Non-hazardous pest control

• US 6,004,569 A
• Filed: 06/06/1997
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gibraltar Business Capital, LLC
• Original Assignee: EcoSMART Technologies Incorporated (Kittrich Corporation)
• Inventors: Bessette, Steven M., Beigler, Myron A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Neil S.
• Application Number:
  US08/870,560
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 424/43-47, 424/84, 424/DIG. 8, 424/DIG. 10, 424/DIG. 11, 424/77, 424/403, 424/405-411, 424/417-421, 514/513-515, 514/529, 514/690, 514/717, 514/720, 514/729-733
• US Class Current: 424/406
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 2300/00 Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/08 containing solids as carriers or diluents
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 31/04 Oxygen or sulfur attached to an aliphatic side-chain of a carbocyclic ring system
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 31/06 Oxygen or sulfur directly attached to a cycloaliphatic ring system
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 31/08 Oxygen or sulfur directly attached to an aromatic ring system
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 31/14 Ethers
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 31/16 with two or more oxygen or sulfur atoms directly attached to the same aromatic ring system
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 35/06 containing keto or thioketo groups as part of a ring, e.g. cyclohexanone, quinone; Derivatives thereof, e.g. ketals
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 37/02 Saturated carboxylic acids or thio analogues thereof; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/16 with oxygen as the ring hetero atom
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/04 Carbon disulfide; Carbon monoxide; Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 61/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing substances of unknown or undetermined composition, e.g. substances characterised only by the mode of action
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 424/08 Systemic pesticides
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 424/11 Termite treating

Abstract

A pesticide and a method of using the pesticide to kill invertebrates, especially insects, arachnids and larvae. The method is to prepare a mixture of a carrier with the pesticide and apply the mixture to the insects, arachnids and larvae and their habitat. The pesticide is a neurotransmitter affector utilizing octopamine receptor sites in the insects, arachnids and larvae. The affector agent is a chemical having a six membered carbon ring having substituted thereon at least one oxygenated functional group. The affector agent is a chemical component of a plant essential oil and is naturally occurring. Deposition of the chemicals of the present invention on a surface provides residual toxicity for up to 30 days. Various carriers for the affector agent are disclosed. The chemicals of the present invention deter feeding of insects, arachnids and larvae and also retard growth of the larvae of the insects and arachnids.

Claims

1. A method for interacting with the neurotransmitters of octopamine receptor sites in invertebrates and/or larvae thereof, to thereby kill and/or affect the feeding habits and growth of the invertebrates and/or larvae thereof without similarly affecting mammals, fish or fowl, the method comprising:

selecting an affector agent based on the ability of the affector agent to interact as an agonist or antagonist on the neurotransmitters of the octopamine receptor sites in the invertebrates and/or larvae thereof, the affector agent comprising a naturally occurring compound having a six member carbon ring structure, with the carbon ring being substituted by at least one oxygenated functional group and the structure of the affector agent is devoid of nitrogen;

applying to the invertebrates, their larvae and/or their habitat, a pesticidal composition of a carrier with said affector agent,

wherein the affector agent is present in the pesticidal composition in an effective amount to interact as an agonist or antagonist on the octopamine receptor sites to kill or affect the feeding and growth of the invertebrates and/or their larvae and is not harmful to mammals, fish or fowl.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising applying the mixture to insects, army worms, arachnids, larvae thereof, and/or their habitat.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the affector agent is selected from the group consisting of anethole, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, carvacrol, cinnamic alcohol, eugenol, phenyl ethyl alcohol, pulegone, alpha terpineol, and mixtures thereof.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the mixture is selected from a group consisting of cinnamic alcohol, eugenol with alpha terpineol;

benzyl alcohol, phenyl ethyl alcohol, eugenol with alpha terpineol; and

benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, phenyl ethyl alcohol, cinnamic alcohol with alpha terpineol.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the range of weight percent of the mixture is cinnamic alcohol 20%-35%, eugenol 10%-50% and alpha terpineol 10%-50%.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding to the mixture a material having a pleasant odor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier is water having at least one emulsifier therein.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier is a wettable powder.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier is a waterproof dust.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier is an aerosol.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier is a dry powder.

14. The method, according to claim 1, wherein the mixture comprises an oil.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the oil is galoxolide and the affector agent is eugenol.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the mixture comprises approximately 30%-60% by weight of galoxolide and approximately 40%-70% by weight of eugenol.

17. The method of claim 14, comprising approximately 1 mg of the mixture is over an area of approximately 10 sq. cm.

19. The method of claim 3, wherein the affector agent is selected from the group consisting of anethole, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, carvacrol, cinnamic alcohol, citronellal, phenyl ethyl alcohol, pulegone, and mixtures thereof.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mixture is in the form of an emulsion.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein action as an agonist or antagonist on the receptor sites is produced by external contact of the invertebrates and/or larvae with the affector agent.

12. A method for killing and/or affecting the feeding habits and growth of invertebrates, and/or larvae thereof, the method comprising:

selecting affector agents based on the agonist or antagonist activity of the affector agents with neurotransmitters of octopamine receptor sites in the invertebrates;

applying to the invertebrates, larvae thereof and/or their habitat the affector agents as a blend of cinnamic alcohol, eugenol and alpha terpineol,

the blend being mixed with a carrier to produce a substantially uniform

pesticidal composition wherein the blend of affector agents is present in the pesticidal composition in an effective amount to interact as an agonist or antagonist on the octopamine receptor sites to kill or affect the feeding habits and growth of the invertebrates and/or their larvae and is not harmful to mammals, fish or fowl.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the range of weight percent of the blend is cinnamic alcohol 20%-35%, eugenol 10%-50% and alpha terpineol 10%-50%.

21. The method according to claim 12, comprising applying the pesticidal composition to insects, army worms, arachnids, larvae thereof, and/or their habitat, wherein the affector agents externally contact the insects, army worms, arachnids and larvae thereof.

18. A method for killing and/or affecting the feeding habits and growth of invertebrates and/or larvae thereof, the method comprising:

selecting affector agents based on the selected affector agents interacting as an agonist or antagonist with neurotransmitters of octopamine receptor sites in the invertebrates;

applying to the invertebrates, their larvae and/or their habitat, a pesticidal composition comprising a carrier and the affector agents as a blend selected from the group consisting of;

(1) cinnamic alcohol, eugenol and alpha terpineol;

(2) benzyl alcohol, phenyl ethyl alcohol, eugenol and alpha terpineol;

(3) phenyl ethyl alcohol, eugenol and alpha terpineol; and

(4) benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, phenyl ethyl alcohol, cinnamic alcohol and alpha terpineol;

wherein the blend of affector agents is present in the pesticidal composition in an effective amount to interact as an agonist or antagonist on the octopamine receptor sites to kill or affect the feeding habits and growth of the invertebrates and/or their larvae and is not harmful to mammals, fish or fowl.

22. The method according to claim 18, comprising applying the pesticidal composition to insects, army worms, arachnids, larvae thereof, and/or their habitat, wherein the affector agents externally contact the insects, army worms, arachnids and larvae thereof.