Methods and compositions for controlling pests

Abstract

Pest-controlling compositions include one or more β-diones, particularly β-diketones and β-triketones, and are used inter alia for preventing, eradicating, destroying, repelling or mitigating harmful, annoying or undesired pests including insects, arachnids, helminths, molluscs, protozoa and viruses. β-diones can be prepared by de novo synthesis or from natural sources such as volatile oil-bearing plants from families including Alliaceae, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Cannabinaceae, Lamiaceae, Pteridaceae, Myrtaceae, Myoporaceae, Proteaceae, Rutaceae and Zingiberaceae.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling insects, arachnids, molluscs, protozoa and helminths, said method comprising exposing the insects, arachnids, molluscs, protozoa and helminths to a pest-controlling effective amount of the compound flavesone (1-isobutyroyl-3,3,5,5-tetramethylcyclohexan-2,4,6-trione). 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound is obtainable from a volatile oil-bearing organism. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the volatile oil-bearing organism is selected from volatile oil-bearing plants. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the volatile oil-bearing organism is selected from genera of the Myrtaceae family. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the volatile oil-bearing organism belongs to a genus selected from  Angophora, Austromyrtus, Backhousia, Baeckea, Callistemon, Corymbia, Darwinia, Eucalyptus, Kunzea, Leptospermum, Melaleuca, Syzygium  and  Xanthostemon    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pest that is controlled is selected from insects, arachnids and molluscs. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the helminth is a nematode. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound is used in the form of a pest-controlling composition which comprises from about 0.00005% to about 90% by weight of said compound.