Pesticide Formulations Rene Kittle Flathead Reservation Extension

Pesticide Formulations A pesticide formulation is a mixture of active and inert (inactive) ingredients that form an end-use – Active = pure/concentrated – Inert = no pesticide activity Tim McCabe

Developing a Formulation

Purpose of Formulation Active Ingredient is rarely suitable for field application – Formulated in a manner that – Increase pesticide effectiveness in the field e.g. insecticide as liquid to control adult Japanese beetle or a solid to suppress larvae in turf – Improve safety feature (WP  WDG or DF) – Enhance handling quality (storage, equipment) Approximately 900 active ingredients formulated into 20,000 products

Considerations for Choosing a Pesticide Formulation Applicator safety Environmental concerns Pest biology Equipment Surfaces Cost Read the Label Tim McCabe

Formulation Comparison Household Product Formulation Exercise

Liquid Formulations

Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC or E) Contains an oil-soluble liquid active ingredient, petroleum- based solvent and a mixing agent to allow formulation to mix with water to form an emulsion North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program ProductDiluted

Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC or E) Advantages: easy to handle, transport and store little (some) agitation required not abrasive doesn’t clog nozzles leaves little residue on treated surfaces Disadvantages: mixing and calibration required toxic to plants (burn foliage) and humans (easily absorbed through the skin) can deteriorate metal and rubber flammable agriculture, ornamentals, turf and forestry, and for livestock, structural and public health pests

Solution (S) Contains an active ingredient dissolved in a liquid solvent (water or petroleum-based); either a concentrate (requires dilution-C,LC,WSC/WSL) or ready-to-use (RTU) formulation North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program ProductDiluted

Solutions (S) Advantages: no agitation needed Disadvantages: a limited number of formulations of this type available Widely used structural pests, livestock and poultry pests, space sprays, shade tree pests, and mosquito control (also ULV) Dana Downey

Ultra Low Volume (ULV) Special purpose formulation requiring specialized equipment – used outdoors in ag, forestry, mosquito control Almost 100 % active ingredient Advantages: Easy to handle, little to no agitation, nonabrasive Disadvantages: undiluted and highly concentrated, drift potential, dermal hazards

Invert Emulsions (IE) Water soluble pesticide dispersed in an oil carrier (large droplet) Reduce drift – more pesticide on target Specialty uses: Rights-of- way and near sensitive areas Advantages: low drift high oil contain acts as sticker/spreader increased rate of penetration increase rainfastness (effective after rainfall) Disadvantages: limited availability Difficult to treat underside of leaves

Liquid Flowable (F or L) a/k/a suspension concentrates Contains insoluble, finely-ground solid active ingredient mixed with a liquid (and inert ingredient) to form a suspension (like WP but mixed with water before packaged North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program ProductDiluted

Liquid Flowable (F or L) Advantages: easy to handle and apply seldom clogs nozzles less inhalation hazard Disadvantages: many require moderate agitation difficult to rinse container Used: same pest control operations as emulsifiable concentrates Bill Tarpenning

Aerosol (A) Contains one or more A.I. and solvent (usually petroleum distillate); packaged in a RTU pressurized container, or applied in a smoke or fog generator Delivers very small particles Used: space spraying, crack and crevice treatments for structural and household pest control Advantages: convenient; the user can purchase small quantities of pesticide; easily stored; and does not lose activity Disadvantages: limited uses; difficult to confine to target site or pest; and risk of inhalation injury High drift potential

Pesticide Solubility

Dry or Solid Formulations

Dust (D) Ready-to-use dry formulation that contains a low percentage of the active ingredient plus a dry, inert carrier (talc, chalk, clay, ash, etc.); used dry Used: to treat seed, control indoor pests (crack and crevice and spot treatments) and parasites on pets and livestock, and used for pests in home gardens Advantages: usually ready-to-use, no mixing; requires simple equipment; effective in hard-to-reach areas Disadvantages: drifts off-target; residues easily moved off target by air and water (rain); doesn’t stick as well as liquids; uneven distribution; irritates eyes, nose, throat

Granule (G) or Pellet (P) Ready-to-use, dry formulations prepared by applying liquid active ingredient to coarse, absorptive material such as clay; pellets are larger, more uniform in shape Used: granular formulations used for soil pests, larval mosquitoes, aquatic pests, and for aerial application to avoid drift; pellets used as pelleted seed, fumigants Advantages: particles settle quickly (low drift); little hazard to applicator; simple application equipment (e.g., spreaders); slow release of pesticide, carried through foliage Disadvantages: do not stick to foliage or surfaces; may need to incorporate in soil; may require moisture to activate pesticide; non-target wildlife may use as feed

Wettable Powder (WP or W) Dry, finely-ground formulation with active ingredient mixed with clay or talc; formulation mixed with water to form a suspension for application (start with slurry) ProductDiluted

Wettable Powder (WP or W) Used: widely used, commercial applications for most pest problems Advantages: easy to store, transport and handle; less likely than EC formulation to harm plants, animals and surfaces; less skin and eye absorption than EC Disadvantages: inhalation hazard to mixers; requires good agitation, will settle out of solution; abrasive to pumps and nozzles; leaves visible residues on surfaces

Dry Flowable (DF) or Water Dispersible Granules (WDG) Active ingredient is prepared as dry, granular-sized particles; granules mixed with water, where they break into fine particles and form a suspension for application Product Diluted

Dry Flowable (DF) Most come with a product specific measuring device with dry ounce or pound increment marks based on product density (weight per unit volume) Advantages: more easily measured and mixed than wettable powders; cleaner to handle; less inhalation hazard to mixers Disadvantages: requires constant agitation to keep the formulation in solution

Soluble Powder (SP or WSP) Similar to wettable powder, but dissolves readily and forms a true solution; few pesticides available in this formulation Not many A.I. are soluble in water so SP less common. Advantages: has all of the advantages of the wettable powders; non-abrasive to pumps and nozzles; constant agitation not required Disadvantages: inhalation hazard during mixing

Bait (B) Contains a small amount of dry active ingredient mixed with food (dry/paste/liquid) or some other attractant; pests ingest pesticide North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program Product

Bait (B) Used: inside buildings for control of ants, roaches, flies, rodents; outdoors for control of rodents, other mammals, birds, slugs, snails and insects Advantages: ready-to-use with no mixing; little hazard to applicator; even distribution not necessary; controls mobile pests; can be removed when pests not present; gels and pastes generally odorless, minimum exposure and easy to use Disadvantages: can be attractive to children, pets and wildlife; pests may prefer crop to bait; dead pests may cause odor problem or secondary poisoning of wildlife

Other Formulations

Fumigant (F) Pesticides that form poisonous gases when applied; formulated as liquids or solids; can be released under pressure, high humidity or water vapor; replace air with a gas Used: agriculture (soil, greenhouses, bins); structural pest control; regulatory pest control (ports, borders) Advantages: toxic to wide range of pests; can penetrate very small areas; usually requires a single treatment Disadvantages: highly toxic to humans and non-target organisms; requires use of specialized application equipment and protective equipment (respirator); the treatment area must be enclosed or covered

Microencapsulated Pesticide (M) Particles of pesticide active ingredient (liquid or dry) surrounded in a plastic coating; formulated product mixed with water and applied as spray; following application the capsule slowly releases the pesticide Liquids are further diluted with water and applied as spray – form suspensions similar to liquid flowable Advantages: increased safety to applicator; easy to mix, handle and apply; slow release of A.I. Disadvantages: constant agitation required; bees may pick capsules and take back to their hive

Water-Soluble Packaging (WSB) Special film packages package a precise amount of wettable powder, soluble powder or gel containing pesticide active ingredient Film dissolves and A.I. becomes suspended or dissolves Store in dry location While accurate and safer, may not suite needs in lbs or or gallons of a.i. per acre

Adjuvant Chemical (inert) added to a pesticide formulation or tank mix to increase the effectiveness or safety Includes wetting agents, emulsifiers, spreaders, stickers, foaming agents, thickeners, safeners, compatibility agents, buffers, and anti-foaming agents May be added to formulation by manufacturer or suggested on label.

Liquid Formulations Liquid ingredients should be measured in a container that indicates it is for liquid measure if not supplied by manufacturer Common household containers may be off as much as 15% You can purchase accurate graduated cylinder from science supply to check accuracy of your measuring device – 8 fluid ounces = 1 cup = milliliters – Collect 237 milliliters and pour into measuring device if 1 cup or 8 ounces then your container is accurate

TIPS: Rinse measuring cups to prevent cross contamination between formulations Always mark “kitchen-type” measuring cups FOR CHEMICAL USE ONLY Measuring cups may seem insignificant but entire operations depend on accuracy Always shake the container to ensure inert and active ingredients are well distributed prior to measuring

Measuring Dry Formulations Dry ingredients are measured – A measure of weight not volume – Use product specific measuring device (not interchangeable) – Inert ingredients may change density of formulation (WG, WDG, DF) – “dispersible” indicates it is intended for spray Not measuring correctly can negate the reason you purchase the product – Low rates and you may fail to control the pest – High rates injure crops and cost $ Correct measuring is critical

Tips If you substitute a measuring tube meant for another product that will almost certainly guarantee you will incorrectly mix the pesticide.

Tips Manufacturers will change the position of the lines on the tube when they reformulate.

Tips When the product is gone, dispose of the measuring tube. They are not interchangeable.

References Applying Pesticides Correctly: A Guide for Private and Commercial Applicators. Unit 3: Formulations. pp MSU Montguide, Safe Handling of Pesticides – Mixing, MT200109AG National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual, Second Edition, 2014 Purdue Extension, Pesticides and Formulation Technology, PPP-31 Purdue Extension, Measuring Pesticides, Overlooked Steps to Getting the Correct Rate, PPP-96 Toth & Buhler, NC State University, Pesticide Formulations powerpoint Washington State University, Pesticide Formulations, Chapter 4, National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual, powerpoint slides Youtube videos: 1) Syngenta & 2) Penn State Education Program