Plant-Based Insecticide Composition for Selective Pest Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current synthetic insecticides have a broad impact on the environment, persist for long periods, and pose health risks due to their non-selective action and accumulation in ecosystems.

Innovation Solution

An insecticide comprising thistle oil, tea tree leaves/wood, black pine resin, and scots pine resin, with an emulsifier, providing a selective and environmentally friendly solution by targeting specific pests like aphids, thrips, and whiteflies while minimizing harm to non-target species.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If synthetic insecticides are used to control a broad variety of insect species, then insect protection effectiveness is improved, but environmental harm and health risks increase due to non-selective action, long persistence, and accumulation in ecosystems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsect protection effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental harm and health risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing synthetic compounds with natural plant-based extracts (thistle oil, tea tree oil, pine resin, yarrow extract) in specific concentration ranges. This parameter change maintains insecticidal effectiveness while reducing environmental persistence and accumulation, thereby resolving the contradiction between protection reliability and environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite formulation combining multiple plant-based active ingredients (thistle oil, tea tree oil, pine resin, yarrow extract) with emulsifiers and co-solvents. This composite approach synergistically enhances insecticidal activity against target pests while maintaining selectivity and reducing environmental impact, addressing both effectiveness and safety concerns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Duration of action of stationary object

If synthetic insecticides with long half-life are used for sustained protection, then duration of action is improved, but retention in the environment and accumulation in food chains increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of protectionVSAvoidenvironmental retention time
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the temporal parameters by using plant-based compounds with appropriate half-lives that provide sufficient crop protection duration while naturally degrading in the environment. The specific formulation achieves a balance where protection duration is adequate for agricultural needs but environmental retention is limited, preventing accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If broad-spectrum synthetic insecticides are applied to protect crops, then productivity and crop protection are improved, but harm to non-target organisms and ecosystem damage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrop protection efficiencyVSAvoidharm to non-target organisms
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the local quality principle by formulating insecticides with plant-based extracts that exhibit selective toxicity - being highly effective against target pest insects while being harmless or low-toxicity to beneficial insects, mammals, and other non-target organisms. This localized effectiveness resolves the contradiction between productivity and harm to non-target species.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts potentially harmful synthetic chemicals into beneficial natural plant extracts that maintain pest control effectiveness while providing ecological benefits. The plant-based formulation protects crops from pests while simultaneously being environmentally benign, turning a potentially harmful intervention into a beneficial one.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The insecticide effectively controls target pests with minimal impact on non-target organisms and the environment, offering a safer and more efficient alternative to synthetic counterparts.

Implementation Method 1

as well as at least one emulsifier

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmulsion: Emulsion

Implementation Method 2

the liquid component may comprise binders, vegetable oils, surface-active substances

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension reduction: Surfactant

Implementation Method 3

The extracts may be present in an aqueous solution obtained by, for example, mixing crushed plant material and water, allowing to settle and separating the solids from the resulting aqueous solution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExtraction: Liquid-Liquid Extraction

Data Source

PatentEP4663020A1insecticide
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 RUST- CORP PTY LTD
  • EP4663020A1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1d
  • EP4663020A1 patent drawingFigure 2a1~2f1
  • EP4663020A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention relates to an insecticide comprising - thistle oil and/or rapeseed oil, - a first component (A) based on tea tree leaves and/or tea tree wood, - a second component (B) based on black pine resin and/or scots pine resin, as well as - at least one emulsifier.