Insect control by insect growth regulators broadcast by volatilization

Abstract

Insect control through the use of an insect growth regulators is achieved by volatilization of the active compound from a point source in a spatial region such as a room, to diffuse through the air in the region toward objects in the region such as a carpet or a piece of furniture. The ability of the insect growth regulator to retain its activity when applied in this manner, even after periods of time in excess of one month following volatilization, is surprising in view of pre-existing methods of application that involved application of the insect growth regulator directly to the surface or object of interest in liquid form.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for controlling insect infestation on an object residing in an air-containing spatial region, said method comprising heating an insect growth regulator in liquid form to volatilize said insect growth regulator whereby said insect growth regulator so volatilized diffuses through air in said region to said object in an amount sufficient to prevent the maturation of insects therein from pre-adult stages of growth.  
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with    claim 1    in which said insect growth regulator is a member selected from the group consisting of 2-pyridyloxy-(lower alkylene)oxyphenoxy compounds and 2,4-dienoic acids.  
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with    claim 1    in which said insect growth regulator is a 2,4-dienoic acid.  
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with    claim 1    in which a plurality of such objects reside in said air-containing spatial region, said air-containing spatial region is from about 10 cubic meters to about 1000 cubic meters, and said method comprises controlling insect infestation in all of said plurality of objects.  
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with    claim 1    in which a plurality of such objects reside in said air-containing spatial region, said air-containing spatial region is from about 10 cubic meters to about 500 cubic meters, and said method comprises controlling insect infestation in all of said plurality of objects.  
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with    claim 1    in which a plurality of such objects reside in said air-containing spatial region, said air-containing spatial region is from about 15 cubic meters to about 150 cubic meters, and said method comprises controlling insect infestation in all of said plurality of objects.  
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with    claim 1    in which said insect growth regulator is a 2,4-dienoic acid having the formula  
                 
 
       in which: 
 R 1  is C 1 -C 6  alkyl;  
 R 2  is a member selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, and ethyl;  
 R 3  is a member selected from the group consisting of H and methyl;  
 R 4  is a member selected from the group consisting of methyl and ethyl;  
 R 5  is a member selected from the group consisting of H and methyl;  
 R 6  is a member selected from the group consisting of H and methyl;  
 R 7  is a member selected from the group consisting of methyl and ethyl;  
 R 8  is a member selected from the group consisting of H, C 1 -C 6  alkyl, C 3 -C 6  alkenyl, C 3 -C 6  alkynyl, C 3 -C 8  cycloalkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, C 7 -C 12  aralkenyl, and cations of metals selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, strontium, copper, manganese, and zinc;  
 X is a member selected from the group consisting of Br, Cl, Fl, and OR 9 , in which R 9  is a member selected from the group consisting of H, C 1 -C 6  alkyl and C 1 -C 6  alkanoyl;  
 m is zero, 1, 2, or 3; and  
 n is zero, 1,2,or 3.  
 
     
     
         8 . A method in accordance with    claim 7    in which: 
 R 1  is a member selected from the group consisting of methyl and ethyl;  
 R 2  is a member selected from the group consisting of methyl, and ethyl;  
 R 7  is methyl;  
 R 8  is a member selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 6  alkyl and C 3 -C 6  alkynyl;  
 X is a member selected from the group consisting of Cl and OR 9 ;  
 m is zero or 1; and  
 n is 1.  
 
     
     
         9 . A method in accordance with    claim 8    in which said 2,4-dienoic acid is 11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, isopropyl ester.  
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with    claim 8    in which said 2,4-dienoic acid is (E,E)-(7S)-11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, isopropyl ester.  
     
     
         11 . A method in accordance with    claim 8    in which said 2,4-dienoic acid is 3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, ethyl ester.  
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with    claim 8    in which said 2,4-dienoic acid is (E,E)-(7S)-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate, ethyl ester.  
     
     
         13 . A method in accordance with    claim 1    in which said insect growth regulator is a 2-pyridyloxy-(lower alkylene)oxyphenoxy compound having the formula:  
                 
 
       in which: 
 R 11  is a member selected from the group consisting of an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, and a methylene group;  
 R 12  is a member selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a methyl group;  
 R 13  is a member selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a methyl group;  
 R 14  is a member selected from the group consisting of an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, and a methylene group;  
 R 15  is a member selected from the group consisting of an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, and a methylene group;  
 R 16  is a member selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a fluorine atom; and  
 R 17  is a member selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and a fluorine atom.  
 
     
     
         14 . A method in accordance with    claim 13    in which R 11 , R 14  and R 15  are oxygen atoms, and R 16  and R 17  are hydrogen atoms.  
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance with    claim 13    in which said 2-pyridyloxy-(lower alkylene)oxyphenoxy compound is 2-{1-methyl-2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)-ethoxy}pyridine.  
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with    claim 1    in which said method comprises contacting said insect growth regulator in liquid form with a heated surface, said surface being at a temperature of from about 50° C. to about 150° C.  
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with    claim 16    in which said heated surface is the external surface of an incandescent light bulb.  
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with    claim 16    in which said heated surface is the surface of an electrically heated heating element.  
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with    claim 1    in which said insect growth regulator is isopropyl (E,E)-(7S)-11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate and said method comprises contacting said insect growth regulator in liquid form with a heated surface, said surface being at a temperature of from about 80° C. to about 125° C.  
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with    claim 1    in which said liquid form is a liquid solution of said insect growth regulator and an antioxidant.  
     
     
         21 . A method in accordance with    claim 1    in which said insect growth regulator is isopropyl (E,E)-(7S)-11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate and said liquid form is a liquid solution of said insect growth regulator and an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene in an organic solvent.  
     
     
         22 . A method in accordance with    claim 1    in which said insect growth regulator is isopropyl (E,E)-(7S)- 11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-2,4-dienoate and said liquid form is a liquid solution of said insect growth regulator and an antioxidant selected from the group consisting of butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene in a solvent comprising a member selected from the group consisting of a volatile alcohol, water, and a mixture of a volatile alcohol and water.  
     
     
         23 . A method in accordance with    claim 16    in which said method comprises contacting a solid absorbent support matrix wetted with said insect growth regulator in liquid form with said heated surface.