Methods and formulations for control of pests

Abstract

The subject invention concerns novel biopesticides and their use to control cockroaches, carpenter ants, and pharaoh ants. Specifically, highly virulent isolates of Beauveria bassiana in an agricultural composition, can be used to effectively control these pests. Exemplified are Beauveria bassiana No. 447, ATCC 20872, and Beauveria bassiana Sp111, ATCC 74038. Also described are unique formulations which are highly effective for delivering biocontrol agents to target pests. By using these novel compositions, target pests can be controlled without the environmental and public safety hazards presented by chemical control agents.

1. A composition for the control of a cockroach or ant pest comprising food source particles, a drying agent, and a biocontrol agent derived from an entomopathogenic fungi selected from the group consisting of spores and conidia and wherein said drying agent is a chemically acting drying agent, a physically acting drying agent, or combinations of more than one chemically acting and/or physically acting drying agent. 
     
     
       2. The composition, according to  claim 1 , wherein said entomopathogenic fungi is selected from the group consisting of Beauveria bassiana No. 447, having all of the identifying characteristics of ATCC 20872, and Beauveria bassiana SP111, having all of the identifying characteristics of ATCC 74038. 
     
     
       3. The composition, according to  claim 2 , wherein said Beauveria bassiana is isolate No. 447, having all of the identifying characteristics of ATCC 20872. 
     
     
       4. The composition, according to  claim 2 , wherein said Beauveria bassiana is isolate SP111, having all of the identifying characteristics of ATCC 74038. 
     
     
       5. The composition, according to  claim 1 , wherein said drying agent is a chemically acting drying agent. 
     
     
       6. The composition according to  claim 5 , wherein said chemically acting drying agent is selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, sodium sulfate, or magnesium perchlorate, phosphorus pentoxide, sicacide, metals, and metal hydrides. 
     
     
       7. The composition, according to  claim 1 , wherein said drying agent is a physically acting drying agent. 
     
     
       8. The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein said physically acting drying agent is selected from the group consisting of SiO 2 , synthetic zeolite, naturally occurring zeolite, aluminum oxide (alumina), drierite, calcium sulfate, calcium chloride, calcium oxide, sodium sulfate, copper (II) sulfate, potassium carbonate, and magnesium oxide. 
     
     
       9. The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a pheromone or extract. 
     
     
       10. The composition of  claim 7 , further comprising a pheromone or extract. 
     
     
       11. The composition of  claim 5 , further comprising a pheromone or extract. 
     
     
       12. The composition of  claim 5 , wherein said composition can pass through a 60 mesh, or smaller, sieve. 
     
     
       13. The composition of  claim 7 , wherein said composition can pass through a 60 mesh, or smaller, sieve. 
     
     
       14. The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition can pass through a 60 mesh, or smaller, sieve. 
     
     
       15. A method of controlling a cockroach or ant pest comprising applying to the environment of the cockroach or ant pest, or directly onto the cockroach or ant pest, a composition comprising food source particles, a drying agent, and a biocontrol agent derived from an entomopathogenic fungi selected from the group consisting of spores and conidia and wherein said drying agent is a chemically acting drying agent, a physically acting drying agent, or combinations of more than one chemically acting and/or physically acting drying agent. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein said physically acting drying agent is selected from the group consisting of SiO 2 , synthetic zeolite, naturally occurring zeolite, aluminum oxide (alumina), drierite, calcium sulfate, calcium chloride, calcium oxide, sodium sulfate, copper (II) sulfate, potassium carbonate, and magnesium oxide and said chemically acting drying agent is selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, sodium sulfate, or magnesium perchlorate, phosphorus pentoxide, sicacide, metals, and metal hydrides. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said entomopathogenic fungi is selected from the group consisting of Beauveria bassiana No. 447, having all of the identifying characteristics of ATCC 20872, and Beauveria bassiana SP111, having all of the identifying characteristics of ATCC 74038. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said composition further comprises a pheromone or extract. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said composition can pass through a 60 mesh, or smaller, sieve. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said composition can pass through a 60 mesh, or smaller, sieve, and, optionally, further comprises a pheromone or extract.