PESTICIDE FORMULATIONS Applying Pesticides Correctly-EPA Core Manual-Unit 3 (formulations) 4/16/2017

PESTICIDE FORMULATIONS Pesticides are usually formulated prior to use Consist of: Active ingredient Inert ingredient Make it safer, more effective, easier to measure, mix, apply, convenient to handle 4/16/2017

PESTICIDE FORMULATIONS Manufactured as technical grade then formulated Formulation is the form sold for use Sold as a brand name 4/16/2017

LIQUID FORMULATIONS Consists of: EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES (EC or E) Active ingredient (AI) insoluble in water Solvent Polar - usually poor (acetone & alcohols) Nonpolar - usually good (xylene & kerosene) 4/16/2017

EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES (Con't) Emulsifiers Allow the formulation to be mixed with water to form an emulsion (oil in water) Each gallon of EC may contain 25 to 75% AI (2 to 8 lbs) Used under a wide range of conditions 4/16/2017

EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES (Con't) Advantages Easy to handle, transport & store Little agitation required Not abrasive Will not plug screens or nozzles Little visible residue on treated surfaces 4/16/2017

EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES (Con't) Disadvantages Easy to over or under dose May cause unwanted harm to plants Easily absorbed through skin Cause rubber & plastic to deteriorate Harm painted surfaces Flammable Corrosive 4/16/2017

LIQUID FORMULATIONS SOLUTIONS Dissolve readily in a liquid solvent such as water or petroleum-based solvent Will not settle out or separate Contain AI, solvent and one or more other ingredients Used in most sprayers, indoors or outdoors 4/16/2017

SOLUTIONS (Con't) READY-TO-USE (RTU) Contain correct amount of solvent No further dilution required Usually contain small amounts of AI (1% or less) 4/16/2017

SOLUTIONS (Con't) CONCENTRATE SOLUTIONS (C or LC) Concentrates that require dilution with solvent Solvent is occasionally water, more often it is petroleum-based Some uses of solutions Structural & institutional pest control Household pests Livestock & poultry pests Space sprays in barns and warehouses Tree pests Mosquito control 4/16/2017

SOLUTIONS (Con't) CONCENTRATE SOLUTIONS (C or LC) Advantages No agitation required Disadvantages Limited number of formulations available 4/16/2017

LIQUID FORMULATIONS ULTRA-LOW-VOLUME (ULV) Approach 100% AI Use as is or with small amounts of water (1/2 gal or less) Used mostly in outdoor applications Agricultural Forestry Ornamental Mosquito 4/16/2017

ULTRA-LOW-VOLUME (ULV) (Con't) Advantages Easy to handle, transport & store Little agitation required Not abrasive Will not clog screens or nozzles Little visible residue on treated surfaces Disadvantages High drift hazard Need special application equipment Solvents can deteriorate rubber and plastic 4/16/2017

LIQUID FORMULATIONS FLOWABLES (F or L) Are insoluble solids Finely ground AI mixed with a liquid plus inert ingredient to form a suspension Mixed with water for application 4/16/2017

FLOWABLES (F or L) (Con't) Advantages Seldom clog nozzles Easy to handle and apply Disadvantages Require moderate agitation May leave a visible residue May separate May cake in container or sprayer 4/16/2017

LIQUID FORMULATIONS AEROSOLS (A) Contain one or more AI and a solvent Usually contain a low percentage of AI Two types Ready-to-use Smoke or fog generators 4/16/2017

AEROSOLS (A) (Con't) READY-TO-USE AEROSOLS Small, self-contained units Release pesticide when nozzle valve is triggered Commercial models hold 5 to 10 lbs and are refillable 4/16/2017

AEROSOLS (A) (Con't) READY-TO-USE AEROSOLS (Con't) Advantages Ready to use Easily stored Convenient Long shelf life Disadvantages Limited uses Inhalation risk Container is under pressure Drift 4/16/2017

AEROSOLS (A) (Con't) SMOKE OR FOG GENERATORS Machines break the liquid into a fine mist or fog Use a rapidly whirling disk or heated surface Used mainly for insect control in: Greenhouses Warehouses Outdoor control of mosquitoes and biting flies 4/16/2017

AEROSOLS (A) (Con't) SMOKE OR FOG GENERATORS Advantages Easy to fill large, enclosed spaces with pesticide Pesticide is not under pressure Disadvantages Requires specialized equipment Drift May require respiratory protection when applying 4/16/2017

LIQUID FORMULATIONS INVERT EMULSIONS Water soluble pesticide dispersed in an oil carrier Form large droplets which reduce drift Used in vegetation control along rights-of-ways Require special equipment, expensive, reduced coverage 4/16/2017

DRY FORMULATIONS DUSTS (D) Most are ready-to-use Most contain low amounts of AI (0.5 to 10%) Also contain a very fine dry inert carrier (talc, chalk, clay etc.) Used to control pests: In ag applications On livestock and pets Seed treatment Flowers & vegetable gardens 4/16/2017

DRY FORMULATIONS DUSTS (D) (con’t) Advantages No mixing Can use where a spray may cause damage Use simple equipment Effective in hard-to-reach indoor areas Disadvantages Drift May irritate skin, eyes, nose, throat Poor adhesion to surfaces Poor distribution of particles on surfaces 4/16/2017

DRY FORMULATIONS BAITS (B) AI mixed with food or other pest attractant Pests killed by eating pesticide contaminated bait AI is usually low (<5%) Used inside to control: ants, roaches, flies, other insects, rodents Used outside to control: snails, slugs, insects, vertebrate pests 4/16/2017

DRY FORMULATIONS BAITS (B) (con’t) Advantages Ready to use Only need to treat small area Controls pests that move in and out of an area 4/16/2017

DRY FORMULATIONS BAITS (B) (con’t) Disadvantages May be attractive to pets and children May kill non-target animals Pest may not eat bait Dead pest may cause odor problems Secondary poisoning of non-target animals Can serve as pest food supply if AI becomes ineffective 4/16/2017

DRY FORMULATIONS GRANULES (G) Similar to dust formulations, larger & heavier Made from adsorptive materials Clay, corn cobs, walnut shells AI coats outside of granule or is absorbed AI is usually low (1 to 20%) Usually applied to soil to control weeds, nematodes, & insects 4/16/2017

DRY FORMULATIONS GRANULES (G) (con’t) Advantages Ready to use Low drift hazard Penetrate dense foliage Usually requires simple application equipment *Usually the safest formulation to handle 4/16/2017

DRY FORMULATIONS GRANULES (G) (con’t) Disadvantages Will not stick to target (may move with rain) May need to incorporate into soil May need moisture to activate May be hazardous to birds 4/16/2017

DRY FORMULATIONS PELLETS (P or PS) Similar to granular formulations All are same size and weight Some fumigants are pellets Aluminum phosphide 4/16/2017

DRY FORMULATIONS WETTABLE POWDERS (WP or W) Dry, finely ground look like dusts Usually mixed with water Applied as a spray 5 to 95% AI Do not dissolve in water Will settle out unless constant agitation is used 4/16/2017

DRY FORMULATIONS WETTABLE POWDERS (con’t) Advantages Easy to store, transport & handle Less phytotoxic than EC Less skin & eye absorption Less odor Method of applying insoluble pesticides as a spray 4/16/2017

DRY FORMULATIONS WETTABLE POWDERS (con’t) Disadvantages Inhalation hazard while mixing Requires constant agitation Often clog nozzles and screens Abrasive May be difficult to mix and measure May leave white deposit on surfaces 4/16/2017

DRY FORMULATIONS SOLUBLE POWDERS (SP or WSP) Look like WP Require initial agitation Dissolve easily Form a true solution in water AI ranges from 15 to 95% Have all advantages of WP Inhalation hazard while mixing 4/16/2017

DRY FORMULATIONS WATER-DISPERSIBLE GRANULES (WDG) or DRY FLOWABLES (DF) Are like WP AI is prepared as granule-sized particle Must be mixed with water Require constant agitation Same advantages & disadvantages as WP More easily measured & mixed than WP Cause less inhalation hazard than WP 4/16/2017

OTHER FORMULATIONS MICROENCAPSULATED PESTICIDES (M) May be liquid or dry surrounded by plastic coating Mixed with water & applied as a spray Capsule slowly releases pesticide Provides a timed release of pesticide 4/16/2017

OTHER FORMULATIONS MICROENCAPSULATED PESTICIDES (M) (con’t) Advantages Increased applicator safety Easy to mix, handle & apply Timed release Disadvantages Require constant agitation Bees take capsules back to hive 4/16/2017

OTHER FORMULATIONS FUMIGANTS Form poisonous gas when applied Some are liquid under pressure, change to gas when released Some are liquid & change to gas when exposed to air Some are solid & change to gas when exposed to water or high humidity 4/16/2017

OTHER FORMULATIONS FUMIGANTS (con’t) Advantages Toxic to wide range of pests Penetrate cracks, wood, soil, grain Single treatment kills most pests Disadvantages Site must be enclosed or covered Highly toxic Require special safety & application equipment 4/16/2017

ADJUVANTS Added to formulations to increase effectiveness Include: surfactants, wetting agents, emulsifiers, spreaders, stickers, penetrants, safeners, etc. 4/16/2017