Insect attractant formulations and insect control

Abstract

An insect control formulation including methyl eugenol, cue lure and a biodegradable wax carrier is a surprisingly effective attractant for Oriental fruit flies ( Bactrocera dorsalis ) and Melon flies ( Bactrocera cucurbitae ). Formulation embodiments that include at least one insect toxicant are surprisingly effective for use in fruit fly MAT attract and kill systems, and are suitable for on-crop or off-crop uses. Formulation embodiments can be provided as aqueous emulsions having viscosities appropriate for use in aerial or backpack spray applications or for delivery using caulk gun-type or grease pump-type devices. Other formulation embodiments can be provided as solid blocks, granules or powders.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insect control formulation comprising:
 methyl eugenol;   cue lure; and   a biodegradable wax carrier;   wherein said methyl eugenol and said cue lure are dispersed in said biodegradable wax carrier; and   wherein said biodegradable wax carrier is operable to release the methyl eugenol and cue lure over a period of time extending at least four weeks.   
     
     
         2 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 1  wherein
 said methyl eugenol is from about 1% to about 60% of the formulation by weight; 
 said cue lure is from about 1% to about 30% of the formulation by weight; and 
 said biodegradable wax carrier is from about 10% to about 90% of the formulation by weight. 
 
     
     
         3 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 water;   wherein said formulation comprises a fluid suspension comprising solid particles of said biodegradable wax carrier suspended in said water, and wherein said methyl eugenol and said cue lure are entrained in one or both of said solid particles and said water.   
     
     
         4 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 3  wherein
 said methyl eugenol is from about 5% to about 45% of the formulation by weight; 
 said cue lure is from about 1% to about 20% of the formulation by weight; and 
 said biodegradable wax carrier is from about 20% to about 80% of the formulation by weight. 
 
     
     
         5 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said fluid suspension is in the form of an emulsion. 
     
     
         6 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising one or more insect toxicant. 
     
     
         7 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 6  wherein
 said methyl eugenol is from about 1% to about 60% of the formulation by weight; 
 said cue lure is from about 1% to about 30% of the formulation by weight; 
 said biodegradable wax carrier is from about 10% to about 90% of the formulation by weight; and 
 said one or more insect toxicant is from about 0.002% to about 25% of the formulation by weight. 
 
     
     
         8 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said insect toxicant comprises Spinosad. 
     
     
         9 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said formulation is in the form of an emulsion comprising solid particles of said biodegradable wax carrier suspended in said water, and wherein said methyl eugenol and said cue lure are entrained in one or both of said solid particles and said water. 
     
     
         10 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the wax carrier comprises a member selected from the group consisting of paraffin wax, carnauba wax, beeswax, candelilla wax, fruit wax, lanolin, shellac wax, bayberry wax, sugar cane wax, microcrystalline wax, ozocerite, ceresin, montan wax, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the wax carrier comprises paraffin wax. 
     
     
         12 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the wax carrier consists essentially of paraffin wax. 
     
     
         13 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the wax carrier is present in an amount from about 20% to about 80% by weight. 
     
     
         14 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 9 , further comprising one or more additives selected from the group consisting of lipids, emulsifiers, plasticizers, UV blockers and absorbers, antimicrobials, antioxidants and volatility suppressants. 
     
     
         15 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the one or more additives is present in an amount from about 0.001% to about 20% by weight. 
     
     
         16 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the additive is present in an amount from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight. 
     
     
         17 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the additive comprises an emulsifier in an amount up to about 10% by weight of the formulation. 
     
     
         18 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the additive comprises an emulsifier selected from the group consisting of lipids, soy oil, lecithins, modified lecithins, monoglycerides, diglyceridies, sorbitans, and fatty acids, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the additive comprises an antioxidant in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of the formulation. 
     
     
         20 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the antioxidant comprises a member selected from the group consisting of vitamin E, butylated hydroxyanisole, and butylated hydroxytoluene. 
     
     
         21 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the emulsion comprises from about 20 to about 80% by weight of paraffin wax, from about 5% to about 45% by weight of methyl eugenol, from about 1% to about 20% by weight of cue lure, and from about 0.001% to about 10% by weight of one or more additive selected from the group consisting of emulsifiers, plasticizers, and antioxidants combined. 
     
     
         22 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 9 , further comprising at least one additional bioactive ingredient. 
     
     
         23 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the emulsion is sprayable, squirtable or spreadable. 
     
     
         24 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the emulsion is sprayable. 
     
     
         25 . The formulation in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said biodegradable wax carrier forms a solid block, granule or powder comprising a porous matrix structure, and wherein said methyl eugenol and said cue lure are entrained within said body. 
     
     
         26 . A method for making an insect control formulation, comprising:
 providing a heated wax carrier;   blending methyl eugenol and cue lure into the heated wax carrier to provide a blended mixture comprising at least about 10% by weight of the wax carrier, from about 0.01% to about 75% by weight of the methyl eugenol, and from about 0.01% to about 40% by weight of the cue lure; and   mixing water into the blended mixture to produce an aqueous emulsion.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising incorporating into said heated wax carrier, said blended mixture or said aqueous emulsion at least one member selected from the group consisting of emulsifiers and insect toxicants. 
     
     
         28 . A method for controlling one or more fruit fly species, comprising:
 placing in a locus to be treated an insect control formulation comprising methyl eugenol, cue lure and a biodegradable wax carrier; and   bringing a plurality of male fruit flies attracted by one or both of said methyl eugenol and said cue lure into contact with an insect toxicant at said locus.   
     
     
         29 . The method in accordance with  claim 28  wherein said formulation comprises said insect toxicant. 
     
     
         30 . The method in accordance with  claim 28  wherein said formulation is placed in a fruit fly trap positioned in a treatment area. 
     
     
         31 . The method in accordance with  claim 28  wherein said formulation comprises an emulsion; and wherein said method comprises spraying the formulation onto a structure present in a treatment area. 
     
     
         32 . The method in accordance with  claim 31  wherein said formulation consists essentially of:
 (a) an insect toxicant, wherein said insect toxicant is from about 0.002% to about 25.00% by weight of said formulation; 
 (b) methyl eugenol, wherein said methyl eugenol is from about 1% to about 60% by weight of said formulation; 
 (c) cue lure, wherein said cue lure is from about 1% to about 30% by weight of said formulation; 
 (d) a biodegradable wax carrier, wherein said biodegradable wax carrier is from about 10% to about 90% by weight of said formulation; and 
 (e) an emulsifier, wherein said emulsifier up to about 10% by weight of said formulation. 
 
     
     
         33 . The method in accordance with  claim 32  wherein said insect toxicant comprises a member selected from the group consisting of Spinosad and spinetoram. 
     
     
         34 . The method in accordance with  claim 32  wherein said amount of insect toxicant is from about 0.1% to about 15% by weight of the formulation. 
     
     
         35 . The method in accordance with  claim 32  wherein said amount of methyl eugenol is from about 5% to about 45% by weight of the formulation. 
     
     
         36 . The method in accordance with  claim 32  wherein said amount of cue lure is from about 1% to about 20% by weight of the formulation. 
     
     
         37 . The method in accordance with  claim 32  wherein said amount of biodegradable wax carrier is from about 30% to about 70% by weight of the formulation. 
     
     
         38 . The method in accordance with  claim 32  wherein said amount of emulsifier is from about 1% to about 6% by weight of the formulation. 
     
     
         39 . The method in accordance with  claim 28  comprising applying an effective amount of the insect control formulation over an area to be treated. 
     
     
         40 . The method in accordance with  claim 39 , wherein said applying comprises spraying. 
     
     
         41 . The method in accordance with  claim 39 , said method comprising applying said formulation to an area to control fruit flies in an amount sufficient to control such pest. 
     
     
         42 . The method in accordance with  claim 41  wherein said fruit flies include any fruit fly species that is attracted to one or both of methyl eugenol and cue lure. 
     
     
         43 . The method in accordance with  claim 41  wherein said fruit fly species is a species in the family Tephritidae. 
     
     
         44 . The method in accordance with  claim 41  wherein said fruit fly species is selected from  Bactrocera carambolae, Bactrocera caryeae, Bactrocera correcta, Bactrocera dorsalis, Bactrocera invadens, Bactrocera kandiensis, Bactrocera occipitalis, Bactrocera papayae, Bactrocera philippinensis, Bactrocera umbrosa, Bactrocera zonata, Bactrocera cucurbitae, Bactrocera cucumis, Bactrocera tryoni , and  Bactrocera tau.    
     
     
         45 . The method in accordance with  claim 41  wherein said fruit fly species is selected from  Bactrocera dorsalis  and  Bactrocera cucurbitae.    
     
     
         46 . The method in accordance with  claim 41  wherein said fruit fly species is  Bactrocera dorsalis.    
     
     
         47 . A trap for catching fruit flies comprising a container defining a chamber and having an opening to allow fruit flies to enter said chamber and being adapted to substantially restrict fruit flies from exiting said chamber; and an insect-attracting formulation positioned within said chamber, the formulation comprising methyl eugenol, cue lure and a biodegradable wax carrier. 
     
     
         48 . An insect control formulation comprising:
 from about 5% to about 45% methyl eugenol by weight of said formulation;   from about 1% to about 20% cue lure by weight of said formulation;   from about 20% to about 80% a biodegradable wax carrier by weight of said formulation; and   from about 0.1% to about 20% insect toxicant by weight of said formulation;   wherein said insect toxicant is selected from Spinosad and spinetoram;   wherein said formulation comprises a sprayable emulsion;   wherein said methyl eugenol, said cue lure and said insect toxicant are dispersed in said biodegradable wax carrier; and   wherein said biodegradable wax carrier is operable to release the methyl eugenol and cue lure over a period of time extending at least four weeks.