Bait materials, pest monitoring devices and other pest control devices that include polyurethane foam

• US 9,848,605 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corteva Agriscience LLC (Corteva, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dow Agrosciences LLC (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: Eger, Jr., Joseph Edward, Williams, III, Donald E., Mirasol, Sol M., Tolley, Mike P., DeMark, Joseph J., Messenger, Matthew T., Howard, Phillip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): VANHORN, ABIGAIL LOUISE
• Application Number:
  US13/840,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20130276354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 25/16 Foams
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/22 containing ingredients stabilising the active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 41/06 Sulfonic acid amides
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/22 rings with more than six members
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/54 1,3-Diazines; Hydrogenated 1,3-diazines
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 51/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing organic compounds having the sequences of atoms O—N—S, X—O—S, N—N—S, O—N—N or O-halogen, regardless of the number of bonds each atom has and with no atom of these sequences forming part of a heterocyclic ring
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 57/16 containing heterocyclic radicals

Abstract

A termite bait includes a plurality of cellulosic food material pieces palatable to termites embedded within a water resistant polyurethane foam matrix. Another termite bait includes a plurality of cellulosic food material pieces embedded within a water-absorbent polyurethane foam matrix. Yet another termite bait includes at least one cellulosic food material piece encapsulated within a water resistant polyurethane foam coating. Such termite baits can be used alone or in a monitoring device or other termite control device. Another termite control device includes a container, a cellulosic food material within the container and a water resistant polyurethane foam positioned to separate the food material from its environment. The container can contain a termite bait as described above or can include a chamber containing a cellulosic food material and at least one pocket containing a polyurethane foam barrier to reduce intrusion of water through the pocket to the food material.

Claims

1. An above ground termite control device, comprising:

a housing configured to hold a composite bait material; and

a composite bait material contained within said housing, the composite bait material including a plurality of cellulosic food material pieces operable to be consumed or displaced by one or more species of termite and a termite-edible or termite-displaceable polyurethane foam matrix surrounding at least some of the cellulosic food material pieces,

wherein the polyurethane foam provides a moisture barrier protecting the cellulosic food material pieces from becoming damp.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the polyurethane foam comprises a rigid open-cell polyurethane foam and defines an internal network of channels opening through pores on the surface of the polyurethane foam.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a pesticide contained within the composite bait material that is toxic to one or more species of termite.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the pesticide is selected from an immediate action pesticide and a delayed action pesticide.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the pesticide comprises a member selected from the group consisting of hexaflumuron, noviflumuron, chlorpyrifos, spinosad, imidacloprid, fipronil, lufenuron, diflubenzuron, flufenoxuron and hydramethylnon.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the cellulosic food material comprises a member selected from the group consisting of wood fibers, wood, purified cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose and modified polymeric cellulose.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the polyurethane foam matrix comprises an enhancer entrained therein.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the enhancer comprises a particulate cellulosic material.

9. The device claim 8 wherein the particulate cellulosic material is present in the polyurethane foam matrix in an amount of up to about 95 parts per 100 parts polyurethane foam.

10. A method for making an above-ground termite control device, comprising:

providing a bait container having a body that defines an internal chamber and a first opening providing access into said chamber;

inserting a plurality of pieces of a cellulosic food material that is palatable to one or more species of termites into said chamber through said opening, wherein said bait container body and said cellulosic food material pieces define void spaces therebetween;

introducing an uncured mixture of polyurethane foam precursors into said chamber through said opening such that said mixture surrounds a plurality of said cellulosic food material pieces; and

allowing said mixture to cure to provide a polyurethane foam matrix around said plurality of said cellulosic food material pieces,

wherein the polyurethane foam provides a moisture barrier protecting the cellulosic food material pieces from becoming damp.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the polyurethane foam matrix comprises a rigid open-cell polyurethane foam.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said introducing comprises injecting the mixture into the bait container.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein a blowing agent is used to inject the mixture into the bait container.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said introducing comprises pouring the mixture into the bait container.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein said cellulosic food material comprises a food material selected from the group consisting of wood fibers, wood, purified cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose and modified polymeric cellulose.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the polyurethane foam matrix comprises an enhancer entrained therein.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the enhancer comprises a particulate cellulosic material.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the particulate cellulosic material is present in the polyurethane foam matrix in an amount of up to about 95 parts per 100 parts polyurethane foam.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein said cellulosic food material further comprises a pesticide that is toxic to the one or more species of termite.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the pesticide is selected from an immediate action pesticide and a delayed action pesticide.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the pesticide comprises a member selected from the group consisting of hexaflumuron, noviflumuron, chlorpyrifos, spinosad, imidacloprid, fipronil, lufenuron, diflubenzuron, flufenoxuron and hydramethylnon.