Method for controlling a population of social insects using 1-arylpyrazoles or 1-heteroarylpyrazoles

Abstract

A method for controlling a population of social insects such as ants, wasps or cockroaches by administering to a minor fraction of the population an effective amount of a composition that includes a bait and a 1-phenylpyrazole-type compound, particularly 5-amino-3-cyano-1-[2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4-[(trifluoromethyl)sulphinyl]-1H-pyrazole.

1 . Method for controlling a population of social insects such as ants or wasps or cockroaches (or Blatta spp.), characterized in that an effective amount of a composition comprising a bait and a compound of formula (I):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       in which: 
 R 1  is a halogen atom or a CN or methyl group;  
 R 2  is S(O) n R 3 ;  
 R 3  is alkyl or haloalkyl;  
 R 4  represents a hydrogen or halogen atom; or a radical NR 5 R 6 , S(O) m R 7 , C(O)R 7  or C(O)O—R 7 , alkyl, haloalkyl or OR 8  or a radical —N═C(R 9 )(R 10 );  
 R 5  and R 6  independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, haloalkyl, C(O)alkyl or S(O) r CF 3  radical; or R 5  and R 6  may together form a divalent alkylene radical which may be interrupted by one or two divalent hetero atoms, such as oxygen or sulphur;  
 R 7  represents an alkyl or haloalkyl radical;  
 R 8  represents an alkyl or haloalkyl radical or a hydrogen atom;  
 R 9  represents an alkyl radical or a hydrogen atom;  
 R 10  represents a phenyl or heteroaryl group optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms or groups such as OH, —O-alkyl, —S-alkyl, cyano or alkyl;  
 R 11  and R 12  represent, independently of each other, a hydrogen or halogen atom;  
 R 13  represents a halogen atom or a haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, S(O) q CF 3  or SF 5  group;  
 m, n, q and r represent, independently of each other, an integer equal to 0, 1 or 2;  
 X represents a trivalent nitrogen atom or a radical C—R 12 , the other three valency positions of the carbon atom forming part of the aromatic ring;  
 with the proviso that when R 1  is methyl, then R 3  is haloalkyl, R 4  is NH 2 , R 11  is Cl, R 13  is CF 3  and X is N.  
 
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the controlled population of social insects is a population of ants.  
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the controlled population of social insects is a population of cockroaches.  
     
     
         4 . Method for controlling social insects such as ants, wasps or cockroaches (but preferably cockroaches or Blatta spp.) which have a common dwelling place or nest in which they live with a substantial population of their congeners, the said method comprising a treatment with an effective dose, preferably a dose of between 0.0001 and 20 grams per 100 m 2 , of one or more areas frequented by, or assumed to be frequented by, the said social insects, the said area being outside the place of the said common dwelling but being a place in which the cockroaches circulate or are assumed to circulate.  
     
     
         5 . Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the effective amount of composition used is an amount which is capable of controlling the whole population of social insects.  
     
     
         6 . Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the effective amount of composition used is equal to the dose required to destroy at least 90% of the minor fraction of the population of social insects to which said composition is applied, in a time between 2 and 30 days, preferably between 2 and 7 days.  
     
     
         7 . Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the effective amount of composition used for the method according to the invention is such that the dose of compound of formula (I) is between 0.05 and 50 mg per anthill treated, preferably from 0.1 to 20 mg.  
     
     
         8 . Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the effective amount of composition used for the method according to the invention is such that the dose of compound of formula (I) is between 0.0001 and 20 g per 100 m 2 .  
     
     
         9 . Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bait employed is chosen from animal and/or plant proteins, or alternatively from fats, also of animal and/or plant origin, or even from mono-, oligo- or polyorganosaccharides, especially from sucrose, lactose, fructose, dextrose, glucose or even molasses or honey.  
     
     
         10 . Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compound of formula (I) used is 5-amino-3-cyano-1-[2,6-dichloro-4-(trifluoro-methyl)phenyl]-4-[(trifluoromethyl)sulphinyl]-1H-pyrazole.  
     
     
         11 . Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the composition is applied to a fraction of the population which is between 1 and 40% of the total population, preferably between 2 and 20%.  
     
     
         12 . Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controlled population of ants is a population of ants living in the same anthill.  
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the minor fraction of the population to which the composition is applied consists of harvester workers from the anthill.  
     
     
         14 . Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dose of compound of formula (I) in the composition is between 0.0005 and 0.5%, preferably between 0.001 and 0.2%.  
     
     
         15 . Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dose of bait in the composition is between 1 and 99%, preferably between 30 and 99%.  
     
     
         16 . Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the composition is applied by placing it in a closed bait carrier box containing openings which are reserved, on account of their size, for the exclusive use of ants or Blatta spp., in an area where these are likely to be found.  
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 16 , characterized in that the area is in a public or private place, such as a living area, or alternatively on a balcony, a patio, in a garden or in a field.