Animal parasite-control method using insect growth regulators

Abstract

Methods and formulations for treating animal ectoparasites, effective against parasites such as fleas and ticks are provided. The methods comprise topically co-administering a non-mobile insect growth regulator and a mobile insect growth regulator to the animal. Parasiticidal formulations for treating animal ectoparasites are also provided, which can be safe to use and avoid the many common deleterious side effects of conventional topical formulations. The topical formulations comprise a combination of two insect growth regulators, a non-mobile insect growth regulator and a mobile insect growth regulator. The topical formulation can be packaged with the two insect growth regulators together or packaged to prevent mixing of the two insect growth regulators prior to administering the topical insecticide formulation to the animal.

1 . An insecticidal formulation, comprising:
 a mobile insect growth regulator component comprising methoprene or hydroprene, which is capable of translocating from one area to another area by vaporizing and redepositing, and   a non-mobile insect growth regulator component comprising pyriproxyfen,   the methoprene or hydroprene and the pyriproxyfen combined in a synergistically effective amount to reduce a parasitic infestation more effectively than using the same total quantity of either insect growth regulator separately.   
     
     
         2 . The insecticidal formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of methoprene or hydroprene is between 0.01% and 10% by weight of the total formulation 
     
     
         3 . The insecticidal formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of pyriproxyfen is between 0.005% and 5% by weight of the total formulation 
     
     
         4 . The insecticidal formulation of  claim 1 , wherein a weight ratio of methoprene or hydroprene to pyriproxyfen is in the range of 20:1 to 1:20. 
     
     
         5 . The insecticidal formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile insect growth regulator component comprises methoprene. 
     
     
         6 . The insecticidal formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile insect growth regulator component comprises hydroprene. 
     
     
         7 . The insecticidal formulation of  claim 1 , further comprising 1% to 99% by weight of a carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The insecticidal formulation of  claim 7 , wherein the carrier is an N,N dialkyl fatty acid amide. 
     
     
         9 . The insecticidal formulation of  claim 7 , wherein the carrier is N,N dimethyl octanamide. 
     
     
         10 . The insecticidal formulation of  claim 7 , wherein the carrier is diisopropyl adipate (DIPA). 
     
     
         11 . The insecticidal formulation of  claim 1 , further comprising n-octyl pyrrolidone. 
     
     
         12 . The insecticidal formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile insect growth regulator component and the non-mobile insect growth regulator component are packaged to prevent their mixing prior to administration, and to permit their dispensing simultaneously or nearly simultaneously onto the animal. 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating parasitic infestation in a non-human animal, the method comprising topically administering to the animal the insecticidal formulation of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising topically administering to the animal the insecticidal formulation of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         15 . A method of treating parasitic infestation in a non-human animal, the method comprising topically co-administering to the animal a mobile insect growth regulator component comprising methoprene or hydroprene, which is capable of translocating from one area to another area by vaporizing and redepositing, and a non-mobile insect growth regulator component comprising pyriproxyfen. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the amount of methoprene or hydroprene is between 0.01% and 10% by weight of the total administration. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the amount of pyriproxyfen is between 0.005% and 5% by weight of the total administration. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the mobile insect growth regulator component comprises methoprene. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the mobile insect growth regulator component and the non-mobile insect growth regulator component are applied to the animal in a single combined formulation. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the mobile insect growth regulator component and the non-mobile insect growth regulator component are separated to prevent mixing prior to administration, and are dispensed simultaneously or nearly simultaneously onto the animal. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising applying the mobile insect growth regulator component and the non-mobile insect growth regulator component to a surface in the animal's surroundings. 
     
     
         23 . The insecticidal formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of methoprene or hydroprene is between 0.01% and 10% by weight of the total formulation and the amount of pyriproxyfen is between 0.005% and 5% by weight of the total formulation. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the mobile insect growth regulator component comprises methoprene. 
     
     
         25 . The insecticidal formulation of  claim 23 , wherein the mobile insect growth regulator component comprises hydroprene. 
     
     
         26 . The insecticidal formulation of  claim 1 , further comprising an adulticide, effective to kill adult parasites. 
     
     
         27 . The insecticidal formulation of  claim 24 , further comprising an adulticide, effective to kill adult parasites. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the amount of methoprene or hydroprene is between 0.01% and 10% by weight of the total formulation and the amount of pyriproxyfen is between 0.005% and 5% by weight of the total formulation. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the mobile insect growth regulator component comprises methoprene. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising an adulticide, effective to kill adult parasites. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising an adulticide, effective to kill adult parasites.