Compositions and methods for repelling coleopterans

Abstract

Compositions and methods for repelling coleopterans. The compositions contain a substrate and an anti-aggregation pheremone intermixed within the substrate. The pheremone may be verbenone, methyl salycylate, wintergreen oil, or combinations thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for repelling coleopterans, the system comprising:
 a polymeric or wax substrate selected from the group consisting of a wax emulsion, microspheres, a latex solution, hot melt glue, a resin, and plastic flakes; and   an anti-aggregation pheremone intermixed within the substrate, wherein the anti-aggregation pheremone is selected from the group consisting of verbenone, methyl salicylate, wintergreen oil extracted from the leaves of a plant within the  Gaultheria  genus, an extract and infusion from the botanical orders Alismatales, Apiales, Arecales, Asparagales, Asterales, Brassicales, Canellales, Caryophyllales, Cycadales, Dipsacales, Ericales, Fabales, Gentianales, Lamiales, Laurales, Magnoliales, Malpighiales, Malvales, Myrtales, Pinales, Poales, Ranunculales, Rosales, Sapindales, Solanales, Theales or Zingiberales, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an insect toxicant. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a wax emulsion formed by:
 melting a wax; and   adding to the melted wax, an oil, an emulsifier, a preservative, and water heated above the melting temperature of the wax to form the wax emulsion.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-aggregation pheremone is a combination of verbenone and methyl salicylate. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-aggregation pheremone is a combination of verbenone and wintergreen oil extracted from the leaves of a plant within the  Gaultheria  genus. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-aggregation pheremone is a combination of verbenone, methyl salycylate, and wintergreen oil extracted from the leaves of a plant within the  Gaultheria  genus. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the coleopteran is from the genera  Dendroctonus  spp.,  Rhynchophorus  spp.,  Hypothenemus  spp.,  Xylosandrus  spp.,  Cosmopolites  spp.,  Alphitobius  spp.,  Sphenophorus  spp., and  Anthonomus  spp. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the coleopteran is the coffee berry borer. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the coleopteran is  Cosmopolites sordidus.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the coleopteran is  Alphitobius diaperinus.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the coleopteran is  Sphenophorus levis.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the coleopteran is  Anthonomus grandis.    
     
     
         13 . A method of repelling coleopterans in a region, the method comprising administering a system to the region, the system comprising:
 a polymeric or wax substrate selected from the group consisting of a wax emulsion, microspheres, a latex solution, hot melt glue, a resin, and plastic flakes; and   an anti-aggregation pheremone intermixed within the substrate, wherein the anti-aggregation pheremone is selected from the group consisting of verbenone, methyl salicylate, wintergreen oil extracted from the leaves of a plant within the  Gaultheria  genus, an extract and infusion from the botanical orders Alismatales, Apiales, Arecales, Asparagales, Asterales, Brassicales, Canellales, Caryophyllales, Cycadales, Dipsacales, Ericales, Fabales, Gentianales, Lamiales, Laurales, Magnoliales, Malpighiales, Malvales, Myrtales, Pinales, Poales, Ranunculales, Rosales, Sapindales, Solanales, Theales or Zingiberales, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the anti-aggregation pheremone is a combination of verbenone and methyl salicylate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the anti-aggregation pheremone is a combination of verbenone and wintergreen oil extracted from the leaves of a plant within the  Gaultheria  genus. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the anti-aggregation pheremone is a combination of verbenone, methyl salycylate, and wintergreen oil extracted from the leaves of a plant within the  Gaultheria  genus. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the coleopteran is from the genera  Dendroctonus  spp.,  Rhynchophorus  spp.,  Hypothenemus  spp.,  Xylosandrus  spp.,  Cosmopolites  spp.,  Alphitobius  spp.,  Sphenophorus  spp., and  Anthonomus  spp. 
     
     
         18 . A method for dislodging coffee berry borer from a coffee berry, the method comprising administering a system on or in the vicinity of the coffee berry, the system comprising:
 a polymeric or wax substrate selected from the group consisting of a wax emulsion, microspheres, a latex solution, hot melt glue, a resin, and plastic flakes; and   an anti-aggregation pheremone intermixed within the substrate, wherein the anti-aggregation pheremone is selected from the group consisting of verbenone, methyl salicylate, wintergreen oil extracted from the leaves of a plant within the  Gaultheria  genus, an extract and infusion from the botanical orders Alismatales, Apiales, Arecales, Asparagales, Asterales, Brassicales, Canellales, Caryophyllales, Cycadales, Dipsacales, Ericales, Fabales, Gentianales, Lamiales, Laurales, Magnoliales, Malpighiales, Malvales, Myrtales, Pinales, Poales, Ranunculales, Rosales, Sapindales, Solanales, Theales or Zingiberales, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the anti-aggregation pheremone is a combination of verbenone and methyl salicylate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the anti-aggregation pheremone is a combination of verbenone and wintergreen oil extracted from the leaves of a plant within the  Gaultheria  genus. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the anti-aggregation pheremone is a combination of verbenone, methyl salycylate, and wintergreen oil extracted from the leaves of a plant within the  Gaultheria  genus.