WO1993000009A1

WO1993000009A1 - Pesticidal compositions comprising amitraz and imidacloprid

Info

Publication number: WO1993000009A1
Application number: PCT/EP1992/001416
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hartmut Joppien
Original assignee: Schering Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 1991-06-26
Filing date: 1992-06-17
Publication date: 1993-01-07
Also published as: IL102202A0; AP304A; TR26148A; CN1067781A; AU2165192A; GB9113796D0; ZA924657B; AP9200404A0

Abstract

Pesticidal compositions comprising amitraz and imidacloprid.

Description

PESTICIDAL COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING AMITRAZ AND IMIDACLOPRID

Field of the invention

This invention relates to pesticidal compositions containing amitraz .

The present invention provides a pesticidal composition comprising a) amitraz and b) imidacloprid.

Amitraz is a known insecticide and acaricide and is the common name for N,N-bis(2,4-xylyliminomethyl)methylamine. Imidacloprid is a known insecticide and is the common name for l-(6-chloro-3-pyridylmethyl)-N-nitroimidazolidin- 2-ylideneamine.

We have found that the compositions of the invention have advantageous properties over the individual components and that synergism is often demonstrated.

The ratios of the amitraz to imidacloprid vary over a wide range but are usually in the range 10:1 to 1:10, especially 5:1 to 1:5.

In addition, other pesticides may be employed in conjunction with the active ingredients described above providing they do not adversely affect the interaction between the components a) and b) . For example it is sometimes useful to include additional insecticides or acaricides to extend the range of activity in order to control a wider spectrum of pests. The compositions of the invention are active against a wide range of pests, e.g. Lepidoptera, including Spodoptera spp, eg S.littoralis, Heliothis spp., eg H. armicrera and H. viriscens, and Pieris brassicae; Diptera, including Musca domestica, Ceratitis capitata, Erioischia brassicae, Lucilia sericata and Aedes aeqγpti; Homoptera, including aphids such as Me oura viciae and Nilaparvata luqens; Coleoptera, including Phaedon cochleariae, Anthonomus qrandis and corn rootwor s (Diabrotica sp . eg. Diabrotica undecimpunctata) ;

Orthoptera, including cockroaches, such as Blattella σermanica; Hemiptera, such as Nilaparvata lucrens, Nephotettix ^'cincticeps, aphids, and Psylla spp.; ticks, e.g. Boophilus microplus; lice, including Damalinia bovis and Linoσnathus vituli; as well as spider mites such as Tetranvchus urticaβ and Panonychus ul i.

The compositions of the invention may be employed in many forms and are often most conveniently prepared in aqueous form immediately prior to use. One method of preparing such a composition is referred to as "tank mixing" in which the ingredients in their commercially available form are mixed together by the user in a quantity of water. In addition to tank mixing immediately prior to use the compositions containing amitraz and imidacloprid may be formulated into a more concentrated primary composition which is diluted with water or other diluent before use. Such compositions may comprise a surface active agent in addition to the active ingredients and examples of such compositions are as follows.

It can be a dispersible solution which comprises the active ingredients dissolved in a water-miscible solvent with the addition of a dispersing agent. Alternatively it can comprise the ingredients in the form of a finely ground powder in association with a dispersing agent and intimately mixed with water to give a paste or cream which can if desired be added to an emulsion of oil in water to give a dispersion of active ingredients in an aqueous oil emulsion.

An emulsifiable concentrate comprises the active ingredient dissolved in a water-immiscible solvent which is formed into an emulsion with water in the presence of an emulsifying agent.

A granular solid comprises the active ingredients associated with powder diluents such as kaolin, which mixture is granulated by known methods. Alternatively it comprises the active ingredients adsorbed or absorbed on a pre-granular diluent, for example Fuller's earth, attapulgite or limestone grit.

A dispersible or wettable powder usually comprises the active ingredients in admixture with a suitable surfactant and an inert powder diluent such as china clay.

Another suitable concentrate is a flowable suspension concentrate which is formed by grinding the active ingredients with water, a wetting agent and a suspending agent.

In some circumstances it may be desirable to combine two types of formulation e.g. one of the components is present in an emulsifiable concentrate and the second components is dispersed as a powder in this concentrate.

The concentrate of the active ingredients (when used as the sole active components) in a composition for direct application to the crop by conventional ground methods is preferably within the range of 0.001 to 10 per cent by weight of the composition, especially 0.005 to 5 per cent by weight, but more concentrated compositions containing up to 40 per cent may be desirable in the case of aerial sprays.

The invention thus includes a method for controlling a pest, especially an insect pest, which comprises applying to the pest or its locus, amitraz and imidacloprid either together or in sequence.

The invention is illustrated in the following Examples which describe experiments in which a synergistic effect was observed. The desired concentration of the active ingredients was achieved by diluting, with water, a 20% emulsifiable concentrate of amitraz and an acetone solution of imidacloprid, each of which contained conventional surfactants.

Example 1

Activity against larvae (LI) of the cotton bollworm (Heliothis virescensl

0.2 ml Portions of the active ingredients, at the rates shown, were pipetted onto samples of artificial feed material. After drying, the feed material was put into polystyrene petri dishes. After an hour, 10 LI of the cotton bollworm (Heliothis virescens) were counted into the dishes. The closed dishes were left for two days at 26-7°C in a controlled environment room, under extended daylight conditions. The % mortality of the larvae in comparison with untreated controls was assessed. The results are shown in Table 1.

Thus although the amitraz shows no activity, even at the highest rate, it synergistically increases the activity of imidacloprid.

Example 2

Ovicidal activity against eggs of the cotton bollworm

(Heliothis virescens)

0.2 ml Portions of the active ingredients, at the rates shown, were pipetted onto one and two day old eggs that had been laid on filter paper by the cotton bollworm (Heliothis virescens) female moths, in polystyrene petri dishes. The closed dishes were left for three days at 26- 7°C in a controlled environment room, under extended daylight conditions. The % inhibition of hatching of the eggs in comparison with untreated eggs indicates the level of activity. The results are shown in Table 2

Table 2

Concentration Concentration of amitraz of imidacloprid (ppm) (ppm)

25 0 10 0

0 25 0 10 0 4

10 10 10 4

Thus although the imidacloprid shows no activity, alone, at the two lower rates, it synergistically increase the activity of amitraz. The mixtures also have a greater activity than the top rates of the individual active ingredient even though the combined active ingredient content is lower than the top rates of the individual active ingredients.

Claims

1) A pesticidal composition comprising a) amitraz, and b) imidacloprid.

2) A composition according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the amitraz to imidacloprid is in the range 10:1 to 1:10.

3) A method for controlling a pest, especially an insect pest, which comprises applying to the pest or its locus, amitraz and imidacloprid, either together or in sequence.