Acrylate/methacrylate-based diblock copolymer/anthranilic diamide compositions for propagule coating

1. An insecticidal composition comprising by weight based on the total weight of the composition:

(a) from about 9 to about 91% of one or more anthranilic diamide insecticides; and

(b) from about 9 to about 91% of an acrylate/methacrylate-based diblock copolymer component having a water solubility of at least 5% by weight at 20° C., a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value of at least 3 and not more than 35, and an average molecular weight ranging from about 1,500 to about 50,000 Daltons;

wherein component (a) comprises at least one compound selected from anthranilic diamides of Formula 1, N-oxides, and salts thereof,

wherein

X is N;

R1 is CH 3 , Cl, Br or F;

R2 is H, F, Cl, Br or —CN;

R3 is F, Cl, Br, C1-C4 haloalkyl or C1-C4 haloalkoxy;

R4a is H, C1-C4 alkyl, cyclopropylmethyl or 1-cyclopropylethyl;

R4b is H or CH 3 ;

R5 is H, F, Cl or Br; and

R6 is H, F, Cl or Br,

wherein component (b) is selected from acrylate/methacrylate-based diblock copolymers of Formula 2,

where each R 7 is independently selected from H and CH 3 ;

5≦q≦600;

5≦y≦600;

Q is C 1 -C 20 straight chain alkyl or C 3 -C 20 branched alkyl; and

Y is hydroxyethyl or 3-hydroxy propyl,

or Y is —(CH 2 CH 2 O) 2 —H, —(CH 2 CH 2 O) 9 —H, or —(CH 2 CH 2 O) 30 —H, and

wherein the ratio of component (b) to component (a) is about 1:10 to about 10:1 by weight.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein component (a) is selected from compounds of Formula 1 wherein X is N; R 1 is CH 3 ; R 2 is Cl or —CN; R 3 is Br; R 4a is CH 3 ; R 4b is H; R 5 is Cl; and R 6 is H; and salts thereof.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein component (a) is the compound of Formula 1 wherein R 2 is Cl.

4. The composition of claim 2 , wherein component (a) is the compound of Formula 1 wherein R 2 is —CN.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein component (b) is at least 15% of the composition by weight.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of component (b) to component (a) is at least 1:5 by weight.

7. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising at least one fungicide or insecticide other than anthranilic diamide insecticides.

8. A geotropic propagule coated with an insecticidally effective amount of the composition of claim 1 .

9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the geotropic propagule is a seed.

10. The composition of claim 9 , wherein the seed is a seed of cotton, maize, soybean, rapeseed or rice.

11. A liquid composition consisting of about 5 to 80 weight % of the composition of claim 1 and about 20 to 95 weight % of a volatile aqueous liquid carrier.

12. A method for protecting a geotropic propagule and plant derived therefrom from a phytophagous insect pest, the method comprising coating the propagule with an insecticidally effective amount of the liquid composition of claim 11 and then evaporating the volatile aqueous liquid carrier of the composition.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the insect pest is in a taxonomic order selected from Hemiptera and Lepidoptera.