Pest control composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pest control composition comprising transfluthrin, metofluthrin, and prallethrin. The invention further relates to a pest control product comprising the inventive pest control composition contained inside a container, particularly an aerosol device. The invention also provides a method of killing, knocking-down and / or repelling a pest using the inventive composition or product, and the use of the inventive composition or product to kill, knock-down and / or repel a pest. The pest preferably comprises an insect, particularly a flying insect, particularly a mosquito and / or a housefly. The composition may provide a long-lasting effect even when using a relatively low dosage of product.

Description

[0001] PAT15815-WO-PCT

[0002] Pest control composition

[0003] The present invention relates to a pest control composition; to a pest control product comprising the pest control composition; to a method of killing, knocking-down and / or repelling a pest; and to the use of the pest control composition or the pest control product to kill, knock-down and / or repel a pest. In the invention, the pest is preferably an insect, particularly a flying insect, particularly a mosquito and / or a housefly.

[0004] Background

[0005] Pest control compositions are used to kill, knock-down and / or repel insects, such as mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, ants, and spiders. They may work by differing modes of action; a pest control composition may, for example, control a pest without completely killing it, e.g. by knock-down (paralysis) of a mosquito. On the other hand, an “insecticide” can be used to kill insects.

[0006] A common class of insecticides is the pyrethroids. These include permethrin, transfluthrin, metofluthrin, esbiothrin, cypermethrin, and phenothrin. Many pyrethroids also exhibit a spatial repellent action, deterring insects from entering a treated space.

[0007] C S Bibbs et al. (2018) Vapor toxicity of five volatile pyrethroids against Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Anopheles quadrimaculatus (Diptera: Culicidae). Pest. Manag. Sci. 74: 2699-2706 https: / / doi.org / 10.1002 / ps.5088, compares the vapour toxicity of five pyetrthorids, and discloses that the vapour toxicity of transfluthrin, meperfluthrin, and metofluthrin is significantly higher than that of prallethrin and flumethrin.

[0008] Various different formats of pest control product are available on the market, for example sprays, aerosols, electrical vaporisers, automatic dispensing devices, substrates bearing deposited or impregnated actives, candles, and personal insect repellent. Aerosols and sprays may be dispensed by the user into the air or onto a hard or soft surface such as the floor or a sofa.

[0009] When targeting flying insects, such as mosquitoes and flies, inside a building, a product is typically used which dispenses insecticide directly into the air. One of the problems with manual sprays and aerosols in this context is that they tend to provide an instant action, but they dilute quickly. In effect, the active concentration is quickly diluted to levels where the formulation no longer affects insects. Therefore, manual sprays and aerosols need to be re-applied regularly, which is inconvenient for the user. In other words, these types of PAT15815-WO-PCT products do not allow for the continuous release of actives and do not provide long-lasting protection.

[0010] Electrical vaporisers, such as those disclosed in WO2021 / 250410, can continuously or continually release actives into the air to provide longer-lasting protection, but they suffer from the disadvantages of requiring an energy supply, as well as organic solvents such as paraffins, naphthene-containing solvents, and kerosene. Automatic dispensing devices have similar problems, and candles can carry a fire risk if used indoors.

[0011] Personal insect repellents need to be applied onto the skin and these are short-acting.

[0012] Here there is not only an efficacy concern, but also a perceived health concern by consumers.

[0013] It might be thought that in order to achieve a longer-lasting protection, the fast dilution of the active after an aerosol is sprayed needs to be compensated for by including a higher amount of the active in the composition and / or instructing the user to dispense a greater quantity of the composition into the air. However, including high amounts of an active is generally more expensive, less sustainable and may give rise to some toxicity concerns. Some countries place differing regulatory limits on the maximum amount of active that can be included.

[0014] Various different combinations of actives have been used in the art. For instance, WO2018 / 217554 (S.C. Johnson) seeks to provide an insecticide which is effective against both flying and crawling insects. It discloses an aerosol insecticidal composition comprising transfluthrin, cypermethrin, and prallethrin, each of which is present in an amount of 0.05 to 0.5 %. The user is instructed to spray the composition for a duration of about 4 to 12 seconds, from a dispenser which dispenses the composition at a rate of about 2.0 to 3.5 g / s; in other words to dispense about 8 to 42 g of the composition in total. It is stated that the cypermethrin provides long residual activity.

[0015] Whilst the wt.% of active is low in this prior composition, instructing the user to dispense a greater quantity of the composition in each application to compensate for this may result in user dissatisfaction that the product is exhausted too rapidly or lead to a perception that the product is of lower quality.

[0016] There is a commercial aerosol product providing up to 8-hour protection against flies after a single application which comprises allethrin, phenothrin and tetramethrin, however it also PAT15815-WO-PCT requires the dispensing of a relatively large total quantity of the composition in order to achieve this effect (spraying for 3 to 5 seconds).

[0017] WO2023 / 066897 (Reckitt) discloses, in its examples, an aerosol composition in the form of an emulsion blended with propellant, the emulsion containing 0.04 wt.% transfluthrin in combination with either permethrin or cyfluthrin. This composition is dispensed from an aerosol spray device which imparts the droplets with an electrostatic charge upon spraying, to target hidden flying insects. However, the efficacy was only measured for up to 30 minutes after spraying. The composition is not said to have a long-lasting effect.

[0018] Interactions between different pyrethroids found in an electrical vaporiser format do not necessarily translate across to the aerosol or spray format, because differing volatility rates between the pyrethroids have a greater impact on their effectiveness in the former.

[0019] Therefore, there is a need for a pest control composition that provides instant and prolonged protection, despite using a relatively low total quantity of dispensed active(s). It is especially desirable if the composition is capable of being sprayed into the air to control flying insects and yet still provides protection for multiple hours or more.

[0020] Summary of the invention

[0021] In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a pest control composition as claimed in claim 1.

[0022] In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a pest control product comprising the pest control composition according to the first aspect of the invention contained inside a container.

[0023] In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of killing, knocking-down and / or repelling a pest, comprising providing the pest control composition according to the first aspect of the invention or the pest control product according to the second aspect of the invention, and releasing a first quantity of the pest control composition into the air.

[0024] In a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided the use of the pest control composition according to the first aspect of the invention or the pest control product according to the second aspect of the invention to kill, knock-down and / or repel a pest.

[0025] In each aspect the pest is preferably insects, preferably flying insects, preferably mosquitoes and / or flies, preferably mosquitoes and / or houseflies. PAT15815-WO-PCT

[0026] Embodiments described herein in relation to one aspect of the invention may be combined with each other and may apply equally to other aspects of the invention, unless specified to the contrary or the context otherwise requires.

[0027] Definitions

[0028] The following definitions are used in the present application.

[0029] “wt.%” means percent by weight of the total weight of the composition.

[0030] “Bio-efficacy”, as used in the present application means: efficacy of an insect control composition or an insect control product to repel, knockdown and / or or kill a determined type of insects.

[0031] Percentage of protection (% protection), as used in the present application means: the percentage of insects that do not land and probe with respect to the initial number of insects at the beginning of an experiment.

[0032] “Knock-down percentage” or “% KD”, as used in the present application means: the percentage of insects that after contact with a (sub)lethal dose of an insect control composition cannot move, take off or stand, with respect to the initial number of insects at the beginning of an experiment. The assessment of knock-down is made within 1 hour of exposure.

[0033] Detailed description of the invention

[0034] Pest control composition

[0035] The pest control composition of the invention in its first aspect comprises a combination of at least three actives, specifically transfluthrin, metofluthrin, and prallethrin. The present inventors have found that the combination of these three actives can provide a surprisingly long-lasting effect even when used in relatively low total quantities, especially after being applied in a single application stage by the user (e.g. from a device such as an aerosol or spray can).

[0036] In an embodiment, the concentration of transfluthrin, based on the total weight of the composition, is: at least 0.01 wt.%, at least 0.02 wt.%, at least 0.03 wt.%, at least 0.05 wt.%, at least 0.1 wt.%, at least 0.2 wt.%, at least 0.3 wt.%, at least 0.4 wt.%, at least 0.5 wt.%, at least 0.6 wt.%, at least 0.7 wt.%, at least 0.8 wt.%, at least 0.9 wt.%, at least 1 .0 wt.%, at least 1.5 wt.%, at least 2.0 wt.%, or at least 2.5 wt.%; and / or up to 5.0 wt.%, up PAT15815-WO-PCT to 4.5 wt.%, up to 4.0 wt.%, up to 3.5 wt.%, up to 3.0 wt.%, up to 2.5 wt.%, up to 2.0 wt.%, up to 1.5 wt.%, up to 1.0 wt.%, up to 0.9 wt.%, up to 0.8 wt.%, up to 0.7 wt.%, up to 0.6 wt.%, or up to 0.5 wt.%. In an embodiment, the concentration of transfluthrin is at least 0.01 wt.% and / or up to 5.0 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.02 and 4.0 wt.%, more preferably between 0.03 and 3.0 wt.%, most preferably between 0.05 and 2.0 wt.%, even more preferably between 0.1 and 1.0 wt.%, for example between 0.5 and 0.6 wt.%.

[0037] In an embodiment, the concentration of metofluthrin, based on the total weight of the composition, is: at least 0.001 wt.%, at least 0.002 wt.%, at least 0.005 wt.%, at least 0.01 wt.%, at least 0.02 wt.%, at least 0.03 wt.%, at least 0.04 wt.%, at least 0.05 wt.%, at least 0.06 wt.%, at least 0.07 wt.%, at least 0.08 wt.%, at least 0.09 wt.%, or at least 0.10 wt.%; and / or up to 5.00 wt.%, up to 4.50 wt.%, up to 4.00 wt.%, up to 3.50 wt.%, up to 3.00 wt.%, up to 2.50 wt.%, up to 2.00 wt.%, up to 1.50 wt.%, up to 1.00 wt.%, up to 0.90 wt.%, up to 0.80 wt.%, up to 0.70 wt.%, up to 0.60 wt.%, up to 0.50 wt.%, up to 0.40 wt.%, up to 0.30 wt.%, up to 0.20 wt.%, up to 0.10 wt.%, up to 0.09 wt.%, up to 0.08 wt.%, up to 0.07 wt.%, up to 0.06 wt.%, up to 0.05 wt.%, up to 0.04 wt.%, or up to 0.03 wt.%. In an embodiment, the concentration of metofluthrin is at least 0.001 wt.% and / or up to 5.00 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.002 and 3.00 wt.%, more preferably between 0.005 and 2.00 wt.%, even more preferably between 0.01 and 1.00 wt.%, most preferably between 0.02 and 0.1 wt.%, for example, between 0.03 to 0.05 wt.%.

[0038] In an embodiment, the concentration of prallethrin, based on the total weight of the composition, is: at least 0.01 wt.%, at least 0.02 wt.%, at least 0.03 wt.%, at least 0.05 wt.%, at least 0.1 wt.%, at least 0.2 wt.%, at least 0.3 wt.%, at least 0.4 wt.%, at least 0.5 wt.%, at least 0.6 wt.%, at least 0.7 wt.%, at least 0.8 wt.%, at least 0.9 wt.%, at least 1 .0 wt.%, at least 1.5 wt.%, at least 2.0 wt.%, at least 2.5 wt.%, or at least 3.0 wt.%; and / or up to 10.0 wt.%, up to 9.5 wt.%, up to 9.0 wt.%, up to 8.5 wt.%, up to 8.0 wt.%, up to 7.5 wt.%, up to 7.0 wt.%, up to 6.5 wt.%, up to 6.0 wt.%, up to 5.5 wt.%, up to 5.0 wt.%, up to 4.5 wt.%, up to 4.0 wt.%, up to 3.5 wt.%, up to 3.0 wt.%, up to 2.5 wt.%, up to 2.0 wt.%, up to 1.5 wt.%, up to 1.0 wt.%, up to 0.9 wt.%, or up to 0.8 wt.%. In an embodiment, the concentration of prallethrin is at least 0.01 wt.% and / or up to 10.0 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.02 and 9.0 wt.%, more preferably between 0.03 and 7.0 wt.%, even more preferably between 0.05 and 5.0 wt.%, most preferably between 0.1 and 3.0 wt.%, for example between 0.5 and 2.0 wt.%, or 0.8 and 1.0 wt.%. PAT15815-WO-PCT

[0039] In an embodiment, the weight ratio of metofluthrin to transfluthrin is: at least 0.01 :1 , at least 0.02:1 , at least 0.03:1 , at least 0.04:1 , at least 0.05:1 , at least 0.06:1 , at least 0.07:1 , at least 0.08:1 , at least 0.09:1 , or at least 0.10:1 ; and / or up to 0.50:1 , up to 0.40:1 , up to 0.30:1 , up to 0.25:1 , up to 0.20:1 , up to 0.15:1 , up to 0.10:1 , up to 0.09:1 , up to 0.08:1 , up to 0.07:1 , or up to 0.06:1. In an embodiment, the weight ratio of metofluthrin to transfluthrin is at least 0.01 :1 and / or up to 0.50:1 , preferably between 0.03:1 and 0.30:1 , more preferably between 0.05:1 and 0.20:1 , even more preferably between 0.06:1 and 0.10:1.

[0040] In an embodiment, the composition is in liquid form and comprises a solvent. In an embodiment, the composition comprises between 1 to 99 wt.% of solvent, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 1 and 98.5 wt.%, more preferably between 1 and 90 wt.%.

[0041] In an embodiment, the composition comprises water and / or an organic solvent. Preferably the organic solvent comprises or consists of at least one alcohol. In an embodiment, the at least one alcohol is a C2-C4 branched or linear alcohol. Preferably the solvent comprises or consists of at least one alcohol, preferably wherein the at least one alcohol is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, isopropanol or a combination of ethanol and isopropanol. In an embodiment, the composition comprises isopropanol as the only alcohol. In an embodiment, the concentration of the at least one alcohol in the composition, based on the total weight of the composition, is: at least 5 wt.%, at least 10 wt.%, at least 15 wt.%, at least 20 wt.%, at least 25 wt.%, at least 30 wt.%, at least 35 wt.%, or at least 40 wt.%; and / or up to 60 wt.%, up to 55 wt.%, up to 50 wt.%, up to 45 wt.%, up to 40 wt.%, up to 35 wt.%, or up to 30 wt.%. In an embodiment, the composition comprises between 5 and 60 wt.% of the at least one alcohol, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 20 and 55 wt.%, more preferably between 30 and 50 wt.%, even more preferably between 35 and 45 wt.%.

[0042] In an embodiment, the composition is non-aqueous. In an embodiment, the composition less than 5 wt.% water, preferably less than 4 wt.%, less than 3 wt.%, less than 2 wt.%, less than 1 wt.%, less than 0.5 wt.%, less than 0.1 wt.%, or less than 0.01 wt.% water. In an embodiment, the composition is free or substantially free of water.

[0043] In an embodiment, the composition comprises less than 15 wt.% of organic solvents other than alcohols, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably less than 10 wt.%, more preferably less than 5 wt.%, even more preferably less than 2 wt.%, most preferably less than 1 wt.% or wherein the composition is free or substantially free of organic solvents other than alcohols. PAT15815-WO-PCT

[0044] For example, the organic solvents other than alcohols may be liquid n-paraffins, liquid isoparaffins, cycloalkanes, naphthene-containing solvents, white spirit, kerosene, and ester solvents. Specific examples of these are as follows: o liquid n-paraffins - Norpar 12, Norpar 13 and Norpar 15 (available from Exxon) o liquid isoparaffins - Isopar G, Isopar H, Isopar L, Isopar M and Isopar V (available from Exxon). o naphthene-containing solvents - Exxsol D40, Exxsol D60, Exxsol D80, Exxsol D100, Exxsol D110, Nappar 10, Solvesol 100, Solvesol 150, Solvesol 200 (available from Exxon). o ester solvents - such as alkyl acetates, examples being Exxate 1000, Exxate 1300 (available from Exxon), and Coasol (available from Chemoxy International).

[0045] In an embodiment, the composition comprises one or more surfactants. The one or more surfactants may be non-ionic, anionic, amphoteric, or a combination thereof. If one or more surfactants is used, it is preferably non-ionic.

[0046] Examples of non-ionic surfactants include poly-glycerol oleate, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, ethoxylates, propoxylates and ethoxylate / propoxylate combinations; mono-, di- and tri- sorbitan esters; mono- and d-glycerides; polyoxyethylene sorbitol esters; glycol ether; and blends thereof; particularly spans (sorbitan esters) and tweens (ethoxylated sorbitan esters or polysorbates).

[0047] The total quantity of all the surfactant(s) present in the composition may be: up to 5 wt.%, up to 4 wt.%, up to 3 wt.%, up to 2 wt.%, up to 1 wt.%, up to 0.5 wt.%, up to 0.1 wt.%, or up to 0.01 wt.%. In an embodiment, the composition is free or substantially free of surfactant.

[0048] The pest control composition may further comprise a perfume or fragrance, and / or an antioxidant. The perfume may comprise a natural or a synthetic oil or a blend.

[0049] In an embodiment, the composition may comprise one or more further actives ( / .e. actives having pest control activity). These include other synthetic pyrethroids, N,N-diethyl-meta- toluamide, picaridin, ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate, naturally occurring actives, and combinations thereof. Examples of other synthetic pyrethroids include esbiothrin, cypermethrin, and phenothrin. Examples of naturally occurring actives are carvacrol, p- cymene, thymol, and anethole. PAT15815-WO-PCT

[0050] In an embodiment, the total quantity of any further actives in the composition is: less than 1 wt.%, less than 0.9 wt.%, less than 0.8 wt.%, less than 0.7 wt.%, less than 0.6 wt.%, less than 0.5 wt.%, less than 0.4 wt.%, less than 0.3 wt.%, less than 0.2 wt.%, less than 0.1 wt.%, less than 0.05 wt.%, less than 0.01 wt.%, or less than 0.001 wt.%. Preferably, the composition comprises no further actives and / or no further pyrethroids.

[0051] The composition may comprise one or more propellants. Amongst the propellants that may be used are hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, compressed air and / or a mixture thereof, of which hydrocarbons are preferred. Hydrocarbon propellants which may be used include acetylene, methane, ethane, ethylene, propane, n-butane, n-butene, isobutane, isobutene, pentane, pentene, isopentane and isopentene. Mixtures of these propellants may also be used. Commercially available propellants typically contain a number of hydrocarbons which are gases at atmospheric pressure. For example, an odorised commercial butane contains predominantly n-butane and some iso-butane together with small amounts of propane, propene, pentane and butene.

[0052] Preferred hydrocarbon propellants include propane, n-butane, isobutane, pentane and isopentane, whilst the most preferred are propane, iso-butane and n-butane. Particularly preferred hydrocarbon propellants are mixtures of propane, n-butane and iso-butane.

[0053] In an embodiment the propellant is liquefied petroleum gas, also known as LPG and LP gas.

[0054] In an embodiment, the composition comprises no hydrocarbons, or hydrocarbon propellants are the only hydrocarbons included.

[0055] Typically, when propellant(s) is used, it is comprised in the composition in a liquefied state, whilst the composition is held under pressure.

[0056] In an embodiment, the composition comprises between 10 wt.% and 90 wt.% of the one or more propellants, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 20 wt.% and 80 wt.%, more preferably between 30 wt.% and 70 wt.%, even more preferably between 40 wt.% and 65 wt.%.

[0057] When the composition is to be utilised by the consumer as a regular spray rather than an aerosol, a propellant is not necessary. In this case, the composition may comprise a high amount of water and / or of at least one alcohol instead, such that the composition is capable of being sprayed directly from a spraying device. PAT15815-WO-PCT

[0058] In an embodiment, the composition consists of transfluthrin, metofluthrin, prallethrin, one or more alcohols, optionally one or more propellants, and less than 5 wt.% of any other ingredients, preferably less than 2 wt.%, less than 1 wt.%, less than 0.5 wt.%, less than 0.1 wt.%, or less than 0.01 wt.% of any further ingredients. In an embodiment, the composition consists of transfluthrin, metofluthrin, prallethrin, one or more alcohols, optionally one or more propellants, and optionally one or more perfumes and / or fragrances.

[0059] The composition may be an insect repellent or insecticide composition, wherein preferably the insects are flying insects, preferably wherein the insects are mosquitoes and / or flies, preferably mosquitoes and / or houseflies.

[0060] In an embodiment, the pest control composition is a mosquito-killing composition suitable to be delivered to the air as an aerosol.

[0061] In an embodiment, the composition further comprises additional components. For example, the composition comprises a perfume, a fragrance, a preservative, an antioxidant and / or a corrosion inhibitor.

[0062] Examples of corrosion inhibitors include 1-hydroxyethyl-2-heptadecenyl imidazoline and / or sodium benzoate.

[0063] In an embodiment, the composition comprises an antioxidant, for example butylated hydroxytoluene.

[0064] In an embodiment, the composition is free of butylated hydroxytoluene. In an embodiment, the composition is free of antioxidants.

[0065] In an embodiment, the following compositions may be formulated according to the invention as shown below.

[0066] Table 1. Formulations PAT15815-WO-PCT

[0067] Pest control product

[0068] In the second aspect of the invention, the pest control composition is contained inside a container. Preferably, the container is in the form of a spray device (such as pump spray) or an aerosol device (such as an aerosol can). This may be a manual or automatic spray or aerosol device, but preferably a manual one.

[0069] When an aerosol device is used, the composition is preferably in liquid form and comprises a propellant, preferred examples of which are discussed above. The propellant is a liquified gas held under pressure inside the device, which is vapourised upon release from the device.

[0070] The aerosol device may be of conventional construction. It may comprise an aerosol valve and an actuator, and may be e.g. a metal can. WO 99 / 01227 describes the construction of one possible aerosol device that could be used.

[0071] When a spraying device is used, a propellant is not necessary. The device may be a pump spray, for example one of conventional construction.

[0072] The container may be configured to release a metered or unmetered dose of the composition into the air.

[0073] Preferably, it is configured to release a metered dose of the composition. The lower the total quantity of active to be dispensed, the more useful it is to control the exact dose. For example, precision dosing may be less beneficial for prior art devices which a user is instructed to use by depressing an actuation button for a relatively long time, such as 4 seconds or more. In contrast, if the user was instructed to depress a button for 1 second or less and there is no control over the dosage, the variability in actual amount dispensed will be greater.

[0074] In an embodiment, the container may be configured to release a metered dose of the composition by means of a metering valve. The container may comprise a meter dosage valve having a valve capacity of from 10 pL to 1000 pL, preferably 90 pL to 600 pL, for example 300 pL.

[0075] In an embodiment, the container (preferably an aerosol device) is configured to release the composition in a metered dose of: < 3 g, < 2.5 g, < 2 g, < 1.5 g, < 1 g, < 0.9 g, < 0.8 g, < 0.7 g, < 0.6 g, < 0.5 g, < 0.4 g, < 0.3 g, < 0.2 g, < 0.15 g, or < 0.1 g; and / or > 0.05 g, > 0.1 g, > 0.15 g, or > 0.2 g. In an embodiment, the container (preferably an aerosol device) PAT15815-WO-PCT is configured to release the composition in a metered dose of between 0.05 and 3 g, preferably between 0.1 and 1 g, more preferably between 0.1 and 0.2 g.

[0076] Method of use I use

[0077] In the third aspect of the invention, during the method, a first quantity of the pest control composition is released into the air. Preferably, the composition is released from the container of the pest control product into the air. Preferably, the container is in the form of a spray device (such as pump spray) or an aerosol device (such as an aerosol can). This may be a manual or automatic spray or aerosol device, but preferably a manual one. In an embodiment, the user directs the container to release the composition into the air, rather than directly at any hard or soft surface. If inside a building, the user may advantageously ensure that the windows and doors are closed in the room to be treated. In an embodiment, there are insects already flying in the air at the time when the first quantity is released; in this case, the composition does not need to be directed specifically at these insects. In an embodiment, the air is free of flying insects at the time when the first quantity is released.

[0078] The user may be instructed to shake the container prior to dispensing the composition e.g. to ensure that propellant is evenly distributed in the composition in the case of an aerosol device.

[0079] The person skilled in the art will understand that the amount of the pest control composition that needs to be released will depend on the volume of air to be treated (e.g. size of the room into which it is released and the degree of ventilation in the room). For example, if 0.6 g of the pest control composition is released into a room having a volume of 20 m3, 0.03 g / m3of product is released. However, in an embodiment, the method comprises releasing the following amounts of the pest control composition from the container: at least 0.001 g, at least 0.005 g, at least 0.01 g, at least 0.05 g, at least 0.1 g, at least 0.15 g, at least 0.2 g, at least 0.25 g, at least 0.3 g, at least 0.35 g, at least 0.4 g, at least 0.45 g, at least 0.5 g, at least 0.55 g, or at least 0.6 g; and / or up to 10 g, up to 9 g, up to 8 g, up to 7 g, up to 6 g, up to 5 g, up to 4 g, up to 3 g, up to 2 g, up to 1 g, up to 0.9 g, up to 0.8 g, up to 0.7 g, or up to 0.6 g. In an embodiment, the method comprises releasing 0.001 to 10 g of the pest control composition from the container, preferably between 0.01 and 5 g, more preferably between 0.1 and 2 g, even more preferably between 0.3 and 1 g, most preferably between 0.4 to 0.8 g. These quantities may be applied by releasing the composition in a single continuous step (e.g. single spray from an aerosol can) or by multiple sequential steps (e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more successive sprays). In an embodiment, these quantities are released from the container over a period of < 10 PAT15815-WO-PCT minutes, < 9 minutes, < 8 minutes, < 7 minutes, < 6 minutes, < 5 minutes, < 4 minutes, < 3 minutes, < 2 minutes, < 1 minute, < 30 seconds, or < 10 seconds.

[0080] In an embodiment, the container is an aerosol device and the method comprises releasing up to 3 g, up to 2 g, up to 1 g, up to 0.8 g or up to 0.6 g of the composition via up to 10 actuations of a metered dose valve in the device.

[0081] The container may be configured to dispense the composition in such an amount that the dispensing rate of the total quantity of the transfluthrin + metofluthrin + prallethrin is 0.05 to 2.0 g / s.

[0082] In an embodiment, the method results in at least 80 % protection at least 4 hours after the first quantity of the pest control composition is released, preferably at least 5 hours, preferably at least 6 hours, preferably at least 7 hours, preferably at least 8 hours.

[0083] In an embodiment, the method results in at least 80 % KD at least 4 hours after the first quantity of the pest control composition is released, preferably at least 5 hours, preferably at least 6 hours, preferably at least 7 hours, preferably at least 8 hours.

[0084] A second quantity of the pest control composition may optionally be released into the air at a later point in time, such as 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 hours later. The second quantity may desirably be within the same or lower ranges as described above for the first quantity.

[0085] The method of the invention may provide a long-lasting pest control effect. In an embodiment, the method comprises refraining from releasing any quantity of the pest control composition into the air for a period of at least 4 hours after the first quantity is released, and optionally releasing a second quantity of the pest control composition into the air at a time at least 5 hours (or at least 6, 7 or 8 hours, preferably up to 9 or 10 hours) after the first quantity.

[0086] In the fourth aspect of the invention, which relates to a use of the pest control composition according to the first aspect or the pest control product according to the second aspect to kill, knock-down and / or repel a pest, the pest is preferably insects, more preferably flying insects, most preferably mosquitoes.

[0087] The invention will be further described, by way of example, with the reference to the following non-limiting embodiments. PAT15815-WO-PCT

[0088] Examples

[0089] Mosquito kill formulations

[0090] The following compositions may be formulated as shown in Table 2. In Table 2, formulations F1-F4 are formulations according to the invention, whilst formulations A-C are comparative formulations

[0091] Table 2. Formulations

[0092] Performance tests

[0093] Formulation F1 was prepared with a composition as shown in Table 2 above. Landing and probing experiments were carried out to measure the bio-efficacy of formulation F1. These experiments were used to determine the percentage of protection (% protection) and knock-down percentage (% KD).

[0094] The experiments were performed in two 20m3chambers (test and control chambers) using three-five days old, host seeking, free flying, lab bred female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

[0095] 50 mosquitoes were released inside the test and control chamber. Subsequently, a trained experimenter entered the test and control chamber for pre-assessment of mosquito readiness by exposing their lower limbs for at least 15 minutes. Following this period, a total of 0.59 g of the formulation was sprayed (4 sprays from a metered dose aerosol canister having a valve capacity of 300 pL) into the test chamber - this is defined as time = 0 (see Table 2 below). The control chamber was left undisturbed. The trained experimenter sat inside the test chamber and recorded the landing / probing inhibition (% protection) and % KD at different times following treatment. Simultaneously, the control experimenter sat inside the control chamber and checked the mosquito landing-probing PAT15815-WO-PCT without the treatment at all the intervals. The chambers were ventilated by opening the exhaust for 11 minutes every hour following treatment.

[0096] Fresh batches of mosquitoes were released at time intervals of 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8 hours after treatment post chamber ventilation. At each interval of mosquitoes’ release, the trained experimenter sat inside the test chamber and recorded the landing / probing inhibition (% protection) and % KD at different times following release of the mosquitoes. Simultaneously, the control experimenter sat inside the control chamber and checked the mosquito landing-probing without the treatment at all the intervals. This experiment was repeated twice for formula F1 (three replicates in total) and the chamber was ventilated and cleaned after each replicate to eliminate the effect of previous treatment residues. The results shown in Table 3 are an average for the three replicates for formula F1.

[0097] Table 3. Results of the landing / probing tests for formulation F1. PAT15815-WO-PCT

[0098] In Table 3, it is demonstrated that formulation F1 has good bio-efficacy 8 hours after treatment, achieving a % protection >80% and a % KD of about 80%.

[0099] The bio-efficacy of comparative formulations A-C was also studied, following the same principles of the landing / probing tests applied to formulation F1. In table 4, the bio-efficacy of formulations A-C is compared to the bio-efficacy of formulation F1. In this table: indicates a lower bio-efficacy compared to formulation 1, and “0” indicates a similar bio-efficacy compared to formulation 1 , and

[0100] Table 4. Comparison of bio-efficacy of formulations A-C with respect to F1

[0101] Table 4 clearly shows the synergistic effect of combining transfluthrin, metofluthrin and prallethrin.

Claims

PAT15815-WO-PCTCLAIMS1. A pest control composition comprising transfluthrin, metofluthrin, and prallethrin.

2. The pest control composition according to claim 1 , wherein the concentration of transfluthrin is at least 0.01 wt.% and / or up to 5.0 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.02 and 4.0 wt.%, more preferably between 0.03 to 3.0 wt.%, even more preferably between 0.05 to 2.0 wt.%, most preferably between 0.1 to 1.0 wt.%, for example between 0.5 to 0.6 wt.%.

3. The pest control composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the concentration of metofluthrin is at least 0.001 wt.% and / or up to 5.00 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.002 and 3.00 wt.%, more preferably between 0.005 and 2.00 wt.%, even more preferably between 0.01 and 1.00 wt.%, most preferably between 0.02 and 0.1 wt.%, for example, between 0.03 to 0.05 wt.%.

4. The pest control composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the concentration of prallethrin is at least 0.01 wt.% and / or up to 10.0 wt.%, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 0.02 and 9.0 wt.%, more preferably between 0.03 and 7.0 wt.%, even more preferably between 0.05 and 5.0 wt.%, most preferably between 0.1 and 3.0 wt.%, for example between 0.5 and 2.0 wt.%, or 0.8 and 1.0 wt.%.

5. The pest control composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the weight ratio of metofluthrin to transfluthrin is at least 0.01 :1 and / or up to 0.50:1 , preferably between 0.03:1 and 0.30:1 , more preferably between 0.05:1 and 0.20:1 , even more preferably between 0.06:1 and 0.10:1.

6. The pest control composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the composition is a liquid and the composition comprises a solvent, preferably wherein the composition comprises between 1 to 99 wt.% of solvent, based on the total weight of the composition, more preferably between 1 and 98.5 wt.%, even more preferably between 1 and 90 wt.%.

7. The pest control composition according to claim 6, wherein the solvent comprises or consist of at least one alcohol, preferably wherein the at least one alcohol is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, isopropanol or a combination thereof, more preferably wherein the alcohol is isopropanol.

8. The pest control composition according to claim 7, wherein the composition comprises between 5 and 60 wt.% of the at least one alcohol, based on the total weight ofPAT15815-WO-PCT the composition, preferably between 20 and 55 wt.%, more preferably between 30 and 50 wt.%, even more preferably between 35 and 45 wt.%.

9. The pest control composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the composition comprises one or more propellants.

10. The pest control composition according to claim 9, wherein the composition comprises between 10 wt.% and 90 wt.% of the one or more propellants, based on the total weight of the composition, preferably between 20 wt.% and 80 wt.%, more preferably between 30 wt.% and 70 wt.%, even more preferably between 40 wt.% and 65 wt.%.11 . The pest control composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pest is insects, preferably wherein the insects are flying insects, preferably mosquitoes and / or flies, preferably mosquitoes and / or houseflies.

12. The pest control composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the composition is an aerosol composition or suitable to be delivered to the air as an aerosol.

13. A pest control product, comprising the pest control composition according to any of the preceding claims contained inside a container, preferably wherein the container is in the form of a spray device or an aerosol device.

14. The pest control product according to claim 13, wherein the product is configured to dispense a metered dose of the pest control composition into the air.

15. The pest control product according to claim 14, wherein the metered dose is up to 3 g, of the pest control composition, preferably between 0.05 and 3 g, more preferably between 0.1 and 1 g, even more preferably between 0.1 and 0.2 g.

16. A method of killing, knocking-down and / or repelling a pest, comprising: providing the pest control composition according to any of claims 1 to 12 or the pest control product according to any of claims 13 to 15; and releasing a first quantity of the pest control composition into the air; preferably wherein the composition is released as an aerosol and / or wherein the pest is insects, preferably flying insects, preferably mosquitoes and / or flies, preferably mosquitoes and / or houseflies.

17. The method according to claim 16, comprising releasing a first quantity of at least 0.001 g and / or up to 10 g of the pest control composition from an aerosol device into the air, preferably wherein: a) the first quantity is between 0.01 and 5 g, more preferably between 0.1 and 2 g, even more preferably between 0.3 and 1 g, most preferably between 0.4 to 0.8 g in < 10 minutes or < 1 minute by one or more sprays of the device; and / orPAT15815-WO-PCT b) the first quantity is a metered dose.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, comprising refraining from releasing a second quantity of the pest control composition into the air until at least 4 hours, preferably at least 8 hours, after the first quantity has been released into the air.

19. Use of the pest control composition according to any of claims 1 to 12, or the pest control product according to any of claims 13 to 15, to kill, knock-down and / or repel a pest, preferably wherein the pest is insects, preferably flying insects, preferably mosquitoes and / or flies, preferably mosquitoes and / or houseflies.

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