Use of gossypol and related terpenes for control of urban and agricultural pests

US6773727B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture · US

Inventors

• Maria G. Rojas · Gulfport, US
• Juan A. Morales-Ramos · Gulfport, US
• Peter Wan · London, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 13, 2001
• Grant date: Aug 10, 2004
• Expiry date: Oct 14, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S424/11
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Low concentrations of gossypol and related phyllophage toxins from cotton improve the effectiveness of insecticidal agents against social insects, including cockroaches, and particularly termites and ants. Levels of gossypol and other cotton phyllophage toxins which are sufficiently low as to be non-biocidal to social insects alone, will significantly increase the control efficacy of other insecticidal agents. Consequently, use of these low levels of these cotton phyllophage toxins allows the levels of insecticidal agents necessary for effectively controlling the insects to be significantly reduced relative to applications without cotton phyllophage toxins. Furthermore, insecticidal agents which are normally ineffective for control of social insects when used alone, may be effective when used in conjunction with the cotton phyllophage toxins.