Control of arthropod infestation using particles comprising an entomopathogen and wax

Abstract

Composite particles containing hydrophobic particles and spores of an entomopathogenic fungus that are capable of germinating on the cuticle of a grain storage arthropod, dry powder compositions comprising such composite particles, methods of producing such compositions and methods and uses thereof.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A composite particle comprising:
 i) a hydrophobic particle that adheres to the cuticle of at least one species of a grain storage arthropod; and   ii) spores of an entomopathogenic fungus that adhere to the hydrophobic particle and are capable of germinating on the cuticle of the at least one species of arthropod.   
     
     
         24 . The composite particle according to  claim 23 , wherein the hydrophobic particle is a wax having a melting point ≧50° C. 
     
     
         25 . The composite particle according to  claim 23 , wherein the hydrophobic particle is a wax having a melting point ≧60° C. 
     
     
         26 . The composite particle according to  claim 23 , wherein the hydrophobic particle is a wax selected from carnauba wax, bees wax, Chinese wax, shellac wax, spermaceti wax, candelilla wax, castor wax, ouricury wax and rice bran wax 
     
     
         27 . The composite particle according to  claim 23 , wherein the hydrophobic particle is carnauba wax. 
     
     
         28 . The composite particle according to  claim 23 , wherein the fungus is  Beauveria bassiana.    
     
     
         29 . The composite particle according to  claim 23 , wherein the fungus is  Beauveria bassiana  of the strain deposited under Accession number IMI 398548. 
     
     
         30 . The composite particle according to  claim 23 , wherein the one or more species of grain storage arthropod is an insect 
     
     
         31 . The composite particle according to  claim 23 , wherein the one or more species of grain storage arthropod is selected from  Oryzaephilus surinamensis  (saw-toothed grain beetle),  Sitophilus granarius  (grain weevil) and  Cryptolestes ferruginus  (rust-red grain beetle). 
     
     
         32 . The composite particle according to  claim 23 , wherein the composite particle has a diameter of ≧10 μm. 
     
     
         33 . The composite particle according to  claim 23 , wherein the composite particle has a diameter of ≧12 μm. 
     
     
         34 . A dry powder composition effective in controlling populations of grain storage arthropods, the composition comprising composite particles which comprise:
 i) hydrophobic particles that adhere to the cuticles of one or more species of grain storage arthropod; and   ii) spores of an entomopathogenic fungus that adhere to the hydrophobic particles and are capable of germinating on the cuticles of the one or more species of grain storage arthropod.   
     
     
         35 . The composition according to  claim 34 , wherein the composite particles have a volume mean diameter of ≧10 μm. 
     
     
         36 . The composition according to  claim 34 , wherein the composite particles have a volume mean diameter of ≧12 μm. 
     
     
         37 . The composition according to  claim 34 , wherein the weight of the hydrophobic particles is 50 to 80% by weight of the composite particles. 
     
     
         38 . Use of a composite particle according to  claim 23  in the control of grain storage arthropod infestations in grain storage areas. 
     
     
         39 . Use of a dry powder composition according to  claim 34  in the control of grain storage arthropod infestations in grain storage areas. 
     
     
         40 . A method of producing a composition comprising composite particles according to claim  1 , comprising the steps of:
 i) micronising dry hydrophobic carrier particles that adhere to the cuticles of at least one species of grain storage arthropod; and   ii) admixing dry spores of  Beauveria bassiana  to the carrier particles.   
     
     
         41 . A method of controlling grain storage arthropod infestation in a grain storage area, wherein composite particles according to  claim 23  are presented to the surfaces of the grain storage area by
 i) collecting the composite particles in a dusting apparatus; and 
 ii) releasing the composite particles from the dusting apparatus and into the grain storage area. 
 
     
     
         42 . A method of controlling grain storage arthropod infestation in a grain storage area, wherein a dry powder composition according to  claim 34  is presented to the surfaces of the grain storage area.