Ant spray containing D-limonene and methods of making and using same

Abstract

A food-grade insecticidal composition allowed for use in organic production which is effective in controlling insects, such as ants, aphids, mealy bugs, white flies, spider mites, leaf hoppers, cabbage loopers, leaf eating beetles and caterpillars, cockroaches, flies, wasps, mosquitoes, wood boring and eating insects, and body and head lice but which is non-toxic to humans, household animals, and farm animals includes an effective insect-controlling amount of D-limonene, a non-toxic emulsifying agent, and a non-toxic hydrophilic solvent.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A food-grade insecticidal composition comprising an amount of D-limonene sufficient to provide insect control, a de-toxic hydrophilic solvent, an amount of a non-toxic emulsifying agent sufficient to solubilize D-limonene in said de-toxic hydrophilic solvent, wherein the emulsifying agent is de-toxic to humans.  
     
     
         2 . The insecticidal composition according to  claim 1  comprising about 1% to about 20% by weight of D-limonene, about 1% to about 25% by weight said detoxic emulsifying agent, and about 98% to about 55% by weight of said de-toxic hydrophilic solvent.  
     
     
         3 . The insecticidal composition according to  claim 1  further comprising an amount of at least one food-grade preservative sufficient to extend the effectiveness of said insecticidal composition.  
     
     
         4 . The insecticidal composition according to  claim 3  comprising about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of said preservative.  
     
     
         5 . The insecticidal composition according to  claim 1  wherein said amount of D-limonene sufficient to provide insect control is sufficient to repel an insect.  
     
     
         6 . The insecticidal composition according to  claim 1  wherein said amount of D-limonene sufficient to provide insect control is sufficient to kill an insect.  
     
     
         7 . The insecticidal composition according to  claim 1  wherein said nontoxic emulsifying agent is a polyethoxylated castor oil.  
     
     
         8 . The insecticidal composition according to  claim 1  wherein said detoxic emulsifying agent is a polyoxyethylenesorbitan.  
     
     
         9 . The insecticidal composition according to  claim 1  wherein said detoxic hydrophilic solvent is water.  
     
     
         10 . The insecticidal composition according to  claim 2  wherein said preservative is a food preservative.  
     
     
         11 . The insecticidal composition according to  claim 1  which controls at least one insect selected from the group consisting of ants, aphids, mealy bugs, white flies, spider mites, leaf hoppers, cabbage loopers, leaf eating beetles and caterpillars, cockroaches, flies, wasps, body lice and head lice.  
     
     
         12 . The insecticidal composition according to  claim 1  comprising about 1% to about 10% by weight of D-limonene, about 5% to about 15% by weight of a non-toxic emulsifying agent, and about 94% to about 75% by weight of a non-toxic hydrophilic solvent.  
     
     
         13 . The insecticidal composition according to  claim 1  wherein said composition is suitable for organic production.  
     
     
         14 . The insecticidal composition according to  claim 2  wherein said nontoxic emulsifying agent is castor oil.  
     
     
         15 . A method of making an insecticidal composition comprising the step of combining an amount of D-limonene sufficient to provide insect control with a de-toxic hydrophilic solvent and an amount of a de-toxic emulsifying agent sufficient to solubilize D-limonene in said de-toxic hydrophilic solvent, wherein all said ingredients are food-grade.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  comprising the step of combining about 1% to about 20% by weight of D-limonene, about 1% to about 25% by weight of said non-toxic emulsifying agent and about 97.99% to about 50% by weight of said non-toxic hydrophilic solvent.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said solvent is water.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said ingredients are combined with about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a preservative.  
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 16  wherein said insecticidal composition is used in organic production.  
     
     
         20 . A method of controlling insects comprising the step of applying the insecticidal composition of  claim 1  to one selected from the group consisting of an insect, an insect trail, an insect nest, a building surface, a building perimeter, and a plant.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said insects to be controlled are on plants.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said plants are selected from the group consisting of rose bushes and ornamentals.  
     
     
         23 . A method of repelling insects comprising the step of pressure treating wood with the insecticidal composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         24 . A method as recited in  claim 23  further comprising pressure treating studs, rafters, joists, and beams.  
     
     
         25 . A method of treating a human infected with lice comprising the steps of applying the composition of  claim 1  to a portion of the human infected with the lice, allowing said composition to remain on the infected portion for a period of time and removing said composition.  
     
     
         26 . A food-grade insecticidal composition comprising about 0.7% to about 1.5% by weight of D-limonene, about 1% to about 25% by weight of a castor oil and about 98% to about 55% by weight of a non-toxic hydrophilic solvent.  
     
     
         27 . The insecticidal composition according to  claim 26  further comprising an amount of at least one food-grade preservative sufficient to extend the effectiveness of the insecticidal composition.  
     
     
         28 . The insecticidal composition according to  claim 27  comprising about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of said preservative.  
     
     
         29 . The insecticidal composition according to  claim 27  comprising about 0.775% D-limonene.  
     
     
         30 . A method of eradicating fire ants, comprising: 
 applying a formulation to an area to be eradicated of fire ants, wherein said formulation consists essentially of about 0.7% to about 1.5% D-limonene, about 1% to about 25% by weight of an emulsifying agent, and about 98% to about 55% by weight of a non-toxic hydrophilic solvent; and    allowing said formulation to remain in contact with said area for a suitable period of time to eradicate said fire ants.    
     
     
         31 . A method of eradicating fire ants, comprising: 
 applying a formulation to an area to be eradicated of fire ants, wherein said formulation consists essentially of about 1.5% to about 6% D-limonene, about 1% to about 25% by weight of an emulsifying agent, about 98% to about 55% by weight of a non-toxic hydrophilic solvent, and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a food-grade preservative; and    allowing said formulation to remain in contact with said area for a suitable period of time to eradicate said fire ants.    
     
     
         32 . A method of repelling insects from a farm animal comprising: 
 applying a treatment batch on the farm animals comprising four parts water to one part formulation, wherein said formulation consists essentially of about 1.16% to about 5.8% D-limonene, about 1% to about 25% by weight of an emulsifying agent, about 98% to about 55% by weight of a non-toxic hydrophilic solvent, and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a food-grade preservative.    
     
     
         33 . A method of repelling insects from a farm animal comprising: 
 applying a treatment batch on the farm animals comprising six parts water to one part formulation, wherein said formulation consists essentially of about 1.1 6% to about 5.8% D-limonene, about 1% to about 25% by weight of an emulsifying agent, about 98% to about 55% by weight of a non-toxic hydrophilic solvent, and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a food-grade preservative.    
     
     
         34  A method of repelling insects from a farm animal comprising: 
 applying a treatment batch on the farm animals comprising ten parts water to one part formulation, wherein said formulation consists essentially of about 1.16% to about 5.8% D-limonene, about 1% to about 25% by weight of an emulsifying agent, about 98% to about 55% by weight of a non-toxic hydrophilic solvent, and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a food-grade preservative.  
 
     
     
         35 . A method of pretreating a structure and foundation before construction to repel wood boring and eating insects comprising: 
 applying a formulation on the structure and foundation, wherein the formulation consists of about 5.8% D-limonene, about 1% to about 25% by weight of an emulsifying agent, and about 98% to about 55% by weight of a non-toxic hydrophilic solvent.    
     
     
         36 . A method of using an insecticidal composition in a fogging machine comprising: 
 an insecticidal composition consisting of about 1.16% to about 5.8% D-limonene, about 1% to about 25% by weight of an emulsifying agent, about 98% to about 55% by weight of a de-toxic hydrophilic solvent, and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a food-grade preservative; and    supplying the fogging machine with the insecticidal composition.    
     
     
         37 . A method as recited in  claim 36  wherein the fogging machine is a yard and barn misting machine.  
     
     
         38 . A method as recited in  claim 36  wherein the insecticidal composition is used as a treatment for mosquitos and flies and for pallets within an enclosed area.  
     
     
         39 . A method of increasing the efficacy of an insecticidal composition comprising: 
 diluting the insecticidal composition with about 0.05% to about 0.2% of a PBO, wherein the insecticidal composition consists of about 1.16% to about 5.8% D-limonene, about 1% to about 25% by weight of an emulsifying agent, about 98% to about 55% by weight of a de-toxic hydrophilic solvent, and about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of a food-grade preservative; and    supplying the fogging machine with the diluted insecticidal composition.    
     
     
         40 . A method of increasing the efficacy of an insecticidal composition comprising: 
 diluting the insecticidal composition with about 0.5% to about 5% sesame oil, wherein the insecticidal composition consists of about 1.16% to 5.8% D-limonene, about 6% to 10% castor oil, and 0.025% to 0.1% food-grade antioxidant preservative; and    supplying a fogging machine with the diluted insecticidal composition.    
     
     
         41 . A method of repelling insects from a human comprising: 
 applying a formulation on the human, wherein said formulation consists of about 0.7% to about 20% D-limonene; and    combining the formulation with water, wherein six parts water is combined with one part formulation.    
     
     
         42 . A method as recited in  claim 41  wherein the formulation consists of about 0.7% to about 10% D-limonene and wherein five parts water is combined with one part formulation.  
     
     
         43 . A method as recited in  claim 41  wherein the formulation consists of about 1.16% D-limonene and wherein four parts water is combined with one part formulation.  
     
     
         44 . A method as recited in  claim 41  wherein applying a formulation further includes spraying the formulation on the human.  
     
     
         45 . A method of repelling insects from a household animal comprising: 
 applying a formulation on the household animal, wherein said formulation consists of about 0.7% to about 20% D-limonene; and    combining the formulation with water, wherein six parts water is combined with one part formulation.    
     
     
         46 . A method as recited in  claim 45  wherein the formulation consists of about 0.7% to about 10% D-limonene and wherein five parts water is combined with one part formulation.  
     
     
         47 . A method as recited in  claim 45  wherein the formulation consists of about 1.16% D-limonene and wherein four parts water is combined with one part formulation.  
     
     
         48 . A method as recited in  claim 45  wherein applying a formulation further includes spraying the formulation on the household animal.