AU1473399A

AU1473399A - A method of controlling fruit flies

Info

Publication number: AU1473399A
Application number: AU14733/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Carel Hendrik Buitendag; Daniel Renier Kriek; Tinus Nicolaas Janse Van Rensburg
Original assignee: Outspan International Ltd
Current assignee: OUTSPAN INTERNATIONAL Ltd
Priority date: 1998-02-03
Filing date: 1999-02-03
Publication date: 1999-08-26
Also published as: BR9906057A; ES2165749B1; TR199900174A3; TR199900174A2; ES2165749A1; AR014953A1; CN1229594A; IN187643B; IL128287A0; ZA99690B; MA25586A1; JPH11269005A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): OUTSPAN INTERNATIONAL

LIMITED

Invention Title: A METHOD OF CONTROLLING FRUIT FLIES *e a a. a a a The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: THIS INVENTION relates to a method of making a composition for use in controlling fruit flies, to a composition for use in controlling fruit flies, to a method of controlling fruit flies and to a device for controlling fruit flies.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of making a composition, which includes a pesticidal agent and a fruit fly attractant, for use in controlling fruit flies, the method including the step of combining composition components which include a protein-containing component, a pesticidal agent and ammonia.

The protein-containing component may be selected from a protein S 10 hydrolysate, a liver extract, a spleen extract, a gastric mucosa extract and combinations of any two or more thereof. The protein hydrolysate may, for example, be HYMLURE (trade name) from Robertson spices or BUMINOL (trade name) from Bayer. These products are the industrial equivalents of household products such as MARMITE (trade name) and BOVRIL (trade name).

The composition components may include one or more amino acids. The amino acid or acids may be selected from alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, cysteine and combinations of any two or more thereof.

The composition components may, further, include one or more vitamins. The vitamin or vitamins may be selected from Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, nicotinamide and combinations of any two or more thereof. The composition components may include paprika, preferably in powder form.

The composition components may include a liquid base such as glycerine. The composition components may, further, include salt and/or water. The glycerine, salt and water act as a wetting agent in the composition.

S. The pesticidal component may be selected from Trichlorfon, Mevinphos, Pyrethroid and combinations of any two or more thereof.

15 Naturally, other pesticidal agents may also be used.

The components may be combined so that the composition includes about 400 600 g/e of the protein hydrolysate, preferably about 500 g/f; about 5 9 g/e of the liver extract, preferably about 6,5 7,5 about 3,0 g/e of the spleen extract, preferably about 2 g/e; and about 0,8 1,3 g/e of the gastric mucosa extract, preferably about 1,1 g/e; about 40 60 g/e

I

4 of the ammonia (as a 24% solution), preferably about 50 g/e; about 80 120 g/e of the paprika powder preferably about 100 g/e; about 80 120 g/e of the glycerine, preferably about 100 g/e; about 80 120 g/e sodium chloride, preferably about 100 g/e; and about 30 40 g/e of water preferably about 34,1 g/e.

Concentrations ranges and preferred values of the amino acids are set out in Table 1.

The composition may further include about 0,4 0,8 g/e; preferably about 0,6 g/e of the Vitamin B1; about 0,05 0,11 g/e preferably 10 about 0.08 and 0.07 gl/ respectively of the Vitamin B2 and Vitamin 86; about 0,6 1,0 g/f preferably about 0,8 g/e of the nicotinamide; and about 0,1 0,3 g/e preferably about 0,2 g/f of the Vitamin B12.

It should be noted that the amounts of the various composition components given in g/e in this specification are the amounts which are initially combined. Subsequent process steps, as described in further detail below, result in the loss of volatile components such as ammonia and may alter the relative amounts of the components in the final composition.

The Applicant has found that the fruit fly attractant of the invention is particularly useful in the attraction of female fruit flies. For example, in an orchard which has otherwise not been treated with pesticides, the Applicant has found that the fruit fly attractant of the invention attracts about 66% female fruit flies and about 34% male fruit flies. The attractant of the invention has been found to be particularly useful in attracting fruit flies of the Tephritidae family, in particular Ceratitis capitata, Ceratitis rosa, Ceratitis quinarae and Ceratitis cosyra. Such fruit flies need to ingest protein before egg development commences in the female fruit fly.

The invention extends to a composition for use in controlling fruit flies prepared by method as described above.

i' According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of controlling fruit flies, the method including the step of locating a composition, prepared by a method as described above, in the vicinity of fruit flies so that the fruit flies are attracted to the fruit fly attractant in the composition and killed by the pesticidal agent.

o• oo° The method may include the prior step of adsorbing or absorbing S 15 the composition onto or into a carrier. The method may include the step of locating the carrier in a container having an opening so that the carrier is accessible to the fruit flies and suspending the container in the vicinity of the fruit flies. The container will typically be suspended in an orchard. The carrier may be a sponge material.

According to another aspect of the invention, then is provided a

I

6 device for controlling fruit flies, the device including holding means for holding a composition which includes a pesticidal agent and a fruit fly attractant; and access means arranged so that a fruit fly can gain access to, and leave, the composition so that, in use, when the holding means is holding the composition, a fruit fly can be attracted to the composition by the fruit fly attractant and killed by the pesticidal agent.

The composition may be as herein before described.

The holding means may be configured to hold a carrier by which the composition is carried. The carrier may be an absorbent material into which the composition can be, or is, absorbed. The absorbent material may, for example, be a sponge material.

The carrier may thus be an absorbent material and the holding means may include a container part in which the absorbent material is located or locatable and suspension means for suspending the device from a suspension member, for example a twig or branch of a fruit tree, a strand of wire of a wire fence, for example a fence around an orchard, or the like.

The suspension means may include a hook formation, having an end part, and an adjacent member extending from the container part, the adjacent member being located close to the end part of the hook formation and at least one of the hook formation and the adjacent member being flexible so that the hook formation and the adjacent member can be resiliently or elastically displaced relatively away from each other so as to produce an opening between the end part of the hook formation and the adjacent member through which the suspension member can pass.

At least one of the hook formation and the adjacent member may be substantially flat. Preferably both will be flat and flexible and will be substantially coplanar so that each can flex outwardly away from the others.

By "flexible" is meant the member is compliant and can readily flex or bend 10 when subject to a bending force and will return to its original position when the force is removed.

oooo• .;.Instead, the container may comprise a container body and a hook o having a first end which is secured to the container body and a second end which is adjacent the container body, the hook being of a resiliently deformable 15 material so that resilient deformation of the hook allows a body from which the a device is to be suspended to pass between the second end of the hook and the container body.

The invention extends to a device for controlling fruit flies, the device including holding means for holding a composition prepared by a method as herein before described and 8 access means arranged so that a fruit fly can gain access to the composition, so that in use when the holding means is holding the composition, a fruit fly can be attracted to the composition by the fruit fly attractant and killed by the pesticide or agent.

oThe device may include suspension means for suspending the device from a suspension member, for example a twig or branch of a fruit tree or the like.

The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference S. S ,o,•Oo to the accompanying Example, Table and the diagrammatic drawings in which

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Figure 1 is a three dimensional view of an embodiment of a device for controlling fruit flies, shown suspended from a branch of a tree; Figure 2 is a sectional view taken at I1-11 in Figure 14.

Figure 3 is a three-dimensional exploded view of another embodiment of a device for controlling fruit flies; Figure 4 is a partly sectioned view of a pair of devices for controlling fruit flies; Figure 5 is a side view of one of the devices of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a top view of the device of Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a bottom view of the device of Figure

EXAMPLE

PREPARATION OF A COMPOSITION FOR USE IN CONTROLLING FRUIT FLIES In a batch process, a protein hydrolysate in the form of HYMLURE (trade name) from Robertson's Spices (500 g) was admixed with liver extract (6,9 spleen extract (2 gastric mucosa extract (1,1 Vitamin B1 (6 g), Vitamin B2 (0,08 Vitamin B6 (0,07 nicotinamide (0,8 Vitamin B12 (0,2 alanine (0,2 arginine (0,3 aspartic acid (0,09 glutamic acid (0,41 glycine (0,11 histidine (0,35 isoleucine (0,15 leucine (0,61 lysine (0,39 methionine (0,15 phenylalanine (0,31 proline (0,03 threonine (0,37 tryptophan (0,17 tyrosine (0,30 valine (0,20 g) and paprika powder (100 g).

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The resulting mixture was mixed by circulating it through a pump for about 5 minutes. Ammonia (24% solution, 50 g) was then added and mixing by circulation was continued for a further 5 minutes. The resulting mixture was set aside for about 8 hours. During this time the mixture became warm and the pH rose and then fell again to below pH 7. The mixture was then pumped over a series of weirs to aerate the mixture and remove ammonia. In another embodiment of the invention, the mixture was aerated and ammonia was removed by pumping oxygen or air through the mixture. This procedure as continued for a further approximately 8 hours.

Sodium chloride 100 g, glycerine 100 g and water 34,1 g were then added and the resulting composition was mixed by circulating as before for a further 5 minutes. Trichlorfon 100 g was then added and the mixture mixed for a further 5 10 minutes to produce a homogeneous composition.

In field trials conducted using the composition prepared as described above and the prior art attractants TRIMEDLURE (605 g/e) and o9 9 CAPILURE, the Applicant found that the mean ratio over 7 days between male 10 and female fruit flies attracted by the prior art attractants was 23,8:1,4 whilst ooee° the ratio between male and female fruit flies attracted by the composition prepared as described above was 41,3:80,5. The composition of the invention thus attracted more than 30 times more female fruit flies than the prior art attractants tested.

9. *9 9 9 15 Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a device for controlling fruit flies in accordance with the invention. In Figure 1 the device 10 is shown suspended from a branch 12 of a fruit tree (not shown) in an orchard. Typically the fruit trees will be deciduous fruit trees, citrus fruit trees, grape vines or any other agricultural produce prone or susceptible to fruit fly attack.

11 The device 10 consists of an inverted tub-shaped body 12 which is provided with a lower lid 14. The body 12 has a diameter of about 40 mm.

The body 12 has a circular top 16 from which depends a cylindrical side wall 18. The lower edge of the side wall 18 has a bulbous annular retaining formation 20. The lid 14 comprises a disc-shaped member 22 having a circumferentially extending channel formation 24 defined by an inner side wall 26 and an outer side wall 28 each of which has an upper inwardly extending lip formation 26.1, 28.1 which together form a circular channel 25. The retaining formation 20 is received by a resilient snap-action in the channel 25 of the 10 channel formation 24 to secure the lid to the container. In other embodiments of the invention (not shown), the container body and lid are of a cardboard or paper material.

a..

Caa* In another embodiment of the invention (not shown), the lid is of aluminium foil coated with a polymer and welded on to form a seal.

a0 A hook 30 is secured to the top 16 of the device 10 and includes a base part 30.2 which is attached to the top 16 and a curved part 30.4 extending diagonally upwardly from the base part 30.2 and then downwardly so that its end 30.6 is positioned adjacent the periphery of the top 16, as can be seen in particular in Figure 2 at a distance of about 4 5 mm. The hook 30 is made of a resiliently deformable synthetic polymeric or plastics material.

A carrier in the form of a cylindrical-shaped sponge 34 is located 12 inside the body 12 where it is held by a friction fit. The sponge 34 has a diameter of about 38 mm. The sponge 34 is impregnated with about 4 ml of the composition prepared as described above.

In other embodiments of the invention (not shown) the pesticidal agent is Mevinphos or Pyrethroid.

In use the container 10 is suspended from a branch of a fruit tree in a fruit orchard, as depicted in Figure 1, by displacing the end 30.6 of the hook 30 in the direction of one of the arrows 36 so that the gap, indicated by S. 00 .4o the reference numeral 38 in Figure 2, between the end 30.6 if the hook 30 and S••Sb 10 the top 16 of the container 10 is widened to enable the branch 12 to be slipped under the hook 30 to leave the container 10 suspended from the branch 12.

The lid 14 is then removed so that the impregnated sponge 34 is exposed. This .5.5 o• S operation can conveniently be carried out with one hand. The composition then attracts predominantly female fruit flies of the Tephritidae family which are 5 15 killed when they come into contact with or ingest the Trichlorfon.

0 ••Referring now to Figure 3, reference numeral 50 generally indicates another embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention for controlling fruit flies. The device 50 is shown in exploded view in the drawing and includes a moulded polypropylene body 52, a disc-shaped synthetic sponge carrier 54 and a retaining ring 56, also of moulded polypropylene.

The body 52 includes a hollow cylindrical container part 58, with a 13 diameter of about 36 mm, an operatively upwardly directed hook formation which is about 52 mm high and about 1 mm thick, and an operatively upwardly directed adjacent member 62, which is about 48 mm high and about 1 mm thick. The container part 58 is open ended, having a lower mouth 64 with a rim 66 surrounding the mouth 64. The carrier 54 is shaped to be snugly received inside the container part 58 and is disc-shaped, having a diameter of about 35 mm and a thickness of about 15 mm. In another embodiment of the invention, the carrier 54 is received inside the container part 58 by a friction fit.

The retaining ring 56 has four, short, inwardly-directed retaining 10 projections 56.1 and is received by a friction fit between two inwardly directed annular ridges (not shown in the drawing) inside the container part 58 adjacent the mouth 64. In this embodiment of the invention, the mouth 64 is closed by a polymer-coated aluminium foil lid not shown in the drawing).

The carrier 54 is impregnated with 4,5 5,0 ml of a composition prepared as described in the Example above.

*00 The hook formation 60 has an upwardly extending stem 60.1 and a hook part 60.2. The hook part 60.2 is generally triangular in shape, having an upper sloping edge 60.3 which slopes downwardly away from the stem 60.1 and a lower sloping edge 60.4, which slopes upwardly away from the stem 60.1 towards the adjacent member 62, and a downwardly directed end part or nose, 60.5 adjacent an upwardly extending recess 60.6 in the lower edge 60.4.

The adjacent member 62 also has a stem 62.1 and a wider upper end portion 14 62.2. The upper end portion 62.2 has an upper sloping edge 62.3 which slopes downwardly towards the nose 60.5 so that the edge 60.3 of the hook formation 60 and the edge 62.3 of the adjacent member 62 together define a wedge-shaped mouth 63. In different embodiments of the invention, the wider upper end 62.2 of the adjacent member 62 is close to, or abuts, the nose 60.5 of the hook formation 60. Typically, the upper end 62.2 is less than about 1 mm from the nose 60.5.

Because the hook formation 60 and adjacent member 62 are of flat i' moulded polyproylene, they are flexible and compliant and are readily resiliently or elastically displaceable in the direction of the arrows 68, 70. Thus, in order to suspend the device 50 from a twig 72 (as shown in dotted lines in the drawing), the device 50 is urged upwardly so that the twig 72 is received in the wedge-shaped mouth 63. If the plane of the hook formation 60 and adjacent member 62 is only slightly off a right angle with respect to the twig 72, the hook formation 60 and the adjacent member 62 will readily bend outwardly in the direction of the arrows 68, 70 and the twig 72 will readily be received between the hook formation 60 and the adjacent member 62. The hook formation and the adjacent member will then snap back into position effectively locking the device 50 to the twig 72. In order to unhook the device 50 from the twig 72, the device 50 is simply twisted, thereby causing the hook formation 60 and the adjacent member 62 to again be displaced outwardly so that the device 50 can be withdrawn from the twig 72.

Referring now to figure 4, reference numerals 1 00 and 110 generally indicate two further embodiments of devices for controlling fruit flies.

The devices 100, 110 resemble the device 50 and the same reference numerals have been used to indicate the same or similar features of the devices 50, 100 and 110.

The devices 100, 110 differ from the device 50 in that the rim 66 and the mouth 64 of the device 100 and the rim 66 of the device 110 are dimensioned so that the rim 66 of the device 110 is receivable, spigot and socket fashion, in the mouth 64 of the device 100. In this way, each of the 10 devices 100, 110 acts as a closure member for the mouth 64 of the other device 110, 100. This removes the requirement for a separate closure member which would have to be disposed of and would be a potential source of litter in an orchard.

*e It is an advantage of the invention illustrated that the devices 15 50, 100, 110 control the populations of fruit fly species of the family Tephritidae for an entire season without the need for periodic spraying of the orchard with insecticide. It is a further advantage of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 that the resiliently deformable hook and the snap action by which the lid is secured to the container body allows the device to be hooked over a branch of a fruit tree and the lid to be removed in a one-handed action.

It is similarly an advantage of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 7 that the shape of the hook formation and the adjacent member form a mouth 63 in 16 which a twig or the like is received. In this embodiment of the invention the device 50, 100, 110 can also readily be attached to a branch or twig with a one-handed twisting action. It is a further advantage that the devices depicted in Figures 3 7 can accommodate supports as thin as a strand of wire of a wire fence (which would be received in the recess 60.6) or a fairly thick branch as shown in Figure 3. The opening depicted in the hook formation 60 of the embodiments 50, 100, 110 is provided for convenience of handling after the moulding process.

S

17 TABLE I Insecticide Purity Composition in g/f preferred Composition glf preferred range value Trichlorfon 80- 120 100.00 Attractant Components Protein Hydrolysate 400 -600 500.00 Liver extract 90%) 5 9 6.90 Spleen extract 90%) 1,0 -3,0 2.00 -Gastric mucosa 90%) 0,8 1,3 1.10 Vitamin B 1 90%) 0,4 -0,8 0.60 Vitamin B 2 90%) 0,05 -0,11 0.08 Vitamin B 6 90%) 0,05 -0,11 0.07 Nicotinamide 90%) 1,0 0.80 Vitamin B 1 2 90%) 0, 1 -0,3 0.20 Alanine 90%) 0,15 0,25 0.20 1 5 Arginine 90%) 0,25 -0,35 0.30 Aspartic acid 90%) 0,06 -0,12 0.09 Glutamic acid 90%) 0,3 -0,5 0.41 Glycine 90%) 0,0 8-0,13 0.11 Histidine 0,3 -0,4 0.35 20 Isoleucine 0,1 0,2 0.15 Leucine 0,4 -0,8 0.61 Lysine 90 0,25 -0,45 0.39 Methionine 90 0,1 0,2 0.15 Phenylalanine 90%) 0,25 -0,35 0.31 Proline 0,02 -0,04 0.03 Threonine 0,25 -0,50 0.37 Tryptophan 0,10 -0,25 0.17 Tyrosine 0,25 -0,35 0.30 Valine 0,15 -0,25 0.20 Cysteine 0,10 -0,3 0.2

NH

3 40-60 50.00 Paprika 80- 120 100.00 Wetting agents NaCl 30-40 100.00 1Glycerine 80- 120 100.00

H

2 0 30-40 34.11

Claims

1. A method of making a composition which includes a pesticidal agent and a fruit fly attractant, for use in controlling fruit flies the method including the step of combining composition components which include a protein-containing component, a pesticidal agent and ammonia.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the protein-containing component is selected from a protein hydrolysate, a liver extract, a spleen extract, a gastric mucosa extract and combinations of any two or more thereof. 0:*0

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the 10 composition components include one or more amino acids.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, in which the amino acid or acids are selected from alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, threonine, tryptophan, valine, cysteine and combinations of any two or more thereof. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the composition components include one or more vitamins. A method as claimed in claim 5, in which the vitamin or vitamins 19 are selected from Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, nicotinamide and combinations of any two or more thereof.

7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the composition components include paprika.

8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the composition components include glycerine.

9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the composition components include salt.

10. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the composition components include water.

11. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the pesticidal agent is selected from Trichlorfon, Mevinphos, Pyrethroid and combinations of any two or more thereof.

12. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 400 600 g/e of the protein hydrolysate.

13. A method as claimed in any one of claims 2 12 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 5 9 g/e liver extract.

14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 2 13 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 1,0 g/f spleen extract.

15. A method as claimed in any one of claims 2 14 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,8 1,3 g/e gastric mucosa extract. ft... 10 16. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 40 60 g/£ ammonia. S *t f* 17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 7 16 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 80 120 g/e paprika.

18. A method as claimed in any one of claims 8 17 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 80 120 g/f glycerine. 21

19. A method as claimed in any one of claims 9 18 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 80 120 g/e sodium chloride. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 19 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 30 g/e water. 9 9

21. A method as claimed in any one of claims 4 20 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,15 99* .0,25 g/e alanine. 10 22. A method as claimed in any one of claims 4 21 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,25 0,35 g/e arginine. 99 *9

23. A method as claimed in any of claims 4 22 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,06 0,12 g/f aspartic acid.

24. A method as claimed in any of claims 4 23 in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,3 0,5 g/e glutamic acid. A method as claimed in any of claims 4 24 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,08 0,13 g/e glycine.

26. A method as claimed in any one of claims 4 25 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,30 0,4 g/e histidine. *9

27. A method as claimed in any of claims 4 26 inclusive, in which the components are combined-so that the composition includes 0,1 0,2 g/e isoleucine. *0* S g/e leucine.

29. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 28 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,25 0,45 g/ lysine. A method as claimed in any one of claims 2 29 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,10 0,20 g/f methionine. I

31. A method as claimed in any one of claims 4 30 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,25 0,35 g/f phenynalanine.

32. A method as claimed in any one of claims 4 31 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,02 0,04 g/f proline.

33. A method as claimed in any one of claims 4 32 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,20 0,50 g/e threonine. 10 34. A method as claimed in any one of claims 4 33 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,10 0,25 g/e tryptophan. A method as claimed in any one of claims 4 34 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,25 0,35 g/e tyrosine.

36. A method as claimed in any one of claims 4 35 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,15 0,25 g/e valine. 24

37. A method as claimed in any one of claims 4 36 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,1 0,3 g/e cysteine.

38. A method as claimed in any one of claims 6 37 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,4 0,8% Vitamin B1.

39. A method as claimed in any one of claims 6 38 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,05 0,11 g/e Vitamin B2. 10 40. A method as claimed in any one of claims 6 39 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,05

41. A method as claimed in any one of claims 6 40 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,6 g/f nicotinamide.

42. A method as claimed in any one of claims 6 41 inclusive, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 0,10 0,30 g/e Vitamin B12.

43. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the components are combined so that the composition includes 80 120 g of the pesticidal agent.

44. A composition for use in controlling fruit files prepared by a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 43 inclusive. A method of controlling fruit flies, the method including the step of S locating a composition prepared by a method as claimed in any one of claims 1- :°ooo° 43 inclusive in the vicinity of fruit flies so that the fruit flies are attracted to the °°oo fruit fly attractant and killed by the pesticidal agent.

46. A method as claimed in claim 45, which includes the prior step of absorbing or adsorbing the composition onto or into a carrier.

47. A method as claimed in claim 45 or claim 46, which includes the step of locating the carrier in a container having an opening so that the carrier is accessible to the fruit flies and suspending the container in the vicinity of the fruit flies.

48. A method as claimed in any one of claims 45 47 inclusive, in which the carrier is a sponge material.

49. A device for controlling fruit flies, the device including I 26 holding means for holding a composition which includes a pesticidal agent and a fruit fly attractant; and access means arranged so that the fruit fly can gain access to, and leave, the composition so that, in use, when the holding means is holding the composition, a fruit fly can be attracted to the composition by the fruit fly attractant and killed by the pesticidal agent. A device as claimed in claimed 49, in which the holding means is to Sconfigured to hold a carrier by which the composition is carried. 0 oooo

51. A device as claimed in claim 50, in which the carrier is an S: 10 absorbent material into which the composition can be absorbed and in which S the holding means includes a container part in which the absorbent material is located or locatable and suspension means for suspending the device from a suspension member. S*

52. A device as claimed in claim 51, in which the suspension means includes a hook formation, having an end part, and an adjacent member extending from the container part, the adjacent member being located close to the end part of the hook formation and at least one of the hook formation and the adjacent member being flexible so that the hook formation and the adjacent member can be resiliently displaced relatively away from each other so as to produce an opening between the end part of the hook formation and the adjacent member through which the suspension member can pass. 27

53. A device as claimed in claim 52, in which at least one of the hook formation and the adjacent member is substantially flat.

54. A device as claimed in any one of claims 49 53 inclusive, in which the container part is a hollow cylindrical body having an open end, the access means being provided by the open end.

55. A device as claimed in claim 54, in which the absorbent material is a sponge material which is disc-shaped to be snugly received in the cylindrical body.

56. A device as claimed in claim 54 or claim 55, which includes a 1Oil S 10 retaining member for retaining the absorbent material in the cylindrical body. S.i

57. A device as claimed in any one of claims 50 56, in which the *111* carrier carries a composition prepared by method as claimed in any one of claims 1 42.

58. A device for controlling fruit flies, the device including holding means for holding a composition prepared by a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 43, and access means arranged so that a fruit fly can gain access to the composition, so that in use when the holding means is holding the composition, a fruit fly can be attracted to the composition by the fruit fly attractant and killed by the pesticidal agent.

59. A method of making a composition as claimed in claim 1, substantially as herein described and illustrated. A composition as claimed in claim 44, substantially as herein described and illustrated. .o.

61. A method of controlling fruit flies as claimed in claim substantially as herein described and illustrated. *•go

62. A device for controlling fruit flies as claimed in claim 49 or claim S 58, substantially as herein described and illustrated. S• 10 63. A new method, a new composition or a new device substantially as herein described. Dated this 1st day of February 1999 OUTSPAN INTERNATIONAL LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK