Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Particulate form
Reexamination Certificate
1996-11-20
2001-12-25
Page, Thurman K. (Department: 1615)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Particulate form
C424S484000, C424S488000, C424S408000, C514S729000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06333052
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to ingestible therapeutic compositions for beneficial insects and to the method of treating disorders of beneficial insects.
There are a number of disorders that affect beneficial insects with an example being controlling parasitic and/or pathogenic infestations in bees, particularly honeybees. It is known, for example, that certain mites affect and destroy entire colonies. Other organisms (parasites, fungi, bacteria, viruses, and the like) cause
Nosema
disease, chalk brood disease, sacbrood disease, American and European foulbrood diseases, and the like. Certain of such disorders also affect other useful bees, such as alfalfa leafcutting bees (
Megachile rotundata
), orchard bees (
Osmia
species), and bumblebees (
Bombus
species) used in commercial production.
Other beneficial insects used for commercial or scientific purposes, such as silkworms, are also affected by parasites and microorganisms. Insects and arthropods kept in culture for commercial or scientific research are susceptible to similar diseases and nematode worm parasites.
In order to treat such disorders, a number of techniques are utilized. Referring to treatment of mite infestation in bees, it has been known to use a variety of chemicals to fumigate the bee colonies, or to place certain other compounds therein to try to eliminate the mites from the hive where the colony resides. Among such materials are menthol, formic acid, bromopropylate, Coumaphos, pyrethrum extracts (both naturally occurring and synthetic types) and the like.
While generally useful, all of these compositions and techniques are not effective for a variety of reasons. One of the problems is that certain of these compounds, such as menthol and formic acid, when placed in the hive adversely affect the behavior of the bees. Because of their strong odor, the bees have an aversion to them and make every effort to remove them from the hive. With other compounds the bees must be removed from the hive, the hive treated, and the bee colony then returned after a period of several weeks. This is a costly and time-consuming process. Also, formic acid is corrosive and difficult and dangerous to handle. Moreover, certain of these compounds are only effective in warm weather conditions. This is particularly true with menthol, which requires at least two weeks of warm weather to cause it to vaporize in order to be effective. In many areas of the world this is a condition that does not exist throughout the year and, thus, is not effective.
Moreover, with certain miticides it is difficult to cause the bees to ingest the same and this is particularly a problem in trying to treat tracheal mites residing in the trachea of the bees. If they cannot ingest the miticide to place it into their hemolymph, then the miticide will not be effective.
These same types of problems are present with other bee and other beneficial insect disorder treatments. Chemical insecticides when used, as in treating parasitic wasps affecting alfalfa leafcutting bees, have to be used in levels that can adversely affect the bees. These adverse effects include aversion to feeding; memory loss; reduced growth, longevity, and fecundity; and temporary to chronic aberrancies in behavior. Silkworms are treated in commercial rearing operations with antifungal agents and antibacterial agents, as are many insects used for biological control and integrated pest management to prevent the cultures from dying out. In addition to possible aversion to the treatment agent, there is also the problem of the need of high levels of usage which can have adverse effects on the beneficial insect. Here again, there is the need to ensure insect intake of the treatment agent, while at the same time minimizing the amount of agent used to minimize, and preferably eliminate, possible adverse effects.
There is, thus, the need to have a composition that can be effective all year round with regard to temperature, that will ensure that the medicament can be ingested by the insect, and above all it must be a cost effective means of controlling the disorder to make it economically feasible for use. In the case of honeybees, there is the further need to ensure that the treatment will not result in unacceptable levels of toxic chemicals in the hive products such as honey, beeswax, pollen, propolis, venom, and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a composition and method for effective and efficient treatment of beneficial insect disorders, avoiding aversion by the insects, avoiding the need for vaporization and enabling year round administration, and which will be readily ingested by the insects.
Briefly stated, the present invention comprises a carrier having microcapsules substantially uniformly distributed therethrough, said microcapsules comprising a non-toxic matrix having substantially uniformly distributed therein a medicament for treating a beneficial insect disorder.
The invention also comprises the microcapsules and the method of treating beneficial insect disorders as hereinafter described.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As used herein, the term “beneficial insects” is used to denote insects having commercial and/or scientific value, as in the production of food and other products (honey, silk, beeswax, etc.), pollination of agricultural crops, and entomological studies to control insect infestations. While the instant invention is applicable to a wide range of beneficial insect disorders, as has been discussed above, it will be described primarily with respect to mite infestations of bees used for agricultural purposes. Such use includes honeybees, as well as other bees that are used to pollinate many agricultural crops. Particular emphasis will be placed on tracheal mites because they are exceedingly deadly.
The instant invention permits ingestion of the material used to treat the mites so that it becomes included in the hemolymph and thus toxic to the tracheal mites. This is particularly necessary in treating tracheal mites, because such mites tend to pierce the trachea of the bee and feed on the hemolymph. If the substance that is toxic to them is present in the hemolymph, it will, of course, destroy the mites and thus preserve the life of the bee and of the colony.
An essential aspect of the instant invention is the preparation of microcapsules. As used herein, the term “microcapsules” is also intended to include microspheres. The microspheres are formed of a matrix having distributed therethrough at least one medicament effective to treat the disorder and the microcapsules are formed by placing a shell about the microspheres.
In the instant case there are a number of medicaments for treating the parasites as has been noted above and any of these can be utilized for mite infections in bees. It is preferred to utilize menthol. Menthol is available in crystalline, liquid, or granular form. Any of these are suitable in the microcapsules of the instant invention, although it is preferred to use food-grade menthol crystals.
As will be evident, the amount of menthol included in the microcapsule can vary widely, depending upon the effective amount desired to be utilized with any particular insect. Ordinarily, the microcapsules can contain anywhere from 10 to 50% by weight or more of the menthol crystals. Other medicaments are added in the amounts required for effectiveness, which for any microcapsule system and disorder can be determined by routine experimentation.
With respect to the matrix, any non-toxic material can be utilized, including food-grade fats, such as stearic acid and food-grade polymers, such as the hydroxyalkyl celluloses, (examples being hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, and the like), polyamides, gelatin, zein and the like, or combinations thereof. Any fats or polymers that are food-grade and known for use in microencapsulation can be used, provided they are not toxic to the insect. For any given medicament, the optimum matrix material can be determined by routine experimentation.
If
Kevan Peter G.
Kevan Sherrene D.
Trevino Jack D.
Di Nola-Baron Liliana
Enviroquest, Ltd
Page Thurman K.
Sigalos John C.
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