Composite material including a thermoplastic polymer, a pest food material and a pesticide

• US 20080187565A1
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corteva Agriscience LLC (Corteva, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dow Agrosciences LLC (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tolley, Mike P., King, James E., DeMark, Joseph J., Hill, Robert L., Arnoldy, Anton, Williams, Donald E., Eger, Joseph E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,101,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/405
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/02 with devices or substances, e.g. food, pheronones attracting the insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/026 combined with devices for monitoring insect presence, e.g. termites bait stations A01M1/2005; detecting other animals in a given area A01M31/002
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2011 for crawling insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/006 insecticidal
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/10 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/56 1,2-Diazoles; Hydrogenated 1,2-diazoles
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 45/02 having three carbocyclic rings
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 47/02 the carbon atom having no bond to a nitrogen atom
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 47/34 containing the groups , e.g. biuret; Thio analogues thereof; Urea-aldehyde condensation products

Abstract

Composite materials that are palatable to a wood-destroying pest species and also pesticidal to the pest species can be used in pest control devices and can be used as wood substitutes for structural components, which are resistant to destruction by wood-destroying pests. The composite materials include a thermoplastic polymer, a food material for the pest and a pesticide. The composite material is formed by mixing a thermoplastic polymer, wood fragments or other cellulosic materials and a quantity of pesticide, and thereafter creating a molten material within a mixer, compounder, extruder or the like. The molten material is extruded or molded to form the desired shape.

Claims

1. A pest control device, comprising:

a bait operable to be consumed or displaced by one or more species of pest; and

a housing at least partially enclosing said bait;

wherein said bait includes a composite material including a plastic structural matrix;

a cellulosic food material contained within the matrix that is palatable to the pest; and

a pesticide contained within the matrix that is toxic to the pest.

2. The pest control device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the composite material exhibits greater palatability than untreated wood in a standard one-way paired-choice test.

3. The pest control device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plastic structural matrix comprises a thermoplastic polymer having a melting point below about 220°

C.

4. The pest control device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises a thermoplastic cellulose derivative.

5. The pest control device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pesticide is selected from an immediate action pesticide and a delayed action pesticide.

6. The pest control device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pesticide comprises a member selected from the group consisting of hexaflumuron, noviflumuron, chlorpyrifos, spinosad, imidacloprid, fipronil, lufenuron, diflubenzuron, flufenoxuron and hydramethylnon.

7. The pest control device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plastic structural matrix comprises a mixture of at least two different polymers.

8. The pest control device according to claim 1 wherein the plastic structural matrix comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, poly lactic acid and combinations thereof.

9. The pest control device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pest is one or more variety of termites.

10. The pest control device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the food material comprises a member selected from the group consisting of wood fibers, purified cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose and modified polymeric cellulose.

11. The pest control device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a pest sensing circuit.

12. A pest control system comprising at least two pest control devices each arranged to be spaced apart from one another in an area to be protected from one or more pests, at least one of said pest control devices including a bait that is operable to be consumed or displaced by the pest and that includes a composite material including a plastic structural matrix;

a cellulosic food material contained within the matrix that is palatable to the pest; and

a pesticide contained within the matrix that is toxic to the pest.

13. A method, comprising:

providing a pest control device including a pesticidal bait for one or more species of pest; and

installing the device in an area to be protected from the pests;

wherein the pesticidal bait includes a composite material including a plastic structural matrix;

a cellulosic food material contained within the matrix that is palatable to the pest; and

a pesticide contained within the matrix that is toxic to the pest.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the pest control device further includes a pest sensor and communication circuitry coupled to the pest sensor.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the pest sensor for the pest control device includes a pest sensing circuit, wherein the pest sensing circuit includes an electrically conductive loop arranged to be altered during consumption or displacement of the bait for the pest control devices, wherein the loop is coupled to the communication circuitry to provide a two-state signal, wherein a first state of the signal corresponds to an electrically open condition of the loop, and wherein a second state of the signal corresponds to an electrically closed condition of the loop.

16. A method for making a composite material, comprising:

providing a mixture of a softened or molten thermoplastic polymer having a softening or melting point below about 220°

C., a cellulosic food material that is palatable to at least one species of wood-destroying pest and a pesticide that is toxic to the pest;

forming the mixture to provide a workpiece having a desired shape; and

cooling the workpiece to a temperature below the softening or melting point of the plastic to provide a solid composite article;

wherein the composite material exhibits greater palatability than untreated wood in a standard one-way paired-choice test.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the heated mixture further includes a plasticizer.

18. The method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said providing comprises mixing the polymer, the food material and the pesticide to form a mixture;

and compounding said mixture under elevated pressure and temperature to form a molten material.

19. The method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said forming comprises a manner selected from the group consisting of injection molding, compression molding and extruding.

20. The method in accordance with claim 19 wherein the mixture further includes a lubricant.

21. The method in accordance with claim 20 wherein the lubricant is calcium stearate.

22. The method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said method comprises:

(a) adding the food material and the pesticide to an extruder mixing container;

(b) contacting a hot thermoplastic polymer with the food material and pesticide to produce a food material/pesticide/thermoplastic polymer mixture; and

(c) contacting the food material/pesticide/thermoplastic polymer mixture with a die to provide shape to the food material/pesticide/thermoplastic polymer mixture and to produce the workpiece.

23. The process according to claim 22 wherein the mixing container is a twin screw extruder.

24. A composite material comprising:

a plastic structural matrix;

a cellulosic food material contained within the matrix that is palatable to at least one species of wood-destroying pest; and

a pesticide contained within the matrix that is toxic to the pest;

wherein the composite material is operable to be consumed or displaced by the pest;

wherein the composite material exhibits greater palatability than untreated wood in a standard one-way paired-choice test; and

wherein the plastic structural matrix comprises a thermoplastic polymer having a melting point below about 220°

C.

25. The composite material according to claim 24 wherein the composite material produced is a monitor or bait for a pest control device.