Use of erythritol compositions as mammal-safe insecticides

Abstract

The disclosure provides a human-safe method of killing or controlling insects using a non-toxic composition comprising erythritol ((2R,3S)-butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol). The disclosure also provides non-toxic compositions comprising erythritol suitable for killing insects in residential, commercial, and agricultural locales.

1 . An insecticidal composition consisting of:
 i) a suspension concentrate consisting of:
 10-50% (w/w) erythritol relative to the total weight of the composition, 
 0.1-5% (w/w) sucrose relative to the total weight of the composition, 
 0.05-1% (w/w) acrylic thickener relative to the total weight of the composition, 
 10-40% (w/w) glycerol relative to the total weight of the composition, 
 at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of an odorant, sodium chloride, sodium sulphate, an attractant, a feeding stimulant, a defoamer, a dispersing agent, a flavoring agent, a surfactant, a preservative, a gel-forming component, a suspending agent, and an oil, 
   and water; or   ii) a gel consisting of:
 10-50% (w/w) erythritol relative to the total weight of the composition, 
 0.1-5% (w/w) sucrose relative to the total weight of the composition, 
 0.1-2% (w/w) acrylic thickener relative to the total weight of the composition, 
 10-40% (w/w) glycerol relative to the total weight of the composition, 
 at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of an odorant, sodium chloride, sodium sulphate, an attractant, a feeding stimulant, a defoamer, a dispersing agent, a flavoring agent, a surfactant, a preservative, a gel-forming component, a suspending agent, and an oil, 
   and water;   wherein erythritol is the only insecticide or insecticidally active agent in the composition; and   wherein the composition kills an insect or impairs the ability to function of an insect selected from the group consisting of termites, ants, wasps, cockroaches, bed bugs, silver fish, yellow jackets, and mosquitos.   
     
     
         2 .- 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is coconut diethanolamide. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . An insect bait, comprising:
 the gel or suspension concentrate composition of  claim 1 , and   a substrate that comprises the composition.   
     
     
         9 . The bait of  claim 8 , wherein the substrate comprises cellulose. 
     
     
         10 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method for killing an insect or impairing an insect's ability to function, the method comprising:
 contacting the insect with the gel or suspension concentrate composition of  claim 1 ,   wherein the composition is not substantially toxic when administered to a mammal; and
 wherein the insect is a termite selected from the group consisting of  Reticulitermes flavipes, Reticulitermes virginicus, Reticulitermes hageni, Coptotermes formosanus, Amitermes floridensis, Incitermes minor, Neothermes connexus, R. hesperus, R tibialis, Heterotermes aureus, Reticulitermes  sp  Heterotermes  sp., and  Termitidae  sp. 
   
     
     
         16 . A method for killing an insect or impairing an insect's ability to function, the method comprising:
 contacting the insect with the gel or suspension concentrate composition of  claim 1 ; and wherein the insect is a leaf cutter ant selected from the genera  Atta  and  Acromyrmex.      
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the leaf cutter ant is a species selected from the group consisting of  Acromyrmex  ambiguus,  Acromyrmex  ameliae,  Acromyrmex  aspersus,  Acromyrmex  balzani,  Acromyrmex  biscutatus,  Acromyrmex  coronatus,  Acromyrmex  crassispinus,  Acromyrmex  diasi,  Acromyrmex  disciger,  Acromyrmex  echinatior,  Acromyrmex  evenkul,  Acromyrmex  fowleri,  Acromyrmex  fracticornis,  Acromyrmex  heyeri,  Acromyrmex  hispidus,  Acromyrmex  hystrix,  Acromyrmex  insinuator,  Acromyrmex  landolti,  Acromyrmex  laticeps,  Acromyrmex  lobicornis,  Acromyrmex  lundii,  Acromyrmex  niger,  Acromyrmex  nigrosetosus,  Acromyrmex  nobilis,  Acromyrmex  octospinosus,  Acromyrmex  pubescens,  Acromyrmex  pulvereus,  Acromyrmex  rugosus,  Acromyrmex  silvestrii,  Acromyrmex  striatus,  Acromyrmex  subterraneus,  Acromyrmex  versicolor,  Acromyrmex volcanus, Atta bisphaerica, Atta capiguara, Atta cephalotes, Atta colombica, Atta cubana, Atta goiana, Atta insularis, Atta laevigata, Atta mexicana, Atta opaciceps, Atta pilosa, Atta robusta, Atta saltensis, Atta sexdens, Atta tardigrada, Atta texana , and  Atta vollenweideri.    
     
     
         18 . A method for killing an insect or impairing an insect's ability to function, the method comprising:
 contacting the insect with the gel or suspension concentrate composition of  claim 1 ; and wherein the insect is:   i) a fly selected from the group consisting  D. melanogaster, D. immigrans, D. simulans, D. subobscura, Zaprionus indianus, D. bifurca, D. sechellia, D. yakuba, D. erecta, D. ananassae, D. suzukii, D. pseudoobscura, D. persimilis, D. willistoni, D. mojavensis, D. virilis or D. grimshawi, Musca domestica, Stomoxys calcitrans , and  Bactrocera dorsalis;      ii) an ant selected from the group consisting of  Tetramorium  sp,  Formica  sp,  Camponotus, Solenopsis invicta, T. immigrans, Formica glacialis, Camponotus, chromaiodes , and  Camponotus subarbatus  sp.; or   iii) a mosquito selected from the group consisting of  Ae. aegypti, Cx. pipiens, Cx. tarsalis, Cx. quinquefasciatus, An. freeborni  and  An. quadrimaculatus.      
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the odorant is at least one selected from the group consisting of C 6  to C 10  alkenes, pyranones, furanones, benzopyranones, benzofuranones, hemiterpenes, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes, and retinoids. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sodium salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride and sodium sulphate. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the attractant is at least one selected from pheromones, pheromone mimics, 2-naphthalene-methanol, naphthalene, steroid derivatives, camphor, turpentine oil, plant volatiles, flower oils, and CO 2 . 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the dispersing agent is at least one selected from an effervescent material and a swellable substance. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the dispersing agent is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone and a mixture of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the feeding stimulant is at least one selected from the group consisting of ergosterol, fermented milk, p-hydroquinone, hydroxyphenyl-β-D-glycopyranoside, catechol, resorcinol, fluoroglucinol, 4-methoxyphenol, 1,4-dimethoxybenzene, 4-phenoxyphenol, phenylhydroquinone, 4-benzyloxyphenol, quinhydrone. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the surfactant is at least one anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, alkyl aryl sulphonates, long chain (fatty) alcohol sulphates, olefin sulphates and sulphonates, sulphated monoglycerides, sulphated esters, sulphonated ethoxylated alcohols, sulphosuccinates, alkane sulphonates, phosphate esters, alkyl isethionates, alkyl taurates, and alkyl sarcosinates. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the surfactant is at least one cationic surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkylamine salts, quaternary ammonium salts, sulphonium salts and phosphonium salts. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the surfactant is at least one nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of silicones, condensates of ethylene oxide with a long chain (fatty) alcohol or (fatty) acid, condensates of ethylene oxide with an amine or an amide, condensation products of ethylene and propylene oxides, esters of glycerol, sucrose or sorbitol, fatty acid alkylol amides, sucrose esters, fluoro-surfactants and fatty amine oxides. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the surfactant is at least one amphoteric surfactant selected from the group consisting of imidazoline compounds, alkylaminoacid salts, and betaines. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the oil is at least one selected from the group consisting of palm oil, cedarwood oil, opopanax oil,  Angelica  seed oil, and  Capsicum  Fruit Extracts. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the humectant is at least one selected from the group consisting of glucose, ammonium sulfate, urea fructose, glycerol and glycol derivatives.