Formulation technology to improve the weather resistance of residual insecticides

The structure of outdoor environments can greatly impact outdoor insecticide use. Exposure to conditions such as UV light, wind, or water can degrade or cause movement of the active ingredient in the environment to off-target sites. This can also decrease performance of the insecticide by removing it from the surface and decreasing its bioavailability in the area being protected. Suspend PolyZone is an insecticide with a unique formulation that contains a proprietary polymer that allows it to protect the active ingredient from weather, water runoff, and mechanical abrasion. This allows the product to leave behind residues that stay where they are applied and remain active in the environment for longer periods of time. To examine the residual longevity of Suspend PolyZone and other insecticides exposed to aging in outdoor environments, we introduced groups of either cockroaches or mosquitoes to different treated substrates and compared the mortality resulting from the insecticide residues. Suspend PolyZone was found to have the greatest residual activity and exhibited residual effects for the longest amount of time compared to the other insecticides, indicating that the properties of this formulation were effective in improving insecticide performance in outdoor environments.