Zeolite insecticide for termites

Details Zeolite insecticide for termites Zeolite insecticide for termites

1993-10-21

1996-11-19

Page, Thurman K.

Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions

Preparations characterized by special physical form

Biocides; animal or insect repellents or attractants

424403, 424405, 424409, A01N 2534

Patent

active

055760074

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF APPLICATION

This invention relates to an insecticide.


BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

In order to eliminate termites, cheyletids (cheyletidae) and other harmful insects, chemical insecticides are generally used. To eliminate termites or cheyletids, for example, chemical insecticides having a strong acute toxicity such as organic phosphorus compounds or pyrethroid compounds are widely employed.


PROBLEMS WHICH THIS INVENTION ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE

Although these types of chemical Insecticides eliminate harmful insects due to the effect of their chemical components, however, they often have an adverse effect on man and animals. It is therefore feared that the spraying of such chemical substances having strong acute toxicity will lead to environmental pollution.
Further, insects gradually acquire a resistance to chemical insecticides as a result of repeated exposure to them. A chemical insecticide which was initially effective may thus subsequently lose all of its activity.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention was conceived to resolve the aforesaid problems. It aims to provide an insecticide which has little adverse effect on man or animals and presents little risk of environmental pollution, but which definitively eliminates harmful insects even when used over long periods of time without the insects acquiring resistance.
In order to achieve the above objectives, the invention provides an insecticide containing powdered zeolite, characterized in that this powdered zeolite comprises particles having a diameter smaller than the distance between body hairs on the insects it is desired to eliminate.
In the insecticide provided, the zeolite has moisture regulating properties, and can therefore maintain dry conditions unsuitable for sustaining harmful insects in areas where the insecticide is used.
In areas to which this insecticide is applied, therefore, harmful insects are not easily sustained, the number of harmful insects decreases, and even if some harmful insects still remain, they are far less active.
As the aforesaid zeolite contains some particles having a diameter smaller than the distance between insect body hairs, a fine powder of these particles adheres to the insect's body surface despite the presence of the hairs. This prevents release of carbon dioxide gas from the insect's skin, and causes the insect's death due to respiratory failure.
If the harmful insect which it is desired to eliminate has stomata, the aforesaid fine zeolite powder adheres to the stomata. This prevents the insect from taking in oxygen, and causes the insect's death due to oxygen deficiency.
Further, when foreign matter adheres to an insect's the body surface or hairs, the insect tries to brush it off. In this brushing off action, the insect scratches itself. The aforesaid fine powder then adheres to the scratches despite the presence of body hairs, and due to the moisture regulating properties of the zeolite, the zeolite absorbs the insect's body fluids which causes the insect's death by dehydration.
This type of zeolite is not only less toxic than conventional insecticides, but is also effective as an insecticide due to the aforesaid mechanisms.
The insecticide provided by the invention therefore has little adverse effect on man or animals and presents little risk of environmental pollution, but definitively eliminates harmful insects even when used over long periods of time without the insects acquiring resistance.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the first mechanism according to which harmful insects are eliminated by the insecticide of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the second mechanism according to which harmful insects are eliminated by the insecticide of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the third mechanism according to which harmful insects are eliminated by the insecticide of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is the particle size distribution of natural zeolite according to Example 1 of the invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3124505 (1964-03-01), Doyle et al.
patent: 3235451 (1966-02-01), Odeneal
patent: 4279895 (1981-07-01), Carle
patent: 4906464 (1990-03-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 4938958 (1990-07-01), Niira et al.
patent: 4984663 (1991-01-01), Kato
patent: 5165934 (1992-11-01), Wada et al.
patent: 5180585 (1993-01-01), Jacobson et al.
patent: 5186935 (1993-02-01), Tucker
patent: 5204119 (1993-04-01), Shiobara et al.
patent: 5264225 (1993-11-01), Varga et al.
patent: 5298252 (1994-03-01), Hagiwara et al.

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