Use of polymer particles containing insecticide in order to improve the soil mobility of insecticides, insecticide formulas, polymer particles containing insecticide, and method for pest control

Abstract

Polymer particles, comprising a) at least one sparingly soluble insecticide from the group consisting of fipronil, allethrin, alpha-cypermethrin, beta-cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, bioallethrin, 4-chloro-2-(2-chloro-2-methylpropyl)-5-[(6-iodo-3-pyridinyl)methoxy]-3(2H)-pyridazinone (CAS-RN: 120955-77-3), chlorantraniliprole, chlorfenapyr, cyantraniliprole, cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, etofenprox, fenoxycarb, flufenoxuron, hydramethylnon, imidacloprid, indoxacarb, metaflumizone, permethrin, pyriproxifen, tebufenozide and tralomethrin and b) at least one water-insoluble polymer,
are suitable for improving the soil mobility of the sparingly soluble insecticide(s).

Claims

1. A polymer particle, consisting essentially of: i) an insecticide fipronil; and ii) at least one water-insoluble polymer P1, wherein the at least one water-insoluble polymer P1 is a water-insoluble polymer, obtained by polymerization of M1.1) 30 to 80% by weight, based on P1, of at least one monomer (M I) selected from the group consisting of the C.sub.1-C.sub.24-alkyl esters of acrylic acid, C.sub.1-C.sub.24-alkyl esters of methacrylic acid and methacrylonitrile, M1.2) 20 to 60% by weight, based on P1, of at least one monomer (M II), selected from the group consisting of butanediol diacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, pentaerythritol triallyl ether, pentaerythritol triacrylate and pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, and M1.3) 5 to 40% by weight, based on P1, of at least one further monomer (M III) which is structurally different from monomers (M I) and (M II), wherein M III is either acrylic acid or methacrylic acid.

2. The polymer particle according to claim 1, wherein the polymerization is carried out by mini-emulsion polymerization.

3. An insecticide formulation consisting essentially of comprising the polymer particle according to claim 1.

4. The insecticide formulation according to claim 3, wherein the polymerization is carried out by mini-emulsion polymerization.

5. A method for controlling soil-dwelling invertebrate pests, comprising applying onto or into a soil an insecticide formulation consisting essentially of comprising the polymer particle according to claim 1.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the polymerization is carried out by mini-emulsion polymerization.

7. A method for improving the soil mobility of sparingly soluble insecticides comprising applying onto or into the soil an insecticide formulation consisting essentially of comprising the polymer particle according to claim 1.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the polymerization is carried out by mini-emulsion polymerization.

Description

EXAMPLES

Example 1

(1) Aqueous Phase 583.19 g of DI water (DI=fully deionized water) 5 g of Genapol X-060 (ethoxylated isotridecyl alcohol, from Clariant) 8.75 g of Rhodafac RS 610 (polyoxyethylene tridecyl ether phosphate, from Rhodia) 8.75 g of Witconol NS 500 K (alcohol polyglycol ether, from Akzo Nobel) 2.0 g of a 2.5% by weight strength aqueous solution of sodium nitrite

(2) Oil Phase 20.00 g of 1,4-butanediol diacrylate (BASF) 20.00 g of methyl methacrylate (BASF) 315.00 g of Agnique KE 3658 (fatty acid dimethyl amide, from Cognis) 148.84 g of fipronil (90.7% pure, technical active ingredient) 10.00 g of methacrylic acid (BASF)

(3) Feed 1 3.53 g of a 75% by weight strength solution of tert-butyl perpivalate in aliphatic hydrocarbons

(4) Feed 2 5.00 g of a 10% by weight strength aqueous solution of tert-butyl hydroperoxide

(5) Feed 3 38.71 g of a 0.6% by weight strength aqueous solution of ascorbic acid

(6) a) The aqueous phase above was initially charged at room temperature. The oil phase was added and the mixture was dispersed with a high-speed dissolver stirrer at 5000 rpm. 30 minutes of dispersion gave a stable emulsion.

(7) b) Following the introduction of feed 1, the reaction mixture was subjected to the following temperature program: heating to 60 C. over 60 minutes, continuous increase of the temperature from 60 to 70 C. over a period of 120 minutes, increase to 85 C. over a period of 30 minutes and maintaining of this temperature for 60 minutes. Feed 2 was then added, and feed 3 was introduced at 85 C. over a period of 60 minutes. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature.

(8) This gave a dispersion having a solids content of 21.6% by weight and a mean particle size of (D50)=1.9 m (z-average determined by means of light scattering).

(9) The dispersion obtained was mixed with 1% Break-Thru S 240 (from Evonik).

Example 2

(10) Aqueous Phase 972.58 g of DI water (DI=fully deionized water) 1.37 g of a 40.70% strength aqueous solution of LS200/0 (cross-linked n-butyl acrylate dispersion having a particle size D(50)=80 nm) (BASF) 0.43 g of sodium bicarbonate 0.34 g of potassium peroxodisulfate

(11) Feed 1 66.29 g of DI water (DI=fully dionized water) 3.43 g of a 40.0% strength aqueous solution of Emulgator K 30 (Bayer; sodium alkylsulfonates)

(12) Feed 2 100.00 g of n-butyl acrylate (BASF) 2.86 g of Laromer DCPA (hexahydro-4,7-methano-1H-indenacrylate, from BASF) 11.43 g of fipronil (90.2% pure, technical active ingredient)

(13) a) The aqueous phase above was initially charged at room temperature and then heated to 65 C. Feeds 1 and 2 were metered in over a period of 3.5 hours. The mixture was then post-polymerized for 2 hours and then cooled to room temperature.

(14) This gave a dispersion having a solids content of 9% by weight and a mean particle size of (D50)=430 nm (HPPS).

Example 3

(15) Aqueous Phase 580.00 g of DI water (DI=fully deionized water) 16.00 g of a 15% strength aqueous solution of Disponil SDS G (sodium laurylsulfate, from Cognis)

(16) Oil Phase 12.00 g of pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (Sigma-Aldrich) 228.00 g of methyl methacrylate 12.00 g of hexadecane (Alfa Aesar) 53.51 g of fipronil (89.70% pure, technical active ingredient)

(17) Feed 1 2.40 g of sodium peroxodisulfate 117.50 g of DI water

(18) Feed 2 7.50 g of pentaerythritol tetraacrylate 15.00 g of methyl methacrylate 7.50 g of 1,4-butanediol diacrylate (BASF) 7.50 g of methacrylic acid (BASF) 0.25 g of a 15% strength aqueous solution of Disponil SDS G (Cognis) 49.60 g of DI water

(19) Feed 3 3.20 g of a 10% by weight strength aqueous solution of tert-butyl hydroperoxide

(20) Feed 4 14.20 g of a 1.4% strength aqueous solution of L(+)-ascorbic acid a) The oil phase was added to the aqueous phase, and the mixture was then sonicated in a UP400S ultrasonic bath from Hielscher operated at 100% power for 10 minutes.

(21) b) 24% of the emulsion were heated to 80 C. 6% of feed 1 were added, and the mixture was initially polymerized for 5 minutes. The remaining 76% of the emulsion were metered in over a period of 60 minutes. Feed 1 was added over a period of 160 minutes, and once the metered addition had ended, feed 2 was introduced into the emulsion over a period of 90 minutes. The mixture was post-polymerized for 60 minutes, and feed 3 was then added, followed by the metered addition of feed 4 over a period of 60 minutes. The mixture was subsequently cooled to room temperature.

(22) This gave a dispersion having a solids content of 28.6% by weight and a mean particle size of (D50)=181 nm (HPPS).

Example 4

(23) Aqueous Phase 314.49 g of DI water (DI=fully deionized water) 19.26 g of a 15% strength aqueous solution of Disponil SDS G

(24) Oil Phase 8.88 g of 1,4-butanediol diacrylate 288.00 g of methyl methacrylate 14.24 g of hexadecane 63.41 g of fipronil (89.7% pure, aqueous) 8.88 g of methacrylic acid 23.12 g of pentaerythritol tetraacrylate

(25) Feed 1 142.10 g of a 2.00% by weight strength solution of sodium peroxodisulfate in DI water

(26) Feed 2 3.79 g of a 10% by weight strength aqueous solution of tert-butyl hydroperoxide

(27) Feed 3 16.83 g of a 1.4% by weight strength aqueous solution of ascorbic acid

(28) a) The oil phase was added to the aqueous phase, and the mixture was then sonicated in a UP400S ultrasonic bath from Hielscher operated at 100% power for 10 minutes.

(29) b) 24% of the emulsion were heated to 80 C. 6% of feed 1 were added, and the mixture was initially polymerized for 5 minutes. The remaining 76% of the emulsion were metered in over a period of 60 minutes. Feed 1 was added over a period of 160 minutes, the mixture was post-polymerized for 60 minutes, and feed 2 was then added, followed by the metered addition of feed 3 over a period of 60 minutes. The mixture was subsequently cooled to room temperature.

(30) This gave a dispersion having a solids content of 42% by weight and a mean particle size of (D50)=180 nm (HPPS).

Example 5

(31) Aqueous Phase 466.51 g of DI water (DI=fully deionized water) 12.04 g of a 15% strength aqueous solution of Disponil SDS G

(32) Oil Phase 5.55 g of 1,4-butanediol diacrylate 180.00 g of methyl methacrylate 8.90 g of hexadecane 39.64 g of fipronil (89.7% pure, aqueous) 5.55 g of methacrylic acid 14.45 g of pentaerythritol tetraacrylate

(33) Feed 1 88.81 g of a 2.0% by weight strength solution of sodium peroxodisulfate in DI water

(34) Feed 2 2.37 g of a 10% by weight strength aqueous solution of tert-butyl hydroperoxide

(35) Feed 3 10.52 g of a 1.4% by weight strength aqueous solution of ascorbic acid

(36) a) The oil phase was added to the aqueous phase, and the mixture was then sonicated in an ultrasonic bath operated at 100% power for 10 minutes.

(37) b) 24% of the emulsion were heated to 80 C. 6% of feed 1 were added, and the mixture was initially polymerized for 5 minutes. The remaining 76% of the emulsion were metered in over a period of 60 minutes. Feed 1 was added over a period of 160 minutes, the mixture was post-polymerized for 60 minutes, and feed 2 was then added, followed by the metered addition of feed 3 over a period of 60 minutes. The mixture was subsequently cooled to room temperature.

(38) This gave a dispersion having a solids content of 28% by weight and a mean particle size of (D50)=190 nm (HPPS).

Example 6

(39) Aqueous Phase 223.46 g of DI water (DI=fully deionized water) 1.33 g of a 15% strength aqueous solution of Disponil SDS G

(40) Oil Phase 10.00 g of pentaerythritol tetraacrylate

(41) Feed 1 223.46 g of DI water 4.00 g of a 15% strength aqueous solution of Disponil SDS G 200.00 g of methyl methacrylate 10.00 g of hexadecane 48.51 g of fipronil (89.70% pure, technical active ingredient)

(42) Feed 2 2.00 g of sodium peroxodisulfate 98.00 g of DI water

(43) a) The oil phase was pre-emulsified in the aqueous phase for 30 minutes. The emulsion was cooled and sonicated using a Branson Sonifier 450 ultrasound processor at 100% power for 10 minutes.

(44) b) With stirring, the initial charge was heated to 80 C. and emulsified with pentaerythritol tetraacrylate. 55.19 g of feed 1 and 6.00 g of feed 2 were added, and the mixture was stirred for 2 minutes. The remainder of feed 1 was metered in over a period of 60 minutes, and the mixture was post-polymerized for 30 minutes. The remainder of feed 2 was then metered in over a period of 120 minutes and the mixture was stirred for another 60 minutes. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature.

(45) This gave a dispersion having a solids content of 27.1% by weight and a mean particle size of (D50)=200 nm (HPPS).

Example 7

(46) Aqueous Phase 70.00 g of DI water (DI=fully deionized water) 2.33 g of a 15% strength aqueous solution of Disponil SDS G

(47) Oil Phase 17.50 g of pentaerythritol tetraacrylate

(48) Feed 1 424.83 g of DI water 7.00 g of a 15% strength aqueous solution of Disponil SDS G (sodium laurylsulfate, from Cognis) 350.00 g of methyl methacrylate 17.50 g of hexadecane 84.89 g of fipronil (89.70% pure, technical active ingredient)

(49) Feed 2 3.50 g of sodium peroxodisulfate 55.00 g of DI water

(50) a) The oil phase was pre-emulsified in the aqueous phase for 30 minutes. The emulsion was cooled and sonicated using a Branson Sonifier 450 ultrasound processor at 100% power for 10 minutes.

(51) b) With stirring, the initial charge was heated to 80 C. and emulsified with pentaerythritol tetraacrylate. 88.42 g of feed 1 and 3.51 g of feed 2 were added, and the mixture was stirred for 2 minutes. The remainder of feed 1 was metered in over a period of 60 minutes, and the mixture was post-polymerized for 30 minutes. The remainder of feed 2 was then metered in over a period of 120 minutes and the mixture was stirred for another 60 minutes. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature.

(52) This gave a dispersion having a solids content of 42.4% by weight and a mean particle size of (D50)=200 nm (HPPS).

Example 8

(53) Oil Phase 377.78 g of isobutanol (BASF)

(54) Feed 1 44.44 g of acrylic acid (BASF) 411.11 g of methyl methacrylate 89.19 g of fipronil (90.66% pure, aqueous, technical active ingredient)

(55) Feed 2 3.49 g of tert-butyl peroctoate 56.51 g of isobutanol

(56) Feed 3 45.71 g of ammonia (25% strength) (BASF)

(57) a) The oil phase and 444.60 g of feed 1 were combined and heated to 105 C. 22.22 g of feed 2 were introduced over a period of 15 minutes, and the mixture was then stirred for another 30 minutes. The remainder of feeds 1 and 2 was then metered in over a period of 60 minutes, and the mixture was post-polymerized for 60 minutes. The reaction was cooled to 70 C. over a period of 30 minutes, and feed 3 was then introduced over a period of 10 minutes. The mixture was then stirred for another 15 minutes and subsequently cooled to room temperature.

(58) This gave a dispersion having a solids content of 23.9% by weight and a mean particle size of (D50)=167 nm (HPPS).

Example 9

(59) Aqueous Phase 208.07 g of DI water (DI=fully deionized water) 104.00 g of a 10% strength aqueous solution of Mowiol 18-88 (Kuraray) 1.04 g of a 2.5% by weight strength aqueous solution of sodium nitrite

(60) Oil Phase 10.40 g of 1,4-butanediol diacrylate 10.40 g of methyl methacrylate 163.80 g of Genagen 4296 (Clariant) 77.40 g of fipronil (90.7% pure, aqueous, technical active ingredient) 5.20 g of methacrylic acid

(61) Feed 1 1.84 g of a 75% by weight strength solution of tert-butyl perpivalate in aliphatic hydrocarbons

(62) Feed 2 2.60 g of a 10% by weight strength aqueous solution of tert-butyl hydroperoxide

(63) Feed 3 38.71 g of a 0.65% by weight strength aqueous solution of ascorbic acid

(64) a) The aqueous phase above was initially charged at room temperature. The oil phase was added and the mixture was dispersed with a high-speed dissolver stirrer at 5000 rpm. 30 minutes of dispersion gave a stable emulsion.

(65) b) Following the introduction of feed 1, the reaction mixture was subjected to the following temperature program: heating to 60 C. over 60 minutes, continuous increase of the temperature from 60 to 70 C. over a period of 120 minutes, increase to 85 C. over a period of 30 minutes and maintaining of this temperature for 60 minutes. Feed 2 was then added, and feed 3 was introduced at 85 C. over a period of 60 minutes. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature.

(66) This gave a dispersion having a solids content of 44.2% by weight and a mean particle size of (D50)=7.55 m (z-average determined by means of light scattering).

Example 10

(67) Aqueous Phase 470.60 g of DI water (DI=fully deionized water) 2.40 g of a 40.70% strength aqueous solution of (cross-linked n-butyl acrylate dispersion having a particle size D(50)=80 nm) (BASF) 0.76 g of sodium bicarbonate 0.60 g of potassium peroxodisulfate

(68) Feed 1 116.00 g of DI water (DI=fully dionized water) 6.00 g of a 40% strength aqueous solution of Emulgator K 30 (Lanxess)

(69) Feed 2 175.00 g of n-butyl acrylate 5.00 g of Laromer DCPA 20.00 g of fipronil (90.2% pure, technical active ingredient)

(70) a) The aqueous phase above was initially charged at room temperature and then heated to 65 C. Feeds 1 and 2 were metered in over a period of 3.5 hours. The mixture was then post-polymerized for 2 hours and then cooled to room temperature.

(71) This gave a dispersion having a solids content of 22.5% by weight and a mean particle size of (D50)=430 nm (z-average determined by means of light scattering).

Example 11

(72) Aqueous Phase 583.19 g of DI water (DI=fully deionized water) 13.33 g of a 15% strength aqueous solution of Disponil SDS G 2.00 g of a 2.5% by weight strength aqueous solution of sodium nitrite

(73) Oil Phase 20.00 g of 1,4-butanediol diacrylate 20.00 g of methyl methacrylate 315.00 g of Agnique KE 3658 148.84 g of fipronil (90.7% pure, technical active ingredient) 10.00 g of methacrylic acid

(74) Feed 1 3.53 g of a 75% by weight strength solution of tert-butyl perpivalate in aliphatic hydrocarbons

(75) Feed 2 5.00 g of a 10% by weight strength aqueous solution of tert-butyl hydroperoxide

(76) Feed 3 38.71 g of a 0.65% by weight strength aqueous solution of ascorbic acid

(77) a) The aqueous phase above was initially charged at room temperature. The oil phase was added and the mixture was dispersed with a high-speed dissolver stirrer at 5000 rpm. 30 minutes of dispersion gave a stable emulsion.

(78) b) Following the introduction of feed 1, the reaction mixture was subjected to the following temperature program: heating to 60 C. over 60 minutes, continuous increase of the temperature from 60 to 70 C. over a period of 120 minutes, increase to 85 C. over a period of 30 minutes and maintaining of this temperature for 60 minutes. Feed 2 was then added, and feed 3 was introduced at 85 C. over a period of 60 minutes. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature.

(79) This gave a dispersion having a solids content of 20.0% by weight and a mean particle size of (D50)=1.8 m (z-average determined by means of light scattering).

Example 12

(80) Aqueous Phase 323.81 g of DI water (DI=fully deionized water) 96.0 g of a 15% strength aqueous solution of Disponil SDS 15

(81) Oil Phase 256.97 g of methyl methacrylate 23.04 g of stearyl methacrylate 7.99 g of methacrylic acid 0.87 g of 1,4-butanediol diacrylate 80.27 g of fipronil (89.70% pure, technical active ingredient)

(82) Feed 1 12.41 g of DI water 2.07 g of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (10% strength in water)

(83) Feed 2 2.88 g of Rongalit C 37.24 g of DI water

(84) a) The oil phase was pre-emulsified in the aqueous phase for 30 minutes. The emulsion was cooled and sonicated using a Branson Sonifier 450 ultrasound processor at 100% power for 10 minutes.

(85) b) With stirring, the initial charge was heated to 40 C., and feed 1 was added. 30% of feed 2 were then added. The remainder of feed 2 was then added over a period of 60 minutes. After the metered addition, the mixture was heated to 60 C. over a period of 20 minutes and post-polymerized for 60 minutes. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature and the dispersion obtained was adjusted to pH 8.

(86) This gave a dispersion having a solids content of 43.5% by weight and a mean particle size of (D50)=58.3 nm (HPPS).

Example 13

(87) Aqueous Phase 415.06 g of DI water (DI=fully deionized water) 13.96 g of a 15% strength aqueous solution of Disponil SDS G

(88) Oil Phase 208.80 g of methyl methacrylate 10.32 g of stearyl methacrylate 16.76 g of pentaerythritol tetraacrylate 45.98 g of fipronil (89.70% pure, technical active ingredient) 6.44 g of 1,4-butanediol diacrylate 6.44 g of methacrylic acid

(89) Feed 1 100.96 g of DI water 2.06 g of sodium peroxodisulfate

(90) Feed 2 2.75 g of a 10% strength aqueous tert-butyl hydroperoxide solution

(91) Feed 3 12.03 g of DI water 0.17 g of L(+)-ascorbic acid

(92) a) The oil phase was pre-emulsified in the aqueous phase for 30 minutes. The emulsion was cooled and sonicated using a Branson Sonifier 450 ultrasound processor at 100% power for 10 minutes.

(93) b) 175 g of a) were initially charged and heated to 80 C. Once the temperature had been reached, 5.3 g of feed 1 were added and the mixture was initially polymerized for 5 minutes. The remainder of a) was metered in over a period of 60 minutes. At the same time, the remainder of feed 1 was metered in over a period of 160 minutes. After 60 minutes of post-polymerization, feed 2 was added, followed by the metered addition of feed 3 over a period of 60 minutes. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature.

(94) This gave a dispersion having a solids content of 32.5% by weight and a mean particle size of (D50)=148.6 nm (HPPS).

Example 14

(95) Aqueous Phase 418.37 g of DI water (DI=fully deionized water) 93.33 g of a 15% strength aqueous solution of Disponil SDS 15

(96) Oil Phase 252.00 g of methyl methacrylate 12.46 g of hexadecane 20.23 g of pentaerythritol tetraacrylate 55.48 g of fipronil (89.70% pure, technical active ingredient) 7.77 g of 1,4-butanediol diacrylate 7.77 g of methacrylic acid

(97) Feed 1 14.10 g of a 10% strength aqueous tert-butyl hydroperoxide solution

(98) Feed 2 36.21 g of DI water 2.80 g of Rongalit C

(99) a) The oil phase was pre-emulsified in the aqueous phase for 30 minutes. The emulsion was cooled and sonicated using a Branson Sonifier 450 ultrasound processor at 100% power for 10 minutes.

(100) b) With stirring, the initial charge was heated to 40 C., and feed 1 was added. 30% of feed 2 were then added. The remainder of feed 2 was then added over a period of 60 minutes. After the metered addition, the mixture was heated to 60 C. over a period of 20 minutes and post-polymerized for 60 minutes. The mixture was then cooled to room temperature and the dispersion obtained was adjusted to pH 8.

(101) This gave a dispersion having a solids content of 39.3% by weight and a mean particle size of (D50)=65.8 nm (HPPS).

(102) Determination of the Soil Mobility

(103) Design of the Experiment

(104) With the aid of a vibrator, a glass column consisting of six segmentes (S1-S6) and having a length of 27.5 cm, a diameter of 5 cm and a surface area (of a cross section) of 19.6 cm.sup.2 was filled with soil (LUFA 2.3 (sandy loam [USDA], pH 7.2, air-dried, TOC (total organic carbon (organic carbon in the soil, stated in % of the soil dry mass)) 1%, density 1.24 g/cm.sup.3 max WHC (water holding capacity (a measure of the soil humidity, which is frequently stated in % of the maximum water holding capacity)) 28.9 g/100 g).

(105) Insecticide formulations according to the invention and, as comparative formulation, Termidor SC were applied to this column (60 ml, comprising 37.5 mg of fipronil (625 ppm).

(106) Using HPLC-MSD, it was measured how many % of the amount of fipronil originally applied (625 ppm, 37.5 mg) were located in the segments of the column (0-2.5 cm, 2.5-7.5 cm, 7.5-12.5 cm, 12.5-17.5 cm and 17.5-22.5 cm).

(107) The soil mobility relative to the commercial product Termidor SC was calculated using the method below:
Soil mobility=(amount of fipronil [%] in segment 1)2.5+(amount of fipronil [%] in segment 2)7.5+(amount of fipronil [%] in segment 3)12.5+ . . . +(amount of fipronil [%] in segment 6)27.5/(amount of fipronil [%] in segment 1 Termidor SC)2.5+(amount of fipronil [%] in segment 2 Termidor SC)7.5+(amount of fipronil [%] in segment 3 Termidor SC)12.5+ . . . +(amount of fipronil [%] in segment 6 Termidor SC)27.5)

(108) The results are compiled in tabular form below.

(109) TABLE-US-00001 S1 [%] S2 [%] S3 [%] S4 [%] S5 [%] S6 [%] Ex. no. (0.0-2.5 cm) (2.5-7.5 cm) (7.5-12.5 cm) (12.5-17.5 cm) (17.5-22.5 cm) (22.5-27.5 cm) Termidor 83 17 0 0 0 0 SC 1 27 53 20 0 0 0 2 16 50 32 2 0 0 3 11 31 37 15 6 0 4 8 24 30 26 12 0 5 9 23 28 30 11 0 6 13 45 29 13 0 0 7 10 42 42 6 0 0 8 20 51.8 22 6 0.2 0 9 43 55 2 0 0 0 10 25 58 17 0 0 0 11 21 52 25 2 0 0

(110) Columns S1-S6 state the fipronil concentration in [%] in the respective soil segment, based on the total concentration of fipronil employed. It is found that, when the formulations according to the invention (Examples 1-11) are used, the soil mobility of fipronil is increased markedly compared to the Termidor SC formulation.

(111) The tests show that, using the formulation according to the invention, the active ingredient penetrates into the relevant regions of 0-6 inches (15.24 cm), whereas commercial formulations such as Termidor SC only penetrate into regions up to a depth of 7.5 cm. Furthermore, it is advantageous that, using the formulation according to the invention, the active ingredient is not transported in regions of below 27.5 cm, so that leaching of the active ingredients into the groundwater is prevented.