Insecticidal compositions and methods of using the same

Abstract

Insecticidal compositions have at least one active agent and at least one insecticide. The active agent can include perilla oil, a component found in perilla oil, or a perillaldehyde or carvone analog. The insecticide can include a pyrethrum, pyrethrin, pyrethroid, neonicotinoid, chlofenapyr, ethiprole, sulfoxoflor, carbamate, organophosphate, or organochlorine. Methods for controlling insects include contacting an insect with an effective amount of a composition described in this specification. Modified plants that produce an active agent can be contacted with an insecticide.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insecticidal composition comprising an insecticide and an active agent present in an amount of about 1% to 99% by weight of the composition, the active agent selected from the group consisting of (i)  perilla  oil; (ii) a  perilla  oil component selected from the group consisting of farnesene, perillaldehyde, linolenic acid, caryophyllene, limonene, carvone, perillyl alcohol, perillic acid, pinene, linalool, germacrene, bergamotene, and spathulenol; and (iii) a perillaldehyde analog. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the active agent comprises  perilla  oil, perillaldehyde, or carvone, including (R)-carvone or (S)-carvone. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the perillaldehyde analog is a compound of formula (A): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein: 
         R 1  is selected from the group consisting of —CH 2 OH, —CHO, and —COOR a ; 
         R 2  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl and alkenyl; 
         R 3  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl; 
         R 4  is hydrogen, or R 4  and R 2  are taken together with the atoms to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted ring; and 
         R a  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl. 
       
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the perillaldehyde analog is selected from the group consisting of limonene including D-limonene, perillyl alcohol including (S)-(−)-perillyl alcohol, perillic acid including (S)-(−)-perillic acid, myrtenal including (1R)-(−)-myrtenal, and 3-methyl-1-cyclohexene-1-carboxaldehyde. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the insecticide is selected from the group consisting of pyrethrin, pyrethroid, neonicotinoid, chlofenapyr, ethiprole, sulfoxoflor, carbamates, organophosphates, and organochlorines. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the insecticide comprises one or more naturally occurring pyrethrins selected from the group consisting of Jasomolin-I, Cinerin-I, Pyrethrin-I, Jasmolin-II, Cinerin-II, and Pyrethrin-II. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the insecticide comprises one or more pyrethroids selected from the group consisting of etofenprox, permethrin, prallethrin, resmethrin, and sumithrin. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the insecticide comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of allethrin, alpha-cypermethrin, bifenthrin, beta-cypermethrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, esfenvalerate, etofenprox, lamdba-cyhalothrin, and zeta-cypermethrin. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the insecticide comprises one or more neonicotinoids selected from the group consisting of dinotefuran, acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the insecticide comprises at least one of clothianidin or imidacloprid. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is substantially free of piperonyl butoxide. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is substantially free of N-octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises less than about 95% by weight of the insecticide. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises less than about 60% by weight of the insecticide. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises mineral oil, glycerol, or other diluent that provides viscosity modifying properties. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is suitable for application as at least one of an aerosol, fog, mist, spray, ultra low volume spray, or surface contact treatment. 
     
     
         17 . A method for controlling insects, the method comprising contacting a population of insects with an effective amount of the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the insect is a mosquito. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the composition is topically applied to the population in an amount sufficient to kill at least 25% of the population. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the composition is topically applied to the population in an amount sufficient to kill at least 50% of the population. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the composition is applied by at least one of an aerosol, mist, fog, spray, vapor, ULV spray, or surface contact treatment. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the population is exposed to the insecticide so that the composition is ingested by the insects sufficient to kill at least 50% of the population.