Spray Oil and Method of Use Therefor for Controlling Turfgrass Pests

Abstract

A paraffinic spray oil and a method of using the spray oil for controlling turfgrass pests is disclosed. The spray oil comprises paraffinic oil and a quick break emulsifier, which is formulated as an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion for use. The paraffinic oil and emulsifier are present in a weight ratio ranging from about 95:5 to about 99.95:0.05, and preferably from about 98.5:1.5 to about 99.9:0.1. When applied to turfgrass, the O/W emulsion quickly releases the oil phase upon application to the turfgrass to contact pests thereon. When provided at sufficient paraffinic oil dosages, generally at least about 0.5 gal oil/acre and preferably in the range of about 0.5 gal/acre to about 60 gal/acre, the spray oil is effective in controlling a variety of turfgrass pests, particularly insect and fungal pests, with little or no phytotoxic effects. Further, use of the spray oil as indicated for controlling turfgrass pests also enhances the growth of turfgrass.

1 . A spray oil comprising: 
 paraffinic oil; and    quick break emulsifier, wherein the weight ratio of the paraffinic oil to the emulsifier ranges from about 95:5 to about 99.95:0.05, and wherein the spray oil is used to control turfgrass pests.    
   
   
       2 . The spray oil of  claim 1  wherein the weight ratio ranges from about 98.5:1.5 to about 99.9:0.1.  
   
   
       3 . The spray oil of  claim 2  wherein the paraffinic oil contains paraffin having a carbon number ranging from about C12 to about C50 or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The spray oil of  claim 3  wherein the carbon number ranges from about C16 to about C35 with an average carbon number of about 23.  
   
   
       5 . The spray oil of  claim 2  wherein the paraffinic oil has a paraffin content of at least about 90%.  
   
   
       6 . The spray oil of  claim 2  wherein the paraffinic oil has a paraffin content of at least about 99%.  
   
   
       7 . The spray oil of  claim 2  wherein the emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of alkyl phenol ethoxylates, nonylphenolethyoxylate, dodecylphenolethoxylates, and ethoxylated alcohol/glycerol oleate mixtures, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The spray oil of  claim 2  wherein the spray oil is a concentrate of the paraffinic oil and the emulsifier, and wherein the concentrate is formulated as an oil-in-water emulsion before use.  
   
   
       9 . The spray oil of  claim 2  wherein the spray oil is an oil-in-water emulsion.  
   
   
       10 . The spray oil of  claim 2  wherein the spray oil is used at a paraffinic oil dosage of at least about 0.5 gal/acre.  
   
   
       11 . The spray oil of  claim 2  wherein the turfgrass pests are selected from the group consisting of bluegrass weevils, cutworms, sod webworms, pillbugs, grubs, aphids, mites, chinch bugs, chafers, beetles, grasshoppers, scales, cranefly, earwigs, slugs, ants, fleas, mealybugs, ticks, and causative agents of Grey Leaf Spot, Dollar Spot, Grey Snow Mold, Pink Snow Mold, Brown Patch, Anthracnose, Yellow Turf, Powdery Mildew, Pythium Foliar Blight Disease, Necrotic Ring Spot, Pink Patch, Red Thread, Leaf Blight, Yellow Patch, Downey Mildew, Pythium Blight, Rusts, Stripe Smut, Summer Leaf Spot, Take-All Patch, and Microdochium Patch Disease, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The spray oil of  claim 2  wherein the turfgrass pests are selected from the group consisting of bluegrass weevils, cutworms, sod webworms, mites, and causative agents of Grey Leaf Spot, Dollar Spot, Grey Now Mold, Pink Snow Mold, Brown Patch, and Anthracnose, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The spray oil of  claim 2  wherein the turfgrass is selected from the group consisting of Fescues, Rye, Bent, Bahia, St. Augustine, Centipede, Kentucky bluegrass, Zoysia Native Grasses, Buffalo grass, Blue Grama, Wheatgrasses, Seashore Paspalum, Carpet Grass, Buffo, and Beach Grass, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The spray oil of  claim 1  wherein: 
 The paraffinic oil has a paraffin content of about 99% and wherein the paraffin has a carbon number ranging from about C16 to about C35, with an average carbon number of about C23; and wherein:    the emulsifier contains a combination of polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, C10 to C16 alcohol ethoxylates and glycerol oleate, wherein the weight ratio of the paraffinic oil to the emulsifier is about 99.2:0.8, and wherein the spray oil is used to control turfgrass pests by applying an oil-in-water emulsion of the spray oil to the turfgrass at a dosage of paraffinic oil of about 10 gal/acre to about 20 gal/acre.    
   
   
       15 . A method for controlling turfgrass pests comprising: applying to the turfgrass an oil-in-water emulsion of the spray oil of  claim 2  in an amount effective for controlling turfgrass pests.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the dosage of paraffinic oil is at least about 0.5 gal/acre.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the dosage of paraffinic oil ranges from about 0.5 gal/acre to about 60 gal/acre.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the dosage of paraffinic oil ranges from about 10 gal/acre to about 20 gal/acre.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the turfgrass pests are selected from the group consisting of bluegrass weevils, cutworms, sod webworms, pillbugs, grubs, aphids, mites, chinch bugs, chafers, beetles, grasshoppers, scales, cranefly, earwigs, slugs, ants, fleas, mealybugs, ticks, and causative agents of Grey Leaf Spot, Dollar Spot, Grey Snow Mold, Pink Snow Mold, Brown Patch, Anthracnose, Yellow Turf, Powdery Mildew, Pythium Foliar Blight Disease, Necrotic Ring Spot, Pink Patch, Red Thread, Leaf Blight, Yellow Patch, Downey Mildew, Pythium Blight, Rusts, Stripe Smut, Summer Leaf Spot, Take-All Parch, and Microdochium Patch Disease, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the turfgrass pests are selected from the group consisting of bluegrass weevils, cutworms, sod webworms, mites, and causative agents of Grey Leaf Spot, Dollar Spot, Grey Now Mold, Pink Snow Mold, Brown Patch, and Anthracnose, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the turfgrass is selected from the group consisting of Fescues, Rye, Bent, Bahia, St. Augustine, Centipede, Kentuky bluegrass, Zoysia Native Grasses, Buffalo grass, Blue Grama, Wheatgrasses, Seashore Paspalum, Carpet Grass, Buffo, and Beach Grass, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 15  wherein: 
 The paraffinic oil has a paraffin content of about 99% and wherein the paraffin has a carbon number ranging from about C16 to about C35, with an average carbon number of about 23, and wherein    the emulsifier contains a combination of polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, C10 to C16 alcohol ethoxylates and glycerol oleate, wherein the weight ratio of the paraffinic oil to the emulsifier is about 99.2:0.8; and wherein    the oil-in-water emulsion is applied at a dosage of paraffinic oil of about 10 gal/acre to about 20 gal/acre.    
   
   
       23 . A kit comprising the following components in packaged form: 
 the spray oil of  claim 2 , wherein the paraffinic oil and the emulsifier are provided individually or as a mixture; and    instructions for using the spray oil for controlling turfgrass pests.    
   
   
       24 . A spray oil comprising: 
 paraffinic oil; and    quick break emulsifier, wherein the weight ratio of the paraffin oil to the emulsifier ranges from about 95:5 to about 99.95:0.05, and wherein the spray oil is used to enhance the growth of turfgrass.