Compounds of formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, and the agrochemically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, enantiomers, tautomers and N-oxides of those compounds, can be used as insecticides.

##STR00001##

An energized assembly to disseminate a treatment agent in vapor phase to a local environment. The assembly includes an emanator element to hold treatment agent, and a flameless energizing source to facilitate volatization of the treatment agent. Preferred embodiments operate for a period of time of between about 4 and 8 hours, and can then be discarded. Typically, a housing associates the treatment agent and the energizing source. Embodiments may sometimes include one or more of: a gas-tight boundary element, a thermal transfer element, a trigger mechanism, a safety mechanism, a termination mechanism, a time-delay mechanism, solidized treatment agent to avoid spills, and a sequestering arrangement.

This disclosure provides insect or arthropod pesticidal compositions of mono alpha carboxylic acids or esters thereof in combination with an emulsifier, an adjuvant comprising choline, and a carrier. Also provided are aqueous concentrates comprising the pesticidal compositions, as well as aqueous dilutions of the aqueous concentrates. Also provided are methods of killing or incapacitating insects or arthropods and methods of treating cattle to protect against biting insects or arthropods using such compositions.

A heterocyclic compound is represented by formula (I): ##STR00001##
in which R.sup.2 represents a C1-C6 alkyl group optionally having one or more halogen atoms, n is 0, R.sup.3 represents a C1-C6 chain hydrocarbon group optionally having one or more substituents selected from Group B, q is 0, Het represents a group represented by the formulae Het 1 or Het 2, A.sup.1 represents a nitrogen atom, and Q.sup.2 represents an oxygen atom. The compound has excellent efficacy for controlling harmful arthropods. A composition is provided which contains the compound of formula (I) and one or more additional ingredients.

Compounds of formula I (Formula I) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, and the agrochemically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, enantiomers, tautomers and N-oxides of those compounds, can be used as insecticides.

##STR00001##

Isolated peptides having biostimulant and bioprotective activity against abiotic and biotic stress in plants are provided. Compositions comprising the peptides having biostimulant and bioprotective activity against abiotic and biotic stress in plants are also provided. Preferably, the peptides having biostimulant and bioprotective activity against abiotic and biotic stress in plants are from Solanum lycopersicum plants and are produced in a recombinant or synthetic manner. Methods for increasing resistance to biotic and/or abiotic stress in plants by applying to the plants the peptides having biostimulant and bioprotective activity and/or the compositions containing the peptides having biostimulant and bioprotective activity are further provided.

The disclosure provides a human-safe method of killing or controlling insects using a non-toxic composition comprising erythritol ((2R,3S)-butane-1,2,3,4-tetraol). The disclosure also provides non-toxic compositions comprising erythritol suitable for killing insects in residential, commercial, and agricultural locales.

A breakable pearl containing a spore that, when activated, produces a fungus that is fatal to bed bugs, and a protective cover that prevents water from reaching the spore and causing it to germinate prematurely. Pearls are sprayed onto floors and furniture, and the spores are released only when the pearls are broken by bed bugs walking across them. The pearls have a water-resistant outer cover and a fragile inner cover such that they can be crushed by bed bugs walking over them. The pearls can be applied through traditional sprayers or as infused on one side of adhesive tape. When a bed bug touches the pearl, it breaks and the spore attaches itself to the bed bug's oily skin. Since it takes up to two weeks for the fungus to kill the bed bug, it will infect other bed bugs before it dies.

An improved method is disclosed for preparing an organic pesticide of Formula 4-A from (1) a composition comprising: (a) a crystalline organic pesticide; (b and c) compounds of Formulae 1 and 2; (d) an amine base and (e) an aprotic solvent; (2) reacting with a sulfonyl chloride of Formula 3; and (3) allowing the mixture to proceed to an organic pesticide of Formula 4-A.

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are as defined in the disclosure.

Compounds of the formula (I) wherein Q is as defined in claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to agrochemical compositions which comprise compounds of formula (I), to preparation of these compositions, and to the use of the compounds or compositions in agriculture or horticulture for combating, preventing or controlling animal pests, including arthropods and in particular insects, molluscs, nematodes or representatives of the order Acarina.

##STR00001##