1. PESTICIDE FORMULATIONS
Applying Pesticides Correctly-EPA
Core Manual-Unit 3 (formulations)
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2. 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
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3. PESTICIDE FORMULATIONS
Manufactured as technical grade then formulated
Formulation is the form sold for use
Sold as a brand name
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4. 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)
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5. 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
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6. 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
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7. 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
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8. 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
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9. 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)
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10. 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
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11. SOLUTIONS (Con't) CONCENTRATE SOLUTIONS (C or LC)
Advantages
No agitation required
Disadvantages
Limited number of formulations available
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12. 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
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13. 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
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14. 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
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15. 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
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16. 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
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17. 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
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18. 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
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19. 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
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20. 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
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21. 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
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22. 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
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23. 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
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24. 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
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25. 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
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26. 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
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27. 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
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28. 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
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29. 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
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30. DRY FORMULATIONS PELLETS (P or PS)
Similar to granular formulations
All are same size and weight
Some fumigants are pellets
Aluminum phosphide
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31. 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
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32. 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
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33. 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
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34. 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
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35. 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
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36. 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
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37. 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
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38. 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
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39. 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
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40. ADJUVANTS Added to formulations to increase effectiveness
Include: surfactants, wetting agents, emulsifiers, spreaders, stickers, penetrants, safeners, etc.
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