INSECTICIDE COMPOSITIONS AND PROCESS
A synergistic insecticide composition comprising: a) an ethoxylated surfactant of the formula: R—O—(CH 2 —CH 2 O) x —H wherein R is a linear alkyl group of from approximately 0 to 15 carbon atoms and X has an average value from about 1 to 3; and b) an insecticide selected from the group consisting of nicotinoids, chlorfenapyr, pyrethrum and piperonyl butoxide. Such compositions are effective against a wide range of insects.
1 . A process for controlling insect populations by applying to an insect habitat a synergistic insecticide composition comprising:
a) an ethoxylated surfactant of the formula:
R—O—(CH 2 —CH 2 O) x —H
wherein R is a linear alkyl group of from approximately 9 to 15 carbon atoms and X has an average value of from about 1 to 3; and
b) a nicotinoid insecticide.
2 . A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the insect habitat is a cockroach habitat.
3 . A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said surfactant has an HLB of less than approximately 8.7.
4 . A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said surfactant is one in which R is a linear alkyl group of approximately 12 to 13 carbon atoms and X has an average value of about 1.
5 . A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said surfactant is one in which R is a linear alkyl group of approximately 12 to 13 carbon atoms and X has an average of about 2.9.
6 . A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said surfactant is one in which R is a linear alkyl group of approximately 12 to 15 carbon atoms and X has an average value of about 2.8.
7 . A process as set froth in claim 1 wherein said surfactant is one in which R is a linear alkyl group of approximately 11 carbon atoms and X has an average value of about 3.
8 . A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said surfactant is one in which R is a linear alkyl group of approximately 14 to 15 carbon atoms and X has an average value of about 2.5.
9 . A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said insecticide is a nicotinoid selected from the group consisting of clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam.
10 . A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ratio of the LC50% value of the composition evaluated after 24 hours at a 10% solution of ethoxylated surfactant to the LC50% value of the nicotinoid insecticide alone evaluated after 24 hours is from about 2.4 to about 6.8.
11 . A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ratio of the LC50% value of the composition evaluated after 24 hours at a 10% solution of ethoxylated surfactant to the LC50% value of the nicotinoid insecticide alone evaluated after 24 hours is at least about 2.5.
12 . A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ratio of the LC50% value of the composition evaluated after 24 hours at a 10% solution of ethoxylated surfactant to the LC50% value of the nicotinoid insecticide alone evaluated after 24 hours is from about 2.5 to about 6.7.