more, still more preferably 500 mPa·s or more, and even more preferably 1000 mPa·s or more. From the viewpoint of the handleability as a liquid, the viscosity is preferably 200000 mPa·s or less, more preferably 100000 mPa·s or less, still more preferably 10000 mPa·s or less, and even more preferably 5000 mPa·s or less. The above viscosity can be, for example, the measured value 60 seconds after the start of rotation when using a Brookfield type (Type B) viscometer, rotating at 12 rpm under the condition of a measurement temperature of 25 °C and using a rotor suitable for the measurement viscosity range.

[0016] The particle size of the smectite is not particularly limited and can be appropriately set according to the purpose. For example, the particle size (primary particle size) of the smectite can be 20 to 500 nm, may be 30 to 400 nm, may be 40 to 380 nm, or may be 50 to 370 nm. In the present invention, the "particle size" of the smectite in the dispersion liquid is the volume-based median diameter. This particle size can be determined, for example, by a laser diffraction / scattering type particle size distribution measuring device.

[0017] The insecticide of the present invention may be smectite itself. Further, the insecticide of the present invention may be bentonite itself containing montmorillonite which is a kind of smectite (that is, it may be in the form of solid particles (powder form, granular form, etc.)). After spraying these on agricultural and horticultural crops, separately spraying a liquid medium or exposing them to rain can disperse the smectite in the liquid medium and exhibit the desired insecticidal action. Further, when the insecticide of the present invention is in the form of the above solid particles, it is also preferable to disperse this insecticide in a liquid medium and then spray it on agricultural and horticultural crops. In this case, the solid particle-shaped insecticide is included in the insecticide of the present invention, and a dispersion liquid in which the solid particle-shaped insecticide is dispersed in a liquid medium is also included in the insecticide of the present invention.

[0018] It is more preferable that the insecticide of the present invention is in the form of a dispersion liquid containing smectite. When the insecticide of the present invention is in the form of a dispersion liquid, in addition to smectite, it can also be in a form containing a thickener. By containing a thickener, when treating agricultural and horticultural crops with the insecticide of the present invention, the adhesiveness of the insecticide can be enhanced. As the thickener, a thickener generally used in insecticides can be used. From the viewpoint of adhesiveness, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is preferable as the thickener that can be used in the insecticide of the present invention. When the insecticide of the present invention contains the above thickener, its content can be appropriately set according to the type of thickener used, the type of target pest (applied pest), the type of agricultural and horticultural crop to be applied (applied agricultural and horticultural crop), and the insecticidal method. For example, when the insecticide of the present invention is in the state of a dispersion containing smectite, for example, in the dosage form of a flowable agent (suspension agent), and spraying treatment is assumed, it is preferable to add the thickener in the amount specified for pesticide registration to the insecticide with appropriately adjusted smectite concentration.

[0019] Furthermore, the insecticide of the present invention can contain arbitrary components within a range that does not interfere with the effects of the present invention, in addition to the above thickener. Examples of such components include surfactants, binders, tackifiers, spreading agents, colorants, extenders, antifreezing agents, anti-caking agents, disintegrants, anti-decomposition agents, preservatives, and the like. These components may be contained alone or in combination of two or more. Also, the insecticide of the present invention may be used in combination with other insecticides.

[0020] The insecticide of the present invention can be used, for example, as an oil agent, emulsion, aqueous emulsion, flowable agent (FL agent, suspension agent), microcapsule agent (MC agent), powder agent, granule agent, fine particle agent, wettable powder, tablet, aerosol agent, evaporation type preparation, resin evaporation agent, fumigant, heat evaporation agent, coating agent, paste agent. As described above, the insecticide of the present invention may be used as it is in the form of solid particles such as powder or granule. It can also be stored in the form of solid particles and adjusted to an appropriate concentration at the time of use. Among them, the insecticide of the present invention is preferably used as a dispersion liquid in which smectite as an active ingredient is dispersed in a liquid medium. The content of smectite in the dispersion liquid is not particularly limited. For example, under the condition of 25 °C, the viscosity is preferably 10 mPa·s or more, more preferably 100 mPa·s or more, still more preferably 500 mPa·s or more, and still more preferably 1000 mPa·s or more, and can be appropriately adjusted. Also, the viscosity can be adjusted so that it is preferably 200000 mPa·s or less, more preferably 100000 mPa·s or less, still more preferably 10000 mPa·s or less, and still more preferably 5000 mPa·s or less. For example, the content of smectite in the dispersion liquid can be 0.1 to 20% by mass, may be 0.5 to 10% by mass, or may be 0.7 to 5.0% by mass. Further, examples of the liquid medium include aqueous media. As this aqueous medium, for example, water, water-soluble organic solvents, and mixtures thereof can be mentioned, and water is more preferable.

[0021] The insecticide of the present invention has an excellent insecticidal effect against pests that damage agricultural and horticultural crops. Examples of the insecticidal targets (pests) of the insecticide of the present invention include one or more of mites, nematodes, insects, and other pests (spiders, mollusks). Among them, the insecticide of the present invention can be suitably used for controlling mites and insects, and can be more suitably used for controlling mites and insects with a body length of 10 mm or less, and can be more suitably used for controlling mites and insects with a body length of 5 mm or less, preferably 3 mm or less, more preferably 2 mm or less, and still more preferably 1 mm or less. In addition, the insecticide of the present invention also has excellent ovicidal activity against the eggs of the above pests.

[0022] Examples of the mites include mites belonging to the family Tetranychidae ( Tenuipalpidae ) and mites belonging to the family TarsonemidaeTicks and tarsonemid mites belonging to the family Eriophyidae Ticks and eriophyid mites belonging to the family Acaridae Ticks and the like belonging to the family Furthermore, as the ticks belonging to the family Ixodidae Tetranychidae For example, ticks belonging to the genus Dermacentor Bryobia Ticks belonging to the genus Margaropus Pseudovryobia Ticks belonging to the genus Haemaphysalis Tetranycopsis Ticks belonging to the genus Homoeomma Petrobia Ticks belonging to the genus Bryobia Tetranychina Ticks belonging to the genus Acalitus Eurytetranychoides Ticks belonging to the genus Tetranychus Eutetranychus Ticks belonging to the genus Eotetranychus Aponychus Ticks belonging to the genus Oligonychus Panonychus Ticks belonging to the genus Panonychus Sasanychus Ticks belonging to the genus Metatetranychus Schizotetranychus Ticks belonging to the genus Schizotetranychus Stigmaeopsis Ticks belonging to the genus Keiferia Yezonychus Ticks belonging to the genus Aculops Eotetranychus Ticks belonging to the genus Brevipalpus Oligonychus Ticks belonging to the genus Ctenoplectrus Amphitetranychus Ticks belonging to the genus Nanotechnus Tetranychus are mentioned. As specific tick species, Tetranychus urticae Bryobia praetiosa Koch), Tetranychus turkestani Bryobia rubrioculus Scheuten), Panonychus citri Panonychus citri ), Oligonychus pratensis Panonychus mori ), Panonychus ulmi Panonychus ulmi ), Panonychus kanzawai Tetranychus kanzawai ), Tetranychus viennensis Tetranychus urticae ), Oligonychus ununguis Amphitetranychus viennensis ) etc. are mentioned. In addition, the above-mentioned tarsonemid mites EriophyidaeTicks belonging to the family include, for example, ticks classified into the genus Tetranychus, specifically, the apple rust mite ( Aculus schlechtendali ) and the like.

[0023] In addition, examples of the insects include insects belonging to the family Thripidae ( Thripidae ), insects belonging to the family Psyllidae ( Psyllidae ), insects belonging to the family Aphididae ( Aphididae ), insects belonging to the family Coccidae ( Pseudococcidae ), insects belonging to the family Diaspididae ( Coccidae ), insects belonging to the family Margarodidae ( Diaspididae ) (collectively also referred to as "scale insects"), insects belonging to the family Pseudococcidae ( Aleyrodidae ) and the like. Specific species of the above insects include, for example, the apple psyllid ( Psylla mali ), the black apple psyllid ( Psylla malivorella ), the willow aphid ( Aphis spiraecola ), the apple woolly aphid ( Eriosoma lanigerum ), the peach aphid ( Myzus persicae ), the apple green aphid ( Ovatus malicolens ), the apple gall aphid ( Ovatus malisuctus ), the cereal aphid ( Rhopalosiphum padi ), the false cottony cushion scale ( Coccura suwakoensis ), the large cottony cushion scale ( Phenacoccus pergandei ), the mulberry scale ( Pseudococcus comstocki ), the horned scale ( Ceroplastes ceriferus ), the spherical scale ( Eulecanium kunoense ), the maple scale ( Pulvinaria horii ), the thread scale ( Takahashia japonica ), the pear scale (Comstockaspis perniciosa ) apple rust mite Lepidosaphes ulmi ) citrus red mite Aleurocanthus spiniferus ) and the like can be mentioned.

[0024] In addition, in this specification or the present invention, for example, "pests belonging to the family ○○" are also referred to as "○○ species". For example, in the above, "mites belonging to the family Tetranychidae ( Tetranychidae )" are referred to as "tetranychid mites", and "insects belonging to the family Thripidae ( Thripidae )" are also referred to as "thrips", respectively.

[0025] Among the above, the insecticidal targets of the insecticide of the present invention are preferably one or more of tetranychid mites, rust mites, dust mites, spider mites, thrips, aphids, rust mites, bedbugs, and whiteflies.

[0026] The types of agricultural and horticultural crops (applied agricultural and horticultural crops) to which the insecticide of the present invention is applied are not particularly limited. For example, cereals; potatoes, root vegetables, bulb vegetables, legumes, cucurbit vegetables, solanaceous fruit vegetables, brassica vegetables, leafy vegetables, stem vegetables, edible flowers and other vegetables; citrus fruits, pome fruits, stone fruits, berries and other small fruit fruits and other fruit trees; forage grasses; turf grasses; special crops such as spices; flowers and foliage plants; trees; tea and the like. Among them, it is preferably a crop selected from fruit trees, vegetables, cereals, flowers and foliage plants, trees, and tea, and more preferably vegetables and fruit trees. In addition, the insecticide of the present invention can also be applied to the soil. By applying it to the soil, pests existing in the soil can be effectively killed, and as a result, the above-mentioned agricultural and horticultural crops growing in the soil can be protected from pests.

[0027] [Insecticidal method] According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an insecticidal method (hereinafter, also referred to as "the insecticidal method of the present invention") including treating agricultural and horticultural crops or soil with the above-mentioned insecticide of the present invention.

[0028] The treatment method of horticultural crops in the insecticidal method of the present invention is not particularly limited, and it can be carried out by a method according to the target horticultural crops, the type of pests, the application range, and the dosage form. Specifically, spraying treatment, coating treatment, dipping treatment, etc. on horticultural crops can be mentioned. Among them, in the insecticidal method of the present invention, the form of spraying the insecticide of the present invention on horticultural crops is preferred. In addition, the insecticide of the present invention used in the insecticidal method of the present invention can appropriately select the above-mentioned dosage form according to the purpose of treatment. Furthermore, for example, it is also preferable to adjust and spray the insecticide using a pesticide carrier or the like. For example, the insecticide of the present invention can be evenly sprayed on the leaves and stems of horticultural crops. In addition, the insecticide of the present invention can also be used by spraying it on the soil by the same method as described above.

[0029] In the insecticidal method of the present invention, since phytotoxicity such as spots and oil-soaked stains hardly occurs in horticultural crops after treatment with the insecticide, for example, even the plant bodies in the seedling stage where phytotoxicity is likely to appear significantly can be treated with the insecticide of the present invention. In addition, it is hardly affected by the temperature change of the environment, and horticultural crops can be treated regardless of the season. In the insecticidal method of the present invention, the number of times of use (number of treatment times) of the insecticide of the present invention can be appropriately determined according to the type of target pests, the type of horticultural crops to be applied and their growth stages, the treatment method, etc. In particular, since the insecticide of the present invention is difficult to acquire drug resistance, multiple treatments can be performed on the same crop. For example, it is preferably treated once or more every two weeks, and more preferably treated once or more a week.

Examples

[0030] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0031] Test Example 1 Field Test for Controlling Spider Mites on Apples As the test crop, apples (cultivar: Fuji) were used, and a field test was conducted on June 22, July 6, July 21, and August 4, 2022. For each spraying, 7 to 10 liters of insecticide per tree were sprayed, and the control effect of spider mites was measured.

[0032] The treatment plots and treatment conditions in the above field test were as follows. (1) Saponite plot · Saponite agent: An aqueous dispersion containing 0.75% by mass of Smeton-SA (trade name, synthetic saponite, manufactured by Kunimine Industries Co., Ltd.) and 0.25% by mass of CMC (manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Corporation) In the saponite plot, the saponite agent (insecticide) was used for all four sprayings. (2) Non-spraying plot · In the non-spraying plot, no insecticide was sprayed.

[0033] In each of the above plots, on August 15, 2022, 20 leaves per tree (80 leaves in total) were collected from four trees, and the spider mites on the leaves were knocked off onto an adhesive board using a brushing machine (manufactured by Kiyasu Seisakusho Co., Ltd.). The number of individuals (total number of larvae, nymphs, and adults) and the number of eggs were counted using a stereomicroscope. The results are shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, in the saponite plot sprayed with the insecticide of the present invention, the number of spider mites (number of individuals and number of eggs) could be significantly reduced compared to the non-spraying plot. In addition, the above leaves after spraying the insecticide of the present invention were sampled, and the state of spider mites was observed using a stereomicroscope. The image data obtained using the stereomicroscope are shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2, as shown at A, eggs that had dried, withered, and died were observed due to the spraying of the insecticide of the present invention. Also, as shown at B, adult spider mites to which the insecticide (saponite) of the present invention had adhered and died were observed. Thus, it was observed that the insecticide of the present invention has insecticidal activity and ovicidal activity against adult spider mites and eggs. In the above field test, phytotoxicity to leaves and fruits was observed after spraying the saponite agent, but no phytotoxicity was found in any of the trees during the period of the field test.

[0034] From the above, it was found that the insecticide of the present invention can effectively control pests.

Claims

1. An agricultural and horticultural insecticide containing smectite as an active ingredient.

2. The insecticide according to Claim 1, wherein the insecticide contains a thickener.

3. The insecticide according to Claim 1, wherein the insecticide has ovicidal activity.

4. The insecticide according to Claim 1, wherein the smectite is one or more selected from montmorillonite, beidellite, nontronite, saponite, hectorite, sauconite, and stibnite.

5. The insecticide according to Claim 1, wherein the insect control target is one or more of mites, nematodes, insects, spiders, and mollusks.

6. The insecticide according to Claim 1, wherein the insect control target is one or more of spider mites, rust mites, dust mites, grain mites, thrips, aphids, chafers, bed bugs, and whiteflies.

7. The insecticide according to Claim 1, wherein the agricultural and horticultural crops to be applied are selected from fruit trees, vegetables, grains, flowers / foliage plants, trees, and tea.

8. An insecticidal method comprising treating an agricultural and horticultural crop or soil with the insecticide according to any one of Claims 1 to 7.

9. The insecticidal method according to Claim 8, wherein the insecticide according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 is a dispersion containing smectite, and the method comprises spraying the dispersion on an agricultural and horticultural crop or soil.

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