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 selected from Formula 1, N-oxides, and salts thereof,

wherein

X is N;

R 1 is CH 3 , Cl, Br or F;

R 2 is H, F, Cl, Br or —CN;

R 3 is F, Cl, Br, C 1 -C 4 haloalkyl or C 1 -C 4 haloalkoxy;

R 4a is H, C 1 -C 4 alkyl, cyclopropylmethyl or 1-cyclopropylethyl;

R 4b is H or CH 3 ;

R 5 is H, F, Cl or Br; and

R 6 is H, F, Cl or Br; and

(b) from about 9 to about 91% of a nonionic ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block copolymer component selected from poloxamers, reverse poloxamers, poloxamines and reverse poloxamines, having a water solubility of at least about 5% by weight at 20° C., a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value of at least or about 5 and an average molecular weight ranging from about 3000 to about 20000 daltons;

wherein the ratio of component (b) to component (a) is about 1:5 to about 10:1 by weight.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein component (a) is selected from compounds of Formula 1 wherein 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 2 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 or about 15% of the composition by weight.

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein component (b) is selected from poloxamers and poloxamines.

7. The composition of claim 6 wherein component (b) is selected from poloxamers.

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

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

10. The geotropic propagule of claim 9 which is a seed.

11. The geotropic propagule of claim 10 wherein the seed is a seed of cotton, maize, soybean, rapeseed or rice.

12. 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.

13. 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 12 and then evaporating the volatile aqueous liquid carrier of the composition.

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

15. The composition of claim 1 wherein the ratio of component (b) to component (a) is at least or about 1:4 by weight.