3. TYPES OF PESTICIDE
FORMULATIONS AND MIXTURES
• The most basic pesticide formulations include suspensions, and emulsions.
• As formulations get more advanced there are several kinds of formulations
that are similar to the basic formulations, but function quite differently.
• These advanced formulations include capsulated suspensions,
micoremulsions, water dispersible granules, and many others.
4. TYPES OF PESTICIDE
FORMULATIONS AND MIXTURES
• Synergists increase pesticide efficacy by enhancing the mode of action
found within a specific active ingredient.
• Adjuvants enhance pesticide efficacy without increasing the toxicity or
increasing the effectiveness of a specific mode of action.
• Many products used in conjunction with others will add to the overall level of
control.
• Spraying alone isn't enough!
5. SOLUBLES
• Soluble products form a true dilution when the active ingredient is dissolved
completely into water.
• The most common product used for general pest control was orthene, but
that is no longer available.
6. SOLUBLES
• The most common soluble pesticide used today is boron.
• Boron can be purchased under several trade names
• Tim-Bor, Ni-Bor, and Board Defense are a few examples.
• Boron in the soluble form is used generally for wood destroying organisms.
• When applied on wood it penetrates the cellular structure of the wood
making the wood toxic to termites.
• In a dry form it can be used for ants, and cockroaches. It absorbs small
amounts of water out of the air, and is sweet tasting.
7. WETTABLE POWDERS AND
SUSPENSIONS
• A suspension is formed when a wettable powder or a suspension
concentrate is added to water.
• At the time of application, either a wettable powder or suspension
concentrate will have the same formulation with little to no difference.
• Active ingredients are mixed with carrier agents usually made of clay or talc.
8. WETTABLE POWDERS AND
SUSPENSIONS
• These carrier agents want to settle and require frequent agitation to
continue floating in the product.
• A huge advantage of products carried in a suspension is that they don’t
burn plants like many emulsions do.
• Once the product is dry it doesn’t move through the soil it stays in place until
no longer active.
9. EMULSIONS
• Emulsions are formed when an emulsifier is used to combine two parts of a
finished solution or product, that otherwise wouldn’t mix.
• Generally, active ingredients are mixed in an oil base.
• Oil and water do not mix!
• Therefore an emulsifier is required for the active ingredient to float evenly in
the finished solution.
10. EMULSIONS
• Emulsions require frequent agitation otherwise the active ingredient will settle
to the bottom of the mixture.
• This is typical because the pesticide never completely dissolves.
• Because of the oil base emulsions are more readily absorbed through the
insect cuticles making them more likely to kill on contact.
• Oils in the product also cause faster skin absorption in humans, and therefore
applicators should be especially careful about getting it on their skin, and on
non-target organisms.
11. ZENPROX EC
• The EC in product names signifies that the product is an emulsifialbe
concentrate.
• Zenprox EC contains an ether pyrethroid that bonds differently to the nerve
cell than other pyrethroids.
• Because of it's unique mode of action and formulation it is less likely to cause
insect resistance and is very effective for interior treatments.
• Because it is held in an emulsion it penetrates the insect cuticle faster and
has a faster knockdown.
12. MICROEMULSIONS
• A microemulsion is designed with much smaller particles in mind that allow
for better control in specific uses.
• Transport Mikron is a microemulsion that contains two active ingredients
making it unique also because it has a dual mode of action.
• Acetamiprid, the first active ingredient, has a high rate of lateral transfer
which is enhanced by the small particle size.
• The second active ingredient, bifenthrin, leaves a long residual.
13. MICROEMULSIONS
• The small particles make it likely to penetrate the insect cuticle, and soil
surface even faster than other emulsions.
• A microemulsion particle is 100 times smaller than a particle from a standard
emulsion and 1000 times smaller than a microcap.
• Transport Mikron is well suited for smaller insects like psocids due to it's small
particle size, absorption rate, and dual mode of action.
• The product does contain label restrictions beyond what is normally found
with regards to neonicoinoids, and even pyrethroids.
14. MICROENCAPSULATED
SUSPENSIONS
• The acronym CS implies that a product is a "capsulated suspension."
• Small capsules are evenly divided in the carrier agent (water).
• These microcaps are relatively small and are about 30 microns in size.
15. MICROENCAPSULATED
SUSPENSIONS
• Because the micro-caps break down slowly the products tend to leave
behind a good residual but are generally slow acting.
• The residual benefits of these products are enhanced by the fact that the
active ingredients are protected from the elements, harsh weather, UV rays,
and the high PH levels found on brick and concrete.
• Some products can have as many as 10,000 micro-caps per square inch.
16. ONSLAUGHT FASTCAP
• Onslaught fastcap is a pyrethroid based polymeric microencapsulation.
• It has 3 active ingredients
• The first two are pyrethroids, and the third is synergist that enhances the
effectiveness of the product.
• This is a-typical product not only because it has two pyrethroids in it, but also
because modern pyrethroids don't generally come with a synergist.
17. ONSLAUGHT FASTCAP
• The synergist (PBO) enhances pyrethroids specifically and makes this product
one of the strongest pesticides for spiders and scorpions.
• The synergist also helps to make the product fast acting unlike some other
micorencapsulated products, but the product retains it's long residual due to
the formulation.
• The product is highly repellent and consideration should be taken when
applying since it can create new problems with ants, cockroaches, and
other highly unpredictable pests.
18. WATER DISPERSIBLE GRANULES
• Arilon is an example of a product held in water dispersible granules.
• Despite containing minerals Arilon has not been shown to stain any surfaces.
• The granules are evenly suspended in water after mixing and disperse evenly
on surfaces when applied.
• The active ingredient of Arilon, indoxicarb, has been shown to have
exponential control since the product has a high rate of lateral transfer.
19. WATER DISPERSIBLE GRANULES
• The product is target specific and through it's Meta-Active activation it can
differentiate from between target pests and non-target organisms.
• It works great on cockroaches, but terrible on bees.
• When it is inside of an insects it combines with enzymes and forms the
Meta-Active compound.
• As an example, the Meta-Active compound can often be found in the
spewtum of cockroaches several generations after the first the cockroach
fed.
20. SYNERGISTS
• Synergists are products or active ingredients that enhance the toxic effect of
a specific pesticide or active ingredient.
• The most common synergist is Piperonyl Butoxide (PBO).
• Generally PBO is used to enhance the mode of action found in pyrethrins and
pyrethroids.
• PBO blocks the mode of action found in sodium channel inhibitors by
blocking an insects natural defense to those products.
21. SYNERGISTS
• Exciter is a common product containing a synergist, and is mixed with other
products to synergize them.
• Exciter does not leave a residual treatment on surfaces, instead it has a rate
of contact mortality.
• The combination of exciter with residual products has the knockdown that is
common with exciter and the residual of the other product.
22. SURFACTANTS
• Surfactants are a type of adjuvant that add to the efficacy of a pesticide
without adding to the toxicity level, or enhancing the effect of a specific
mode of action.
• Surfactants enhance the ability of water molecules to naturally bond
together which creates a more uniform distribution of a spray mixture on
plant leaves and on ground surfaces.
• Surfactants are also wetting agents. This means that they allow water and
products to more easily penetrate soil.
• Adding surfactants to products in a suspension will force them to penetrate
soil that they otherwise might not. Surfactants also force products that tend
to penetrate the soil to move deeper.
23. SURFACTANTS
• Yuccah is a surfactant made from the Yucca Schidigera plant found in the
dessert.
• The Yucca Schidigera plant produces it's own chemical compounds to help
it manage water more effectively.
• It is perfect for use with any pesticide or fertilizer and when used by itself can
enhance the vitality of plants and even correct some soil conditions.
24. BAITS
• Baits enhance treatments by adding to the effectiveness of spray
treatments.
• Granular baits can be put into gardens and yards.
• Boron based baits such as Niban, and Mother Earth G, last longer than the
average spray application and can extend the effective life of a pest
control treatment since they will remain active once the liquid application
has lost it's residual action.
• Bifenthrin in a suspension will last up to 30 days (Maxxthor; according to the
manufacturer)
25. BAITS
• Boron based baits such as Niban last beyond one month and continue to
work as they break down.
• Abamectin based baits such as Advance 375A have been shown to limit
reproduction of ants. They should be used in spring when reproduction is at
its highest levels and can accompany boron based baits, or be used as the
sole bait on a property.
