Method of Controlling Manure-Breeding Insects

This invention is concerned with animal husbandry and in particular, is concerned with the control of manure-breeding insects, which are known to be vectors in the transmission of various animal diseases.

One advantage of the method of the present invention is that the compounds utilized therein retain their insecticidal properties after passing through the digestive system of the treated animals. Thus, the application of the insecticidal compounds can be centralized and the number of applications of these compounds can be reduced. This is a distinct advantage when there are a large number of animals to be treated. The method of the present invention is further advantageous in that the insecticides, when used in "feed thru" applications, will be localized directly in the animal's manure where they will be most effective in the control of manure-breeding insects.

These and other advantages as will become apparent from the following specification and appended claims are achieved, according to the present invention's method of controlling manure-breeding insects, by orally administering to a warm-blooded animal an insecticidally-effective amount of a compound of the formula ##STR2## wherein each X substituent is individually chosen from the group consisting of Cl, F, CH.sub.3, and OCh.sub.3 ; R is a halogenated methyl or ethyl group; and Y represents sulfur or oxygen.

Compounds in accordance with the above formula are alternatively referred to herein as "active compounds" .

Examples of active compounds in accordance with the above formula which are utilized in the method of the present invention are:

2,6-Dichloro-N-(((4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)-amino)carbonyl)benzamide (hereinafter referred to as Compound 1);

2,6-Difluoro-N-(((4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)-amino)carbonyl)benzamide (Compound 2);

2,6-Dichloro-N-(((4-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)-phenyl)amino)carbonyl)benza mide (Compound 3);

2,6-Difluoro-N-(((4-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)-phenyl)amino)carbonyl)benza mide (Compound 4);

2,6-Dimethoxy-N-(((4-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)-phenyl)amino)carbonyl)benz amide (Compound 5); and

2,6-Difluoro-N-(((4-(1,1-difluoro-2,2-dichloroethylthio)phenyl)amino)carbon yl)benzamide (Compound 6).

The active compounds which are utilized in the method of the present invention are highly effective in controlling manure-breeding insects such as houseflies, face flies, and hornflies. These compounds may be administered to the warm-blooded animals in admixture with their feed or drinking water. Furthermore, the active compounds utilized in the present invention may be administered in the form of tablets, pills, capsules or the like. These active compounds may be admixed with pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers for use in animals, however, they are usually used as a component in the animal feed or drinking water.

The insecticidally-effective dosage desirable for effective use of preparations containing active compounds will naturally depend on various factors such as the active compound or compounds chosen and the form of preparation. Moreover, the activities of the compounds against different insects will vary from compound to compound. It is only necessary that one or a combination of the compounds be orally administered in a sufficient amount so as to make possible the application of an insecticidally-effective or inactivating dosage. Generally, one or a combination of the active compounds can be orally administered to a warm-blooded animal, especially a ruminant, at a daily dosage of from about 0.01 to about 1 milligram of active compound per kilogram of animal body weight.

When administered to poultry, an effective dosage rate will generally range from about 3 parts to about 50 parts of active compound per million parts of poultry feed.

These compounds may be effectively administered to warm-blooded animals, especially ruminants, dogs, horses, swine and poultry.

The examples which follow should not be construed as limitations upon the overall scope of the invention.

A calf weighing 187 kilograms was, for 5 days, administered Compound 1 daily in its feed at a dose rate of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Thus, the calf was fed 93.5 milligrams of the compound every day. On the fourth, fifth and sixth day of the test, manure samples were collected from the treated animal and frozen to kill any wild insect larvae that may have been present. The samples were thawed and were seeded with equal amounts of eggs from colony strains of hornflies and houseflies. Control samples were also similarly seeded at that time. The samples were incubated at 80.degree. F for a period of time sufficient to allow the eggs to hatch.

The percent control was determined by counting the number of normal adult flies that hatched from the treated samples and comparing this figure with the number of flies that hatched from the untreated (control) samples. It was determined that there was, in the treated samples, 100% control of both houseflies and hornflies. The above compound was similarly tested at other dose rates. The percent control of hornflies and houseflies at these dose rates are set forth in Table 1.

Using the procedure of Example 1, Compounds 2 and 3 were likewise tested for housefly and hornfly control at various dose rates. The results of these tests are set forth in Table 2.

Using generally similar procedures, Compounds 4, 5 and 6 were tested for hornfly control at various dose rates. The results of these tests are set forth in Table 3.

Compounds 1 and 2 were similarly screened as feed thru insecticides against the larvae of face flies. Table 4 sets forth the results of these screens.

Compound 1 was added to chicken feed at the rate of 5 parts of compound per million parts of feed. Samples of chicken droppings were collected and, after being frozen and thawed, were seeded with larvae from DDT-resistant and DDT-susceptible strains of houseflies. Control samples were also seeded. The tests were repeated at 1 and 3 parts of compound per million parts of feed. Table 5 sets forth the percent control of the susceptible and resistant strains at the indicated concentrations.

The test was repeated using Compound 2, with the results being set forth in Table 6.

The active compounds utilized in the present invention's method can be prepared by reacting an appropriate benzoyl isocyanate derivative with an appropriate anisidine or phenetidine derivative.

The reaction is carried out by contacting the reactants together in equimolar proportions in the presence of a solvent at a reaction temperature which, at atmospheric pressure, may vary from 0.degree. C to the boiling point of the solvent used. Examples of suitable solvents are aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene or xylene, chlorinated hydrocarbons such as chloroform, methylene chloride or ethylene chloride or other inert solvents such as acetonitrile.

Following the completion of the reaction (generally lasting from about 0.5 to about 24 hours), the mixture is cooled and the precipitated product is collected by filtration or other suitable techniques. This produce is usually washed with a solvent such as hexane, and dried. The resulting crude product may be further purified, if desired, by recrystallization from a solvent such as aqueous acetic acid or by other purification procedures.