Use of macrolides in pest control

Abstract

There is now described a method of controlling pests with macrolide compounds; more specifically A) a method of controlling pests in and on transgenic crops of useful plants, such as, for example, in crops of maize, cereals, soya beans, tomatoes, cotton, potatoes, rice and mustard, with a macrolide compound, characterized in that a pesticidal composition comprising a macrolide compound in free form or in agrochemically useful salt form and at least one auxiliary is applied to the pests or their environment, in particular to the crop plant itself; B) A method of protecting plant propagation material and plant organs formed at a later point in time from attack by pests, characterized in that a pesticide comprising, as pesticidally active compound, at least one macrolide compound as active ingredient and at least one auxiliary in close spatial proximity to, or spatially together with, planting or applying the propagation material is employed to the site of planting or sowing; C) a method of controlling wood pests and molluscs with a macrolide compound, wherein a pesticidally active amount of a pesticide comprising, as pesticidally active compound, at least one macrolide, in free form or agrochemically utilizable salt form, as active ingredient and at least one auxiliary is applied to the pests or their environment; the corresponding use of these compounds, corresponding pesticides whose active ingredient is selected from amongst these compounds, a method for the preparation and the use of these compositions, and plant propagation material which is protected in this manner from attack by pests.

1 . Method of controlling pests in crops of transgenic useful plants, characterized in that a pesticidal composition comprising a macrolide compound in free form or in agrochemically useful salt form as active ingredient and at least one auxiliary is applied to the pests or their environment.  
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that abamectin is employed.  
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that emamectin is employed.  
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the transgenic plant is treated.  
     
     
         5 . Method according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , characterized in that the transgenic crop of useful plants is maize.  
     
     
         6 . Method according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , characterized in that the transgenic crop of useful plants is soya beans.  
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the propagation material of the transgenic useful plant is treated.  
     
     
         8 . A method of protecting, against attack by pests, plant propagation material and plant organs which grow at a later point in time, characterized in that a pesticide comprising at least one macrolide compound in free form or in agrochemically utilizable salt form as active ingredient and at least one auxiliary is employed in close spatial proximity to, or spatially together with, planting or applying the propagation material to the site of planting or sowing.  
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the active ingredient is abamectin in free form.  
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the active ingredient employed is emamectin in free form or in salt form.  
     
     
         11 . Method according to any one of  claims 8  to  10 , characterized in that the propagation material is seedlings, rhizomes, nursery plants, cuttings or seed.  
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the plant propagation material is seed.  
     
     
         13 . Method as claimed in any one of  claims 8  to  12 , characterized in that the pests are representatives of the order Lepidoptera.  
     
     
         14 . Method as claimed in any one of  claims 8  to  13 , characterized in that the composition is employed in such a way that propagation material which has been pretreated with the composition is planted or sown at the site of planting or sowing.  
     
     
         15 . Method according to any one of  claims 8  to  14 , characterized in that the pretreatment of the propagation material is seed dressing.  
     
     
         16 . Method of controlling wood pests and molluscs, characterized in that a pesticidally active amount of a pesticide comprising, as pesticidally active compound, at least one macrolide, in free form or agrochemically utilizable salt form, as active ingredient and at least one auxiliary is applied to the pests or their environment.  
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 16 , characterized in that the active ingredient employed is abamectin, emamectin or spinosad, in free form or in agrochemically utilizable salt form.  
     
     
         18 . Method according to  claim 17 , characterized in that the active ingredient employed is emamectin as the benzoate salt.  
     
     
         19 . Method according to any one of  claims 16  to  18 , characterized in that gastropods are controlled.  
     
     
         20 . Method according to any one of  claims 16  to  18 , characterized in that termites are controlled.  
     
     
         21 . Composition for controlling molluscs and wood pests, characterized in that it comprises, as pesticidally active compound, at least one macrolide and at least one auxiliary.