(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2005/0118224A1 Flynn Et Al
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US 2005011.8224A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2005/0118224A1 Flynn et al. (43) Pub. Date: Jun. 2, 2005 (54) EDIBLE PESTICIDAL FORMULATIONS (86) PCT No.: PCT/AU02/01110 (75) Inventors: Anthony Gerard Flynn, Wandan (30) Foreign Application Priority Data Heights (AU); Philip Edward Pentland, Flemington (AU); Hong Shu Aug. 17, 2001 (AU)............................................ PR 7099 Fan, Wantirna (AU) Publication Classification Correspondence Address: TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW, (51) Int. Cl." ..................................................... A01N 25/08 LLP (52) U.S. Cl. .............................................................. 424/410 TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER (57) ABSTRACT EIGHTH FLOOR The invention provides a granular edible pesticidal compo SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111-3834 (US) Sition comprising: (a) a continuous hydrophilic matrix phase (73) Assignee: Grotech Australia Pty Ltd, Werribee, comprising hydrophilic material, preferably in particulate Victoria (AU) form and water, Said matrix phase being palatable to pests, and (b) a discontinous oleophilic phase dispersed within the (21) Appl. No.: 10/486,979 hydrophilic matrix phase and comprising an oleophilic car rier and pesticide preferably dissolved in the oleophilic (22) PCT Filed: Aug. 16, 2002 phase. US 2005/0118224 A1 Jun. 2, 2005 EDIBLE PESTICIDAL FORMULATIONS continuous phase of the formulation). These hydrophilic materials contain a certain amount of water and may take up INTRODUCTION more water when they encounter wet conditions. Examples 0001. This patent relates to formulations for the delivery of pesticidal formulations which contain the pesticide in a of pesticidal agents and to methods for preparing these hydrophilic matrix include: formulations. In particular the invention relates to formula 0012 (1) The use of hydrated fibrous mats as car tions which are edible and exert insecticidal activity when riers by Balassa in U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,928 eaten by pests. 0013 (2) The use of thermoplastic hydrogels as 0002 Target pests can include any pest whose feeding carriers by Vaughan et al in Australian Patent activity has a deleterious influence on the activities of AUO768O991. people, for example insects, Spiders, mites, nematodes, 0014) (3) The use of reversibly dehydrated vegetable rodents. and/or fruit to provide rodent baits by Barth et al in EP 861 O7928 BACKGROUND 0015 (4) The use of a carrier phase comprising milk 0.003 Edible pesticidal compositions have been widely Solids and Sucrose (in the presence of high levels of used in control of pests. In Such formulations the loss of boric acid as active ingredient) by Nelson et al in active agent is a problem for the efficacy and environmental U.S. Pat. No. 6,153,181. Nelson points out that toxic Safety of the composition. baits for crawling insects have historically been 0004. The pesticidal agent is often liberated into the water-based, and that water has been presumed nec environment and is wasted (removed or destroyed) by essary for good bait performance. Nelson explains processes Such as Volatilization, binding to clay or organic that products comprising Significant quantities of matter, microbial degradation, chemical decay and leaching. water tend to lose effectiveneSS as a result of water This significantly reduces the effective life of the edible loSS, rancidity, break-down of active ingredients etc. pesticidal formulation. 0016 (5) The use of an aqueous plant fibre slurry 0005 Another problem caused by edible pesticidal com (which is Subsequently dried) as the matrix for an positions is that the pesticidal agent is often toxic to ben agricultural granule has been described by Lowe etal eficial organisms which prey on pests but do not cause in U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,564. Lowe et all note that the feeding damage in their own right. use of clay in the matrix can create chemical inac 0006 The presence of residual sub-lethal quantities of tivation of active ingredients Such as chlorpyriphos. pesticidal agents through loSS of pesticide over time causes 0017 (6) The use of polyvinyl alcohol and borate in pesticide resistance to develop in the population of pests. water (Subsequently dried) as a pesticide matrix has This problem can be exacerbated by slow release formula been described by Maglio in U.S. Pat. No. RE33, tions which generate Significant Zones or "hot spots” of 670. Sub-lethal pesticide concentration. 0018 (7) The use of portions of corncob in various 0007 Sustained release formulations have been ratioS as a carrier for pesticides has been described described which provide prolonged pesticidal activity by by Katz et al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,344. providing a slow continuous release of pesticide. Such 0019. The discussion of the background to the invention Sustained release formulations have been made by contain herein is included to explain the context of the invention. ing the pesticidal agent in a hydrophobic matrix material. This is not to be taken as an admission that any of the 0008 Example of a controlled release formulation is the material referred to was published, known or part of the SuSCon range of controlled release chlorpyrifos granules common general knowledge in Australia as at the priority sold by Cropcare Australasia Pty Ltd of 77 Tingira Street, date of any of the claims. Pinkenba, Queensland, Australia which are based on the use 0020 None of the above formulations has been shown to of thermoplastic resins (Such as ethylene-Vinyl acetate provide a long-term ingestible bait which properly contains copolymers) as the matrix phase. active ingredient. 0009. Another example of a controlled release formula tion is the aphicidal granule product based on the use of SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION thermoplastic resins or wax as described in Australian Patent 0021. This invention provides granules comprising: AU894.4301 to ICI PLC. 0022 (a) a continuous hydrophilic matrix phase 0.010 While the slow release of pesticides from these comprising hydrophilic material, preferably in par formulations increases the effective life of the edible pesti ticulate form and water, Said matrix phase being cidal formulation it does not address problems of damage to palatable to pests, and non-target organisms or the built up of resistance. Many long-lasting hydrophobic matrix materials (e.g. ethylene 0023 (b) a discontinuous oleophilic phase dispersed vinyl acetate copolymers) are not edible by pests and So within the hydrophilic matrix phase and comprising cannot be used to provide edible pesticidal formulations. an oleophilic carrier and pesticide preferably dis Solved in the oleophilic phase. 0.011 Sustained release formulations have also been made by containing the pesticidal agent in a hydrophilic 0024. It is surprising that the discontinuously dispersed matrix material (i.e. the hydrophilic material provides the oleophilic phase enhances the containment of the oil-Soluble US 2005/0118224 A1 Jun. 2, 2005 pesticide because the principal barrier to release would be 5. Even more preferably the hydrophilic entities comprise expected to be the hydrophilic matrix. fibres or fibre segments of length 0.05 mm or more, most 0.025 In one preferment the oleophilic phase is viscous at preferably 0.5 mm or more. ambient temperature, i.e. the time taken to pour Said oleo 0038. The continuous hydrophilic phase contains water. philic phase from a 100 ml beaker is in excess of 10 seconds The water may be present in amounts of at least 0.5% by at 20° C. and more preferably in excess of 30 seconds at 20 weight of the hydrophilic phase and is preferably present in C. The oleophilic phase will preferably have a Brookfield amounts of at least 5% by weight of the hydrophilic phase. Viscosity greater than 100 cp, more preferably greater than The preferred upper limit for water will generally be gov 200 cP. (Measured at a temperature of 25 C.). erned by the desired mechanical integrity of the composi 0026. The invention further provides a method of con tion. Typically no more than 30% by weight. trolling ground dwelling pests in a region comprising apply 0039. In one preferment the hydrophilic matrix phase, ing the granular pesticidal composition as hereinbefore when Swollen with water, can be formed into a deformable described adjacent or below the surface of the soil. dough under the action of high pressure shearing forces. 0027. In regions of thick vegetation the granules may be 0040. The hydrophilic matrix phase is edible to target applied to the thatch of vegetation adjacent the Surface of the pests. The hydrophilic matrix may comprise a wide range of Soil. organic materials although decomposed plant material and 0028. In yet a further aspect the invention provides a plant fibres is particularly preferred. The hydrophilic matrix method of preparing a granular pesticidal composition as may comprise edible material Such as Stable composted hereinbefore described comprising: material, plant fibre, plant husks, raw or process cereal, 0029 (i) mixing water with the hydrophilic phase to blood and bone, bone meal, peat, animal manure and mix form a deformable dough; tures thereof. 0041. In one particular preferment the hydrophilic matrix 0030 (ii) spraying an oleophilic phase onto the comprises peat or corn fibre, preferably wood peat or reed hydrophilic phase and mixing; Sedge peat or Sphagnum peat. More preferably fibrous reed 0031 (iii) forming the mixture into granules; and Sedge peat. Most preferably the hydrophilic matrix com 0032 (iv) drying the granules to mechanical integ prises a fibrous peat. rity. 0042. In one preferment the hydrophilic matrix phase has a buffer capacity Such that the inside of the granule (under DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED prolonged Soil storage conditions) can be maintained at 1 or EMBODIMENTS more pH units different from the surrounding soil, preferably 0033. The pesticidal composition of the invention com 2 or more units. prises a discontinuous oleophilic phase which typically 0043. In one preferment the inside of the granule has a contains the pesticidal dissolved therein.