AU2007297016B2 - Oil-based suspension concentrates - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of hydrogenated castor oil for improving the rainfastness of agrochemical compositions, to novel liquid agrochemical compositions with improved rainfastness, to a process for the preparation of these compositions, and to their use for applying the active substances which they contain.

Description

Oil-based suspension concentrates The present invention relates to novel liquid agrochemical compositions having improved rain resistance, to a process for preparing these compositions and to their use for applying the active compounds comprised therein. 5 To unfold their biological action, systemic agrochemically active compounds, in particular systemic insecticides and/or fungicides, require a formulation which allows the active compounds to be taken up by the plant/the target organisms. Accordingly, systemic agrochemically active compounds are usually formulated as an emulsion concentrate (EC), as a soluble liquid (SL) and/or as an oil-based suspension concentrate (OD). In an EC formulation and in an SL formulation, the 10 active compound is present in dissolved form; in an OD formulation, the active compound is present as a solid. Owing to technical/physical reasons, for many agrochemically active compounds EC and SL formulations are not possible; frequently, therefore, an OD formulation is the only acceptable option. In the case of an OD formulation, the biological action is facilitated by addition of penetrants. In addition to these penetrants, further adjuvants which improve the properties 15 (retention, spreading behaviour, rain resistance, etc.) are usually incorporated into the formulation. In this context, an adjuvant is a component which improves the biological action of the formulation, without the component for its part having a biological action. Adjuvants in general and penetrants in particular are surfactants which may originate from various chemical classes (for example alkanol ethoxylates, aminoethoxylates, esters of vegetable oils (for example MSO)). 20 A disadvantage of this formulation strategy is the fact that high concentrations of these adjuvants may damage the plants. Also of interest is the ratio of active compound to adjuvant in a product. While the amount of product applied per hectare is determined by the required application rate of active compound, the supporting action of the adjuvant depends on the concentration of the adjuvant in the spray liquor, 25 however. As a result, the feasible amount of adjuvant in an in-can product is limited. It is, of course, also possible to use adjuvants as tank-mix, i.e. they may be added to the spray liquor prepared by dilution from a concentrated formulation. However, in this case the risk of damage to the plants caused by the adjuvants is high, in particular since user errors resulting in overdosage cannot be excluded. Also, in the tank-mix method adjuvants are generally employed in 30 higher concentrations than in a concentrated formulation which already comprises adjuvant (in-can formulation). Furthermore, an in-can formulation improves user safety during the application of agrochemical products. In addition, the unnecessary use of packaging material for tank-mix products is avoided. For these reasons, in-can formulations are advantageous in principle. Numerous water-free suspension concentrates of agrochemically active compounds are already C \NRPonbLDCCCDL\4387643_1 DOC-256/212 -2 known. Thus, WO 03/000053 describes formulations of this type which may comprise up to at most 55% of various adjuvants. Furthermore, WO 05/084435 discloses formulations which may comprise closed alkanol ethoxylates in comparable concentrations as adjuvants. By virtue of the high concentration of adjuvant, these formulations already have good rain resistance. However, the rain resistance of such formulations is not always satisfactory. In contrast to greenhouse crops, the occurrence of rain for field crops such as, for example, cereals or cotton is very difficult to predict. Accordingly, it is desirable to optimize the rain resistance of liquid agrochemical compositions even further. For the user, it is advantageous if the formulation ensures that the active compound applied is exposed to rain only for a relatively short time. Otherwise, additional spray operations may be required. The use of hydrogenated castor oil in liquid agrochemical formulations has hitherto not been described. In US 6,274,570, US 6,071,857, WO 98/00008 and WO 98/00009, it is used as a gelling agent in gel-like pesticidal compositions. Very common is the use in cosmetic and medical formulations. The present invention seeks to develop stable, storable liquid agrochemical formulations which, compared to the prior art, exhibit better rain resistance, without the concentration of the surface-active adjuvants in the product being increased. In a first aspect the present invention provides a liquid agrochemical composition comprising: - at least one agrochemically active compound which is solid at room temperature, - hydrogenated castor oil, - at least one penetrant, - at least one vegetable oil or mineral oil, - at least one nonionic and/or at least one anionic dispersant.

C:\NRPorbhMDCC\CDL\4387643_L DOC-2506/2012 - 2a In a second aspect the present invention provides a method for improving the rain resistance of a liquid agrochemical composition, the method comprising adding hydrogenated castor oil to a concentrated composition or a ready-to-use composition. In a third aspect the present invention provides use of hydrogenated castor oil for increasing the rain resistance of liquid agrochemical compositions. Disclosed herein are liquid agrochemical compositions, comprising - at least one agrochemically active compound which is solid at room temperature and - hydrogenated castor oil. The compositions according to the invention are preferably oil-based suspension concentrates. Particularly preferably, the compositions according to the invention are liquid oil-based suspension concentrates, comprising - at least one agrochemically active compound which is solid at room temperature, - hydrogenated castor oil, - at least one penetrant, - at least one vegetable oil and/or mineral oil, -3 - at least one nonionic and/or at least one anionic dispersant and - if appropriate one or more additives from the groups of the emulsifiers, the antifoams, the preservatives, the antioxidants, the spreading agents, the colorants and/or the thickeners. 5 The present invention furthermore provides the use of hydrogenated castor oil for improving the rain resistance of liquid agrochemical compositions by addition of hydrogenated castor oil to a concentrated or dilute agrochemical composition. Furthermore, it has been found that the compositions according to the invention can be prepared by mixing the components with one another and, if appropriate, grinding the suspension formed. 10 Accordingly, the invention also provides a process for preparing the compositions according to the invention, comprising mixing - at least one agrochemically active compound which is solid at room temperature, - hydrogenated castor oil, - at least one penetrant, 15 - at least one vegetable oil and/or mineral oil, - at least one nonionic and/or at least one anionic dispersant and - if appropriate one or more additives from the groups of the emulsifiers, the antifoams, the preservatives, the antioxidants, the spreading agents, the colorants and/or the thickeners 20 and, if required, grinding the suspension formed. Finally, it has been found that the compositions according to the invention are highly suitable for applying the agrochemically active compounds comprised therein to plants and/or their habitat. It is extremely surprising that the oil-based suspension concentrates according to the invention have significantly better rain resistance than the closest prior art, without any increase in the 25 concentration of penetrant. The content of the individual components in the compositions according to the invention can be varied within a relatively wide range. Thus, the concentrations - of agrochemically active compounds which are solid at room temperature are generally from 1 to 40% by weight, preferably from 5 to 35% by weight, very C \NRPonbl\DCC\CDL\4387643_ .DOC-25fl62012 -4 particularly preferably from 7.5 to 25% by weight, - of hydrogenated castor oil are generally from 0.5 to 3% by weight, preferably from I to 2.5% by weight, - of penetrants are generally from 5 to 45% by weight, preferably from 10 to 35% by weight, - of vegetable oil and/or mineral oil are generally from 15 to 75% by weight, preferably from 20 to 50% by weight, - of nonionic and/or anionic dispersants are generally from 2.5 to 30% by weight, preferably from 5.0 to 25% by weight, and - of additives are generally from 0.5 to 25% by weight, preferably from 0.5 to 20% by weight. In one embodiment the present invention provides the composition according to the first aspect, comprising - from I to 40% by weight of at least one agrochemically active compound which is solid at room temperature, - from 0.5 to 3% by weight of hydrogenated castor oil, - from 5 to 50% by weight of at least one penetrant, - from 15 to 75% by weight of at least one vegetable oil and/or mineral oil, - from 2.5 to 30% by weight of nonionic and/or anionic dispersants. Suitable for the compositions according to the invention are, in principle, all agrochemically active compounds which are solid at room temperature. Preference is given to systemic insecticides which are solid at room temperature; particularly preferred insecticides are insecticides from the classes of the neonicotinoids and ketoenols which are solid at room temperature; very particular preference is given to imidacloprid, thiacloprid and spirotetramate.

C :\N b\CCCDL43876 DOC-25V62012 - 4a Preference is also given to fungicides which are solid at room temperature. Particularly preferred fungicides are fungicides from the classes of the strobilurins and the azoles which are solid at room temperature. Very particular preference is given to trifloxystrobin and tebuconazole. In the present context, suitable penetrants are all those substances which are usually employed to improve penetration of agrochemically active compounds into plants. In this context, penetrants are defined in that they penetrate from the aqueous spray liquor and/or the spray coating into the cuticles of the plant, thus increasing the mobility of active compounds in the cuticles. The method described below and in the literature (Baur et al., 1997, Pesticide Science 51, 131-152) can be used for determining this property. Preferred penetrants are alkanol alkoxylates of the formula R-0-(-AO)mR' (I) in which R represents straight-chain or branched alkyl having 4 to 20 carbon atoms, -5 R' represents H, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, n-pentyl or n-hexyl, AO represents an ethylene oxide radical, a propylene oxide radical, a butylene oxide radical or represents mixtures of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide radicals or butylene oxide 5 radicals and m represents a number from 2 to 30. A particularly preferred group of penetrants are alkanol alkoxylates of the formula R-O-(-EO-)n-R' (I-a) in which 10 R is as defined above, R' is as defined above, EO represents -CH 2

-CH

2 -0- and n represents a number from 2 to 20. A further particularly preferred group of penetrants are alkanol alkoxylates of the formula 15 R-O-(-EO-)p-(-PO-)q-R' (I-b) in which EO, R and R' are as defined above, PO represents -CH2-CH-O

CH

3 p represents a number from 1 to 10 and 20 q represents a number from I to 10. A further particularly preferred group of penetrants are alkanol alkoxylates of the formula R-0-(-PO-)r-(EO-)s-R' (I-c) in which -6 EO, PO, R and R' are as defined above, r represents a number from I to 10 and s represents a number from I to 10. A further particularly preferred group of penetrants are alkanol alkoxylates of the formula 5 R-0-(-EO-)p-(-BO-)q-R' (1-d) in which EO, R and R' are as defined above, BO represents -CHg-CHgCH-O- ,

CH

3 p represents a number from I to 10 and 10 q represents a number from I to 10. A further particularly preferred group of penetrants are alkanol alkoxylates of the formula R-0-(-BO-)r-(-EO-)s-R' (I-e) in which EO, BO, R and R' are as defined above, 15 r represents a number from 1 to 10 and s represents a number from I to 10. A further particularly preferred group of penetrants are alkanol alkoxylates of the formula CH3-(CH2)t-CH2-0-(-CH2-CH2-0-)u-R' (-f in which 20 R' is as defined above, t represents a number from 8 to 13 and u represents a number from 6 to 17.

-7 In the formulae given above, R preferably represents butyl, isobutyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, 2-ethylhexyl, nonyl, isononyl, decyl, n-dodecyl, isododecyl, lauryl, myristyl, isotridecyl, trimethylnonyl, palmityl, stearyl or eicosyl. Examples of particularly preferred alkanol alkoxylates of the formula (I-a) which may be 5 mentioned are ethoxylated Guerbet alcohols of the formula (I-a-1): R-O-(-EO-)b-R' (I-a-1) in which R represents C 16

-C

18 -alkyl, R' represents n-butyl, isobutyl or t-butyl, 10 EO is as defined above and b represents a number from 4 to 10. An example of an alkanol alkoxylate of the formula (I-c) which may be mentioned is 2-ethylhexyl alkoxylate of the formula CH3 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH-CH2 O (PO)8-(EO)6-H (I-c-1) CH 15 in which EO and PO are as defined above and the numbers 8 and 6 are average values. An example of an alkanol alkoxylate of the formula (I-d) which may be mentioned is the compound of the formula

CH

3

-(CH

2

)

1 0 -0-(-EO-) 6

-(-BO-)

2

-CH

3 (I-d-1) in which EO and BO are as defined above and the numbers 10, 6 and 2 are average values. 20 Particularly preferred alkanol alkoxylates of the formula (I-f) are compounds of this formula in which t represents a number from 9 to 12 and u represents a number from 7 to 9. The alkanol alkoxylate of the formula (I-f-1) -8 CH3-(CH2)t-CH2-0-(-CH2-CH2-0-)u-H (I-f-1) in which t represents the average value 10.5 and u represents the average value 8.4 5 may be mentioned as being very particularly preferred. The above formulae provide a general definition of the alkanol alkoxylates. These substances are mixtures of substances of the stated type having different chain lengths. The indices therefore have average values which may also deviate from whole numbers. The alkanol alkoxylates of the formulae indicated are known or can be prepared by known methods 10 (cf. WO 98-35 553, WO 00-35 278 and EP-A 0 681 865). Suitable vegetable oils include all oils which can normally be used in agrochemical compositions and can be obtained from plants. Examples that may be mentioned include sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, olive oil, castor oil, colza oil, maize seed oil, cotton seed oil and soya bean oil. Suitable mineral oils include all oils which can normally be used in agrochemical compositions and can be obtained 15 from crude oil. Examples that may be mentioned include white oil, paraffin oil and short-chain aliphatic oils, such as, for example, oils from the Exxsol@ D series. The oil-based suspension concentrates according to the invention comprise at least one nonionic dispersant and/or at least one anionic dispersant. Suitable nonionic dispersants include all substances of this type that can normally be used in 20 agrochemical compositions. Preferably mention may be made of polyethylene oxide/polypropylene oxide block copolymers, polyethylene glycol ethers of straight-chain alcohols, reaction products of fatty acids with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide, and also polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinylpyrrolidone, and copolymers of (meth)acrylic acid and (meth)acrylic esters, and also alkyl ethoxylates and alkylaryl ethoxylates, 25 which optionally may be phosphated and optionally may be neutralized with bases, it being possible for mention to be made, by way of example, of sorbitol ethoxylates, and also polyoxyalkyleneamine derivatives. Suitable anionic dispersants include all substances of this type that can normally be used in agrochemical compositions. Preference is given to alkali metal salts and alkaline earth metal salts 30 of alkylsulphonic acids or alkylarylsulphonic acids.

-9 A further preferred group of anionic dispersants includes the following salts that are of low solubility in vegetable oil: salts of polystyrenesulphonic acids, salts of polyvinylsulphonic acids, salts of naphthalenesulphonic acid/formaldehyde condensation products, salts of condensation products of naphthalenesulphonic acid, phenolsulphonic acid and formaldehyde, and salts of 5 lignosulphonic acid. Suitable additives which may be included in the compositions according to the invention are emulsifiers, antifoams, preservatives, antioxidants, spreading agents, colorants and thickeners. Preferred emulsifiers are ethoxylated nonylphenols, reaction products of alkylphenols with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide, ethoxylated arylalkylphenols, and also ethoxylated and 10 propoxylated arylalkylphenols, and also sulphated or phosphated arylalkyl ethoxylates and/or arylalkyl ethoxypropoxylates, it being possible to mention, by way of example, sorbitan derivatives, such as polyethylene oxide/sorbitan fatty acid esters and sorbitan fatty acid esters. Suitable antifoams include all substances that can normally be used for this purpose in agrochemical compositions. Preference is given to silicone oils and magnesium stearate. 15 Suitable preservatives include all substances that can normally be used for this purpose in agrochemical compositions of this type. Examples that may be mentioned include Preventol@ (from Bayer AG) and Proxel@. Suitable antioxidants include all substances that can normally be used for this purpose in agrochemical compositions. Preference is given to butylated hydroxytoluene and/or citric acid. 20 Suitable spreading agents include all substances that can normally be used for this purpose in agrochemical compositions. Preference is given to alkylsiloxanes. Suitable colorants include all substances that can normally be used for this purpose in agrochemical compositions. Mention may be made, by way of example, of titanium dioxide, pigmentary carbon black, zinc oxide and blue pigments, and also Permanent Red FGR. 25 Suitable thickeners include all substances that can normally be used for this purpose in agrochemical compositions and which function as thickeners. Preference is given to inorganic particles, such as carbonates, silicates and oxides, and also organic substances, such as urea/formaldehyde condensates. By way of example, mention may be made of kaolin, rutile, silicon dioxide, so-called finely divided silica, silica gels, and also natural and synthetic silicates, and 30 additionally talc. The oil-based suspension concentrates according to the invention are prepared by mixing the particular ratios desired of the components with one another. The constituents may be mixed with - 10 _101 one another in any order. Expediently, the solid constituents are employed in a finely ground state. However, it is also possible to subject the suspension formed after mixing of the constituents initially to a coarse grinding then to a fine grinding so that the mean particle size is below 20 pm. Preferred are suspension concentrates in which the solid particles have a mean particle size of from 5 1 to 10 sm. When carrying out the process according to the invention, the temperatures may be varied within a certain range. In general, the process is carried out at temperatures between 10*C and 60*C, preferably between 15*C and 40*C. Suitable for carrying out the process according to the invention are customary mixers and grinders 10 employed for producing agrochemical formulations. The compositions according to the invention are formulations which are stable even after prolonged storage at elevated temperatures or in the cold, since no crystal growth is observed. By dilution with water, they can be converted into homogeneous spray liquors. The application rate of the compositions according to the invention can be varied within a 15 relatively wide range. It depends on the agrochemically active compounds in question and their content in the compositions. The compositions of the invention, in combination with good plant tolerance, favourable toxicity to warm-blooded animals and high compatibility with the environment, are suitable for protecting plants and plant organs, for increasing the harvest yields, for improving the quality of the harvested 20 material and for controlling animal pests, more particularly insects, arachnids, helminths, nematodes and molluscs, which are encountered in agriculture, in horticulture, in animal husbandry, in forests, in gardens and leisure facilities, in the protection of stored products and materials and in the hygiene sector. They may be preferably employed as crop protection agents. They are active against normally sensitive and resistant species and against all or some stages of 25 development. The abovementioned pests include: From the order of the Anoplura (Phthiraptera), for example, Damalinia spp., Haematopinus spp., Linognathus spp., Pediculus spp., Trichodectes spp. From the class of Arachnida, for example, Acarus siro, Aceria sheldoni, Aculops spp., Aculus spp., Amblyomma spp., Argas spp., Boophilus spp., Brevipalpus spp., Bryobia praetiosa, Chorioptes 30 spp., Dermanyssus gallinae, Eotetranychus spp., Epitrimerus pyri, Eutetranychus spp., Eriophyes spp., Hemitarsonemus spp., Hyalomma spp., Ixodes spp., Latrodectus mactans, Metatetranychus spp., Oligonychus spp., Ornithodoros spp., Panonychus spp., Phyllocoptruta oleivora, Polyphagotarsonemus latus, Psoroptes spp., Rhipicephalus spp., Rhizoglyphus spp., Sarcoptes spp., - I I Scorpio maurus, Stenotarsonemus spp., Tarsonemus spp., Tetranychus spp., Vasates lycopersici. From the class of Bivalva, for example, Dreissena spp. From the order of the Chilopoda, for example, Geophilus spp., Scutigera spp. From the order of the Coleoptera, for example, Acanthoscelides obtectus, Adoretus spp., Agelastica 5 alni, Agriotes spp., Amphimallon solstitialis, Anobium punctatum, Anoplophora spp., Anthonomus spp., Anthrenus spp., Apogonia spp., Atomaria spp., Attagenus spp., Bruchidius obtectus, Bruchus spp., Ceuthorhynchus spp., Cleonus mendicus, Conoderus spp., Cosmopolites spp., Costelytra zealandica, Curculio spp., Cryptorhynchus lapathi, Dermestes spp., Diabrotica spp., Epilachna spp., Faustinus cubae, Gibbium psylloides, Heteronychus arator, Hylamorpha elegans, Hylotrupes 10 bajulus, Hypera postica, Hypothenemus spp., Lachnostema consanguinea, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, Lixus spp., Lyctus spp., Meligethes aeneus, Melolontha melolontha, Migdolus spp., Monochamus spp., Naupactus xanthographus, Niptus hololeucus, Oryctes rhinoceros, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Otiorrhynchus sulcatus, Oxycetonia jucunda, Phaedon cochleariae, Phyllophaga spp., Popillia japonica, Premnotrypes spp., Psylliodes chryso 15 cephala, Ptinus spp., Rhizobius ventralis, Rhizopertha dominica, Sitophilus spp., Sphenophorus spp., Sternechus spp., Symphyletes spp., Tenebrio molitor, Tribolium spp., Trogoderma spp., Tychius spp., Xylotrechus spp., Zabrus spp. From the order of the Collembola, for example, Onychiurus armatus. From the order of the Dermaptera, for example, Forficula auricularia. 20 From the order of the Diplopoda, for example, Blaniulus guttulatus. From the order of the Diptera, for example, Aedes spp., Anopheles spp., Bibio hortulanus, Calliphora erythrocephala, Ceratitis capitata, Chrysomyia spp., Cochliomyia spp., Cordylobia anthropophaga, Culex spp., Cuterebra spp., Dacus oleae, Dermatobia hominis, Drosophila spp., Fannia spp., Gastrophilus spp., Hylemyia spp., Hyppobosca spp., Hypoderma spp., Liriomyza spp., 25 Lucilia spp., Musca spp., Nezara spp., Oestrus spp., Oscinella frit, Pegomyia hyoscyami, Phorbia spp., Stomoxys spp., Tabanus spp., Tannia spp., Tipula paludosa, Wohlfahrtia spp. From the class of the Gastropoda, for example, Arion spp., Biomphalaria spp., Bulinus spp., Deroceras spp., Galba spp., Lymnaea spp., Oncomelania spp., Succinea spp. From the class of the helminths, for example, Ancylostoma duodenale, Ancylostoma ceylanicum, 30 Acylostoma braziliensis, Ancylostoma spp., Ascaris lubricoides, Ascaris spp., Brugia malayi, Brugia timori, Bunostomum spp., Chabertia spp., Clonorchis spp., Cooperia spp., Dicrocoelium spp., Dictyocaulus filaria, Diphyllobothrium latum, Dracunculus medinensis, Echinococcus - 12 granulosus, Echinococcus multilocularis, Enterobius vermicularis, Faciola spp., Haemonchus spp., Heterakis spp., Hymenolepis nana, Hyostrongulus spp., Loa Loa, Nematodirus spp., Oesophagostomum spp., Opisthorchis spp., Onchocerca volvulus, Ostertagia spp., Paragonimus spp., Schistosomen spp., Strongyloides fuelleborni, Strongyloides stercoralis, Stronyloides spp., 5 Taenia saginata, Taenia solium, Trichinella spiralis, Trichinella nativa, Trichinella britovi, Trichinella nelsoni, Trichinella pseudopsiralis, Trichostrongulus spp., Trichuris trichuria, Wuchereria bancrofti. It is further possible to control protozoa, such as Eimeria. From the order of the Heteroptera, for example, Anasa tristis, Antestiopsis spp., Blissus spp., 10 Calocoris spp., Campylomma livida, Cavelerius spp., Cimex spp., Creontiades dilutus, Dasynus piperis, Dichelops furcatus, Diconocoris hewetti, Dysdercus spp., Euschistus spp., Eurygaster spp., Heliopeltis spp., Horcias nobilellus, Leptocorisa spp., Leptoglossus phyllopus, Lygus spp., Macropes excavatus, Miridae, Nezara spp., Oebalus spp., Pentomidae, Piesma quadrata, Piezodorus spp., Psallus seriatus, Pseudacysta persea, Rhodnius spp., Sahlbergella singularis, Scotinophora 15 spp., Stephanitis nashi, Tibraca spp., Triatoma spp. From the order of the Homoptera, for example, Acyrthosipon spp., Aeneolamia spp., Agonoscena spp., Aleurodes spp., Aleurolobus barodensis, Aleurothrixus spp., Amrasca spp., Anuraphis cardui, Aonidiella spp., Aphanostigma piri, Aphis spp., Arboridia apicalis, Aspidiella spp., Aspidiotus spp., Atanus spp., Aulacorthum solani, Bemisia spp., Brachycaudus helichrysii, Brachycolus spp., 20 Brevicoryne brassicae, Calligypona marginata, Cameocephala fulgida, Ceratovacuna lanigera, Cercopidae, Ceroplastes spp., Chaetosiphon fragaefolii, Chionaspis tegalensis, Chlorita onukii, Chromaphis juglandicola, Chrysomphalus ficus, Cicadulina mbila, Coccomytilus halli, Coccus spp., Cryptomyzus ribis, Dalbulus spp., Dialeurodes spp., Diaphorina spp., Diaspis spp., Doralis spp., Drosicha spp., Dysaphis spp., Dysmicoccus spp., Empoasca spp., Eriosoma spp., 25 Erythroneura spp., Euscelis bilobatus, Geococcus coffeae, Homalodisca coagulata, Hyalopterus arundinis, Icerya spp., Idiocerus spp., Idioscopus spp., Laodelphax striatellus, Lecanium spp., Lepidosaphes spp., Lipaphis erysimi, Macrosiphum spp., Mahanarva fimbriolata, Melanaphis sacchari, Metcalfiella spp., Metopolophium dirhodum, Monellia costalis, Monelliopsis pecanis, Myzus spp., Nasonovia ribisnigri, Nephotettix spp., Nilaparvata lugens, Oncometopia spp., 30 Orthezia praelonga, Parabemisia myricae, Paratrioza spp., Parlatoria spp., Pemphigus spp., Peregrinus maidis, Phenacoccus spp., Phloeomyzus passerinii, Phorodon humuli, Phylloxera spp., Pinnaspis aspidistrae, Planococcus spp., Protopulvinaria pyriformis, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona, Pseudococcus spp., Psylla spp., Pteromalus spp., Pyrilla spp., Quadraspidiotus spp., Quesada gigas, Rastrococcus spp., Rhopalosiphum spp., Saissetia spp., Scaphoides titanus, Schizaphis graminum, 35 Selenaspidus articulatus, Sogata spp., Sogatella furcifera, Sogatodes spp., Stictocephala festina, Tenalaphara malayensis, Tinocallis caryaefoliae, Tomaspis spp., Toxoptera spp., Trialeurodes - 13 vaporanorum, Trioza spp., Typhlocyba spp., Unaspis spp., Viteus vitifolii. From the order of the Hymenoptera, for example, Diprion spp., Hoplocampa spp., Lasius spp., Monomorium pharaonis, Vespa spp. From the order of the Isopoda, for example, Armadillidium vulgare, Oniscus asellus, Porcellio 5 scaber. From the order of the Isoptera, for example, Reticulitermes spp., Odontotermes spp. From the order of the Lepidoptera, for example, Acronicta major, Aedia leucomelas, Agrotis spp., Alabama argillacea, Anticarsia spp., Barathra brassicae, Bucculatrix thurberiella, Bupalus piniarius, Cacoecia podana, Capua reticulana, Carpocapsa pomonella, Cheimatobia brumata, Chilo spp., 10 Choristoneura fumiferana, Clysia ambiguella, Cnaphalocerus spp., Earias insulana, Ephestia kuehniella, Euproctis chrysorrhoea, Euxoa spp., Feltia spp., Galleria mellonella, Helicoverpa spp., Heliothis spp., Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Homona magnanima, Hyponomeuta padella, Laphygma spp., Lithocolletis blancardella, Lithophane antennata, Loxagrotis albicosta, Lymantria spp., Malacosoma neustria, Mamestra brassicae, Mocis repanda, Mythimna separata, Oria spp., 15 Oulema oryzae, Panolis flammea, Pectinophora gossypiella, Phyllocnistis citrella, Pieris spp., Plutella xylostella, Prodenia spp., Pseudaletia spp., Pseudoplusia includens, Pyrausta nubilalis, Spodoptera spp., Thermesia gemmatalis, Tinea pellionella, Tineola bisselliella, Tortrix viridana, Trichoplusia spp. From the order of the Orthoptera, for example, Acheta domesticus, Blatta orientalis, Blattella 20 germanica, Gryllotalpa spp., Leucophaea maderae, Locusta spp., Melanoplus spp., Periplaneta americana, Schistocerca gregaria. From the order of the Siphonaptera, for example, Ceratophyllus spp., Xenopsylla cheopis. From the order of the Symphyla, for example, Scutigerella immaculata. From the order of the Thysanoptera, for example, Baliothrips biformis, Enneothrips flavens, 25 Frankliniella spp., Heliothrips spp., Hercinothrips femoralis, Kakothrips spp., Rhipiphorothrips cruentatus, Scirtothrips spp., Taeniothrips cardamoni, Thrips spp. From the order of the Thysanura, for example, Lepisma saccharina. The phytoparasitic nematodes include, for example, Anguina spp., Aphelenchoides spp., Belonoaimus spp., Bursaphelenchus spp., Ditylenchus dipsaci, Globodera spp., Heliocotylenchus 30 spp., Heterodera spp., Longidorus spp., Meloidogyne spp., Pratylenchus spp., Radopholus similis, Rotylenchus spp., Trichodorus spp., Tylenchorhynchus spp., Tylenchulus spp., Tylenchulus - 14 semipenetrans, Xiphinema spp. If appropriate, the compositions according to the invention can, at certain concentrations or application rates, also be used as herbicides, safeners, growth regulators or agents to improve plant properties, or as microbicides, for example as fungicides, antimycotics, bactericides, viricides 5 (including agents against viroids) or as agents against MLO (Mycoplasma-like organisms) and RLO (Rickettsia-like organisms). The compositions of the invention can in addition to the abovementioned agrochemical active compounds comprise other active compounds as mixing partners, such as insecticides, attractants, sterilants, bactericides, acaricides, nematicides, fungicides, growth-regulating substances, herbicides, 10 safeners, fertilizers or semiochemicals. Particularly favourable mixing partners are, for example, the following: Fungicides: Inhibitors of nucleic acid synthesis benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, bupirimate, chiralaxyl, clozylacon, dimethirimol, ethirimol, furalaxyl, 15 hymexazol, mefenoxam, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M, ofurace, oxadixyl, oxolinic acid Inhibitors of mitosis and cell division benomyl, carbendazim, diethofencarb, ethaboxam, fuberidazole, pencycuron, thiabendazole, thiophanate-methyl, zoxamide Inhibitors of respiratory chain complex I 20 diflumetorim Inhibitors of respiratory chain complex II boscalid, carboxin, fenfuram, flutolanil, furametpyr, furmecyclox, mepronil, oxycarboxin, penthiopyrad, thifluzamide Inhibitors of respiratory chain complex III 25 azoxystrobin, cyazofamid, dimoxystrobin, enestrobin, famoxadon, fenamidone, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, pyraclostrobin, picoxystrobin, trifloxystrobin Decouplers - 15 dinocap, fluazinam Inhibitors of ATP production fentin acetate, fentin chloride, fentin hydroxide, silthiofam Inhibitors of amino acid biosynthesis and protein biosynthesis 5 andoprim, blasticidin-S, cyprodinil, kasugamycin, kasugamycin hydrochloride hydrate, mepanipyrim, pyrimethanil Inhibitors of signal transduction fenpiclonil, fludioxonil, quinoxyfen Inhibitors of lipid and membrane synthesis 10 chlozolinate, iprodione, procymidone, vinclozolin ampropylfos, potassium-ampropylfos, edifenphos, etridiazole, iprobenfos (IBP), isoprothiolane, pyrazophos tolclofos-methyl, biphenyl iodocarb, propamocarb, propamocarb hydrochloride, propamocarb-fosetylate 15 Inhibitors of ergosterol biosynthesis fenhexamid, azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, diclobutrazole, difenoconazole, diniconazole, diniconazole-M, epoxiconazole, etaconazole, fenarimol, fenbuconazole, fluquinconazole, flurprimidole, flusilazole, flutriafol, furconazole, furconazole-cis, hexaconazole, imazalil, imazalil 20 sulphate, imibenconazole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, nuarimol, oxpoconazole, paclobutrazole, penconazole, pefurazoate, prochloraz, propiconazole, prothioconazole, pyrifenox, simeconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, triflumizole, triforine, triticonazole, uniconazole, voriconazole, viniconazole, aldimorph, dodemorph, dodemorph acetate, fenpropidin, fenpropimorph, spiroxamine, tridemorph, 25 naftifine, pyributicarb, terbinafine Inhibitors of cell wall synthesis -16 benthiavalicarb, bialaphos, dimethomorph, flumorph, iprovalicarb, mandipropamid, polyoxins, polyoxonim, validamycin A Inhibitors of melanin biosynthesis capropamid, diclocymet, fenoxanil, phthalide, pyroquilon, tricyclazole 5 Resistance inductors acibenzolar-S-methyl, probenazole, tiadinil Multisite captafol, captan, chlorothalonil, copper salts such as: copper hydroxide, copper naphthenate, copper oxychlonde, copper sulphate, copper oxide, oxine-copper and Bordeaux mixture, dichlofluanid, 10 dithianon, dodine, dodine free base, ferbam, folpet, fluorofolpet, guazatine, guazatine acetate, iminoctadine, iminoctadine albesilate, iminoctadine triacetate, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, metiram zinc, propineb, sulphur and sulphur preparations containing calcium polysulphide, thiram, tolylfluanid, zineb, ziram Further fungicides 15 amibromdol, benthiazole, bethoxazin, capsimycin, carvone, chinomethionat, chloropicrin, cufraneb, cyflufenamid, cymoxanil, dazomet, debacarb, diclomezine, dichlorophen, dicloran, difenzoquat, difenzoquat metilsulphate, diphenylamine, ferimzone, flumetover, flusulfamide, fluopicolide, fluoroimide, fosetyl-aluminium, fosetyl-calcium, fosetyl-sodium, hexachlorobenzene, 8-hydroxy quinoline sulphate, irumamycin, methasulfocarb, metrafenone, methyl isothiocyanate, mildiomycin, 20 natamycin, nickel dimethyl dithiocarbamate, nitrothal-isopropyl, octhilinone, oxamocarb, oxyfenthiin, pentachlorophenol and salts, 2-phenylphenol and salts, piperalin, propanosine-sodium, proquinazid, pyribencarb, pyrrolnitrin, quintozene, tecloftalam, tecnazene, triazoxide, trichlamide, valiphenal, zarilamid, 2-(2-{[6-(3-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)-5-fluoropyrimidin-4-yl]oxy}phenyl)-2-(methoxyimino) 25 N-methylacetamide, 2-[[[[1-[3-(1 -fluoro-2-phenylethyl)oxy]phenyl]ethylidene]amino]oxy]methyl]-alpha-(methoxyimino) N-methyl-alpha-benzacetamide, cis-I -(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(IH-1,2,4-triazol-1 -yl)cycloheptanol, 1-[(4-methoxyphenoxy)methyl]-2,2-dimethylpropyl-1H-imidazole-1-carboxylic acid, - 17 2,3,5 ,6-tetrachloro-4-(methylsulphonyl)pyri dine, 2-butoxy-6-iodo-3 -propylbenzopyranon-4-one, 2-chloro-N-(2,3-dihydro- 1, 1,3 -trimethyl- I H-inden-4-yl)-3 -pyridinecarboxamide, 3 ,4,5-trichloro-2,6-pyidnedicarbonit-ile, 5 3 ,4-dichloro-N-(2-cyanophenyl)isothiazole-5 -carboxamide (isotianil) 3-15 -(4-chlorophenyl)-2,3-dimethylisoxazolidin-3-yl]pyridine, 5 -chloro-6-(2,4,6-tnifluorophenyl)-N-[( IR)- 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl] [1 ,2,4]triazolo[1I,5-a]pyrimidine-7 amnine, 5 -chloro-7-(4-methylpiperidin-1I-yl)-6-(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)[ 1,2,4]triazolo[l1,5-ajpyrimidine, 10 5-chloro-N-[( 1R)-1I,2-dimethylpropyl]-6-(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) [1 ,2,4]triazolo[1I,5-a]pynimidine-7 amine, methyl 2-Illjcyclopropyl[(4-methoxyphenyl)imino]methyl]thio]methy]-alpha-(methoxymethylene) benzacetate, methyl 1 -(2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl- IH-inden- l-yl)-l H-imidazole-5-carboxylate, 15 N-(3',4'-dichloro-5-fluorobiphenyl-2-yl)-3-(difluoromethyl)-1 -methyl-i H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, N-(3-ethyl-3 ,5 ,5-trimethylcyclohexyl)-3-fon-nylamino-2-hydroxybenzamijde, N-(4-chloro-2-nitrophenyl)-N-ethyl-4-methylbenzenesulphonamide, N-(4-chlorobenzyl)-3 -13 -methoxy-4-(prop-2-yn-1I-yloxy)phenyl]propanamide, N-[(4-chlorophenyl)(cyano)methyl]-3 -[3 -methoxy-4-(prop-2-yn-1I-yloxy)phenyl]propanamide, 20 N-(5 -bromo-3 -chloropyridin-2-yl)methyl-2,4-dichloronicotinamide, N-[ I-(5-bromo-3-chloropyridin-2-yl)ethyl]-2,4-dichloronicoflnamide, (2S)-N-[2-[4-[[3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-propynyl]oxy]-3-methoxyphenyl]ethyl]-3 -methyl-2 [(methylsulphonyl)amino]butanamide, N- {(Z)-[(cyclopropylmethoxy)imno] [6-(difluoromethoxy)-2,3-difluorophenyl]methyl }-2 25 benzacetamide, -18 N- {2-[ 1,1 '-bi(cyclopropyl)-2-yl]phenyl} -3-(difluoromethyl)- 1-methyl-I H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, N- {2-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yl]ethyl } -2-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-ethyl-N-methyl-N'- {2-methyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)-4-[3-(trimethylsilyl)propoxy]phenyl} imidoformamide, 5 0-[i-[(4-methoxyphenoxy)methyl]-2,2-dimethylpropyl]-1H-imidazole-1-carbothioic acid, 2-amino-4-methyl-N-phenyl-5-thiazolecarboxamide, 2,4-dihydro-5-methoxy-2-methyl-4-[[[[1-[3 (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethylidene]amino]oxy]methyl]phenyl]-3H- 1,2,4-triazol-3-one (CAS No. 185336-79-2), 10 N-(6-methoxy-3-pyridinyl)cyclopropanecarboxamide, Bactericides: bronopol, dichlorophen, nitrapyrin, nickel dimethyldithiocarbamate, kasugamycin, octhilinone, furancarboxylic acid, oxytetracycline, probenazole, streptomycin, tecloftalam, copper sulphate and other copper preparations. 15 Insecticides/acaricides/nematicides: Acetylcholine esterase (AChE) inhibitors Carbamates, for example alanycarb, aldicarb, aldoxycarb, allyxycarb, aminocarb, bendiocarb, benfuracarb, bufencarb, butacarb, butocarboxim, butoxycarboxim, carbaryl, carbofuran, carbosulfan, 20 cloethocarb, dimetilan, ethiofencarb, fenobucarb, fenothiocarb, formetanate, furathiocarb, isoprocarb, metam-sodium, methiocarb, methomyl, metolcarb, oxamyl, pirimicarb, promecarb, propoxur, thiodicarb, thiofanox, trimethacarb, XMC, xylylcarb, triazamate Organophosphates, for example acephate, azamethiphos, azinphos (-methyl, -ethyl), bromophos-ethyl, bromfenvinfos 25 (-methyl), butathiofos, cadusafos, carbophenothion, chlorethoxyfos, chlorfenvinphos, chlormephos, chlorpyrifos (-methyl/-ethyl), coumaphos, cyanofenphos, cyanophos, chlorfenvinphos, demeton-S methyl, demeton-S-methylsulphone, dialifos, diazinon, dichlofenthion, dichlorvos/DDVP, dicrotophos, dimethoate, dimethylvinphos, dioxabenzofos, disulfoton, EPN, ethion, ethoprophos, etrimfos, famphur, fenamiphos, fenitrothion, fensulfothion, fenthion, flupyrazofos, fonofos, 30 formothion, fosmethilan, fosthiazate, heptenophos, iodofenphos, iprobenfos, isazofos, isofenphos, -19 isopropyl 0-salicylate, isoxathion, malathion, mecarbam, methacrifos, methamidophos, methidathion, mevinphos, monocrotophos, naled, omethoate, oxydemeton-methyl, parathion (-methyl/-ethyl), phenthoate, phorate, phosalone, phosmet, phosphamidon, phosphocarb, phoxim, pirimiphos (-methyl/-ethyl), profenofos, propaphos, propetamphos, prothiofos, prothoate, 5 pyraclofos, pyridaphenthion, pyridathion, quinalphos, sebufos, sulfotep, sulprofos, tebupirimfos, temephos, terbufos, tetrachlorvinphos, thiometon, triazophos, triclorfon, vamidothion Sodium channel modulators / voltage-dependent sodium channel blockers Pyrethroids, for example acrinathrin, allethrin (d-cis-trans, d-trans), beta-cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, bioallethrin, 10 bioallethrin-S-cyclopentyl isomer, bioethanomethrin, biopermethrin, bioresmethrin, chlovaporthrin, cis-cypermethrin, cis-resmethrin, cis-permethrin, clocythrin, cycloprothrin, cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin (alpha-, beta-, theta-, zeta-), cyphenothrin, deltamethrin, empenthrin (IR-isomer), esfenvalerate, etofenprox, fenfluthrin, fenpropathrin, fenpyrithrin, fenvalerate, flubrocythrinate, flucythrinate, flufenprox, flumethrin, fluvalinate, fubfenprox, gamma-cyhalothrin, imiprothrin, 15 kadethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, metofluthrin, permethrin (cis-, trans-), phenothrin (lR-trans isomer), prallethrin, profluthrin, protrifenbute, pyresmethrin, resmethrin, RU 15525, silafluofen, tau-fluvalinate, tefluthrin, terallethrin, tetramethrin (IR isomer), tralomethrin, transfluthrin, ZXI 8901, pyrethrins (pyrethrum) DDT 20 Oxadiazines, for example indoxacarb Semicarbazone, for example metaflumizon (BAS320I) Acetylcholine receptor agonists/antagonists 25 Chloronicotinyls, for example acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, nithiazine, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam Nicotine, bensultap, cartap Acetylcholine receptor modulators 30 Spinosyns, for example spinosad - 20 GABA-controlled chloride channel antagonists Organochlorines, for example camphechlor, chlordane, endosulfan, gamma-HCH, HCH, heptachlor, lindane, methoxychlor 5 Fiprols, for example acetoprole, ethiprole, fipronil, pyrafluprole, pyriprole, vaniliprole Chloride channel activators Mectins, for example abamectin, emamectin, emamectin benzoate, ivermectin, lepimectin, milbemycin 10 Juvenile hormone mimetics, for example diofenolan, epofenonane, fenoxycarb, hydroprene, kinoprene, methoprene, pyriproxifen, triprene Ecdysone agonists/disruptors Diacylhydrazines, 15 for example chromafenozide, halofenozide, methoxyfenozide, tebufenozide Chitin biosynthesis inhibitors Benzoylureas, for example bistrifluron, chlofluazuron, diflubenzuron, fluazuron, flucycloxuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron, lufenuron, novaluron, noviflumuron, penfluron, teflubenzuron, triflumuron 20 Buprofezin Cyromazine Oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors, ATP disruptors Diafenthiuron Organotin compounds, 25 for example azocyclotin, cyhexatin, fenbutatin oxide Oxidative phosphorylation decouplers acting by interrupting the H-proton gradient Pyrroles, -21 for example chlorfenapyr Dinitrophenols, for example binapacyrl, dinobuton, dinocap, DNOC, meptyldinocap Site-I electron transport inhibitors 5 METIs, for example fenazaquin, fenpyroximate, pyrimidifen, pyridaben, tebufenpyrad, tolfenpyrad Hydramethylnon Dicofol Site-II electron transport inhibitors 10 Rotenone Site-III electron transport inhibitors Acequinocyl, fluacrypyrim Microbial disruptors of the insect gut membrane Bacillus thuringiensis strains 15 Lipid synthesis inhibitors Tetronic acids, for example spirodiclofen, spiromesifen, Tetramic acids, for example spirotetramate, cis-3-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)-4-hydroxy-8-methoxy-1-azaspiro[4.5]dec 20 3-en-2-one Carboxamides, for example flonicamid Octopaminergic agonists, for example amitraz - 22 Inhibitors of magnesium-stimulated ATPase, Propargite Nereistoxin analogues, for example thiocyclam hydrogen oxalate, thiosultap-sodium 5 Ryanodine receptor agonists, Benzodicarboxamides, for example flubendiamide Anthranilamides, for example Rynaxypyr (3-bromo-N-{4-chloro-2-nethyl-6-[(methylamino)carbonyl]phenyl}-1-(3 10 chloropyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide) Biologicals, hormones or pheromones azadirachtin, Bacillus spec., Beauvenia spec., codlemone, Metarrhizium spec., Paecilomyces spec., thuringiensin, Verticillium spec. Active compounds with unknown or unspecific mechanisms of action 15 Fumigants, for example aluminium phosphide, methyl bromide, sulphuryl fluoride Antifeedants, for example cryolite, flonicamid, pymetrozine Mite growth inhibitors, 20 for example clofentezine, etoxazole, hexythiazox Amidoflumet, benclothiaz, benzoximate, bifenazate, bromopropylate, buprofezin, chinomethionat, chlordimeform, chlorobenzilate, chloropicrin, clothiazoben, cycloprene, cyflumetofen, dicyclanil, fenoxacrim, fentrifanil, flubenzimine, flufenerim, flutenzin, gossyplure, hydramethylnone, japonilure, metoxadiazone, petroleum, piperonyl butoxide, 25 potassium oleate, pyridalyl, sulfluramid, tetradifon, tetrasul, triarathene, verbutin A mixture with other known active compounds, such as herbicides, or else with agents for improving the plant properties, is also possible.

-23 When used as insecticides, the compositions according to the invention can furthermore be present in their commercially available formulations and in the use forms, prepared from these formulations, as a mixture with synergistic agents. Synergistic agents are compounds which increase the action of the active compounds present in the compositions according to the invention, 5 without it being necessary for the synergistic agent added to be active itself. When used as insecticides, the compositions according to the invention can furthermore be present in their commercially available formulations and in the use forms, prepared from these formulations, as a mixture with inhibitors which reduce degradation of the agrochemically active compound present after use in the environment of the plant, on the surface of parts of plants or in 10 plant tissues. The active compound content of the use forms prepared from the commercially available formulations can vary within wide limits. The active compound concentration of the use forms can be from 0.0000000 1 to 95% by weight of active compound, preferably between 0.00001 and 1% by weight. 15 The compounds are employed in a customary manner appropriate for the use forms. All plants and plant parts can be treated in accordance with the invention. Plants are to be understood as meaning in the present context all plants and plant populations such as desired and undesired wild plants or crop plants (including naturally occurring crop plants). Crop plants can be plants which can be obtained by conventional plant breeding and optimization methods or by 20 biotechnological and genetic engineering methods or by combinations of these methods, including the transgenic plants and including the plant cultivars protectable or not protectable by plant breeders' rights. Plant parts are to be understood as meaning all parts and organs of plants above and below the ground, such as shoot, leaf, flower and root, examples which may be mentioned being leaves, needles, stalks, stems, flowers, fruit bodies, fruits and seeds as well as roots, tubers 25 and rhizomes. The plant parts also include harvested material, and vegetative and generative propagation material, for example cuttings, tubers, rhizomes, offshoots and seeds. Treatment according to the invention of the plants and plant parts with the compositions is carried out directly or by action on their environment, habitat or storage space using customary treatment methods, for example by dipping, spraying, evaporating, atomizing, broadcasting, spreading-on, 30 injecting and, in the case of propagation material, in particular in the case of seeds, furthermore by coating with one or more layers. As already mentioned above, it is possible to treat all plants and their parts according to the invention. In a preferred embodiment, wild plant species and plant cultivars, or those obtained by conventional biological breeding methods, such as crossing or protoplast fusion, and parts thereof, - 24 are treated. In a further preferred embodiment, transgenic plants and plant cultivars obtained by genetic engineering methods, if appropriate in combination with conventional methods (Genetically Modified Organisms), and parts thereof are treated. The terms "parts", "parts of plants" and "plant parts" have been explained above. 5 With particular preference, plants of the plant cultivars which are in each case commercially available or in use are treated according to the invention. Plant cultivars are to be understood as meaning plants having novel properties ("traits") which have been obtained by conventional breeding, by mutagenesis or by recombinant DNA techniques. They can be cultivars, bio- and genotypes. 10 Depending on the plant species or plant cultivars, their location and growth conditions (soils, climate, vegetation period, diet), the treatment according to the invention may also result in superadditive ("synergistic") effects. Thus, for example, reduced application rates and/or expansions of the activity spectrum and/or a boost to the activity of the compounds and compositions which can be used according to the invention, better plant growth, increased 15 tolerance to high or low temperatures, increased tolerance to drought or to water or soil salt content, increased flowering performance, easier harvesting, accelerated maturation, higher harvest yields, higher quality and/or higher nutritional value of the harvested products, better storage properties and/or processability of the harvested products are possible, which exceed the effects which were actually to be expected. 20 The transgenic plants or plant cultivars (obtained by genetic engineering) which are preferably to be treated according to the invention include all plants which, by virtue of the genetic modification, received genetic material which imparts particularly advantageous, useful traits to these plants. Examples of such traits are better plant growth, increased tolerance to high or low temperatures, increased tolerance to drought or to water or soil salt content, increased flowering performance, 25 easier harvesting, accelerated maturation, higher harvest yields, higher quality and/or higher nutritional value of the harvested products, better storage properties and/or processability of the harvested products. Further and particularly emphasized examples of such traits are a better defence of the plants against animal and microbial pests, such as against insects, mites, phytopathogenic fungi, bacteria and/or viruses, and also increased tolerance of the plants to certain 30 herbicidally active compounds. Examples of transgenic plants which may be mentioned are the important crop plants, such as cereals (wheat, rice), maize, soya beans, potatoes, sugar beet, tomatoes, peas and other vegetable varieties, cotton, tobacco, oilseed rape and also fruit plants (with the fruits apples, pears, citrus fruits and grapes), and particular emphasis is given to maize, soya beans, potatoes, cotton, tobacco and oilseed rape. Traits that are emphasized in particular are 35 the increased defence of the plants against insects, arachnids, nematodes and slugs and snails by virtue of toxins forming in the plants, in particular those formed in the plants by the genetic -25 material from Bacillus thuringiensis (for example by the genes CryIA(a), CrylA(b), CryIA(c), CryIIA, CryIIIA, CryIIIB2, Cry9c, Cry2Ab, Cry3Bb and CryiF and also combinations thereof) (referred to hereinbelow as "Bt plants"). Traits that are also particularly emphasized are the increased defence of the plants against fungi, bacteria and viruses by systemic acquired resistance 5 (SAR), systemin, phytoalexins, elicitors and resistance genes and correspondingly expressed proteins and toxins. Traits that are further particularly emphasized are the increased tolerance of the plants to certain herbicidally active compounds, for example imidazolinones, sulphonylureas, glyphosate or phosphinotricin (for example the "PAT" gene). The genes which impart the desired traits in question can also be present in combinations with one another in the transgenic plants. 10 Examples of "Bt plants" which may be mentioned are maize varieties, cotton varieties, soya bean varieties and potato varieties which are sold under the trade names YIELD GARD@ (for example maize, cotton, soya beans), KnockOut@ (for example maize), StarLink® (for example maize), Bollgard@ (cotton), Nucotn@ (cotton) and NewLeaf@ (potato). Examples of herbicide-tolerant plants which may be mentioned are maize varieties, cotton varieties and soya bean varieties which 15 are sold under the trade names Roundup Ready® (tolerance to glyphosate, for example maize, cotton, soya beans), Liberty Link® (tolerance to phosphinotricin, for example oilseed rape), IMI@ (tolerance to imidazolinones) and STS@ (tolerance to sulphonylureas, for example maize). Herbicide-resistant plants (plants bred in a conventional manner for herbicide tolerance) which may be mentioned include the varieties sold under the name Clearfield@ (for example maize). Of 20 course, these statements also apply to plant cultivars which have these genetic traits, or genetic traits still to be developed, and which will be developed and/or marketed in the future. The plants listed can be treated according to the invention in a particularly advantageous manner with the compositions of the invention. The preferred ranges stated above for the compositions also apply to the treatment of these plants. Particular emphasis is given to the treatment of plants with 25 the compositions specifically mentioned in the present text. It has furthermore been found that the compositions according to the invention also have a strong insecticidal action against insects which destroy industrial materials. The following insects may be mentioned as examples and as preferred - but without any limitation: Beetles, such as Hylotrupes bajulus, Chlorophorus pilosis, Anobium punctatum, Xestobium 30 rufovillosum, Ptilinus pecticomis, Dendrobium pertinex, Ernobius mollis, Priobium carpini, Lyctus brunneus, Lyctus africanus, Lyctus planicollis, Lyctus linearis, Lyctus pubescens, Trogoxylon aequale, Minthes rugicollis, Xyleborus spec, Tryptodendron spec, Apate monachus, Bostrychus capucins, Heterobostrychus brunneus, Sinoxylon spec, Dinoderus minutus; Hymenopterons, such as Sirex juvencus, Urocerus gigas, Urocerus gigas taignus, Urocerus augur; -26 Termites, such as Kalotermes flavicollis, Cryptotermes brevis, Heterotermes indicola, Reticulitermes flavipes, Reticulitermes santonensis, Reticulitermes lucifugus, Mastotermes darwiniensis, Zootermopsis nevadensis, Coptotermes formosanus; Bristletails, such as Lepisma saccharina. 5 Industrial materials in the present connection are to be understood as meaning non-living materials, such as, preferably, plastics, adhesives, sizes, papers and cardboards, leather, wood and processed wood products and coating compositions. The ready-to-use compositions may, if appropriate, comprise further insecticides and, if appropriate, one or more fungicides. 10 With respect to possible additional additives, reference may be made to the insecticides and fungicides mentioned above.

- 27 Preparation examples Example 1 To prepare a suspension concentrate, 100 g of polyoxyethylene sorbitol oleate 5 112 g of a mixture of alkylarylsulphonate, ethylhexanol and a singly branched alcohol ethoxylate 2 g of anhydrous citric acid 0.5 g of polydimethylsiloxane 2 g of butylated hydroxytoluene 10 g of hydrogenated castor oil 10 230 g of ethylhexyl alkoxylate of the formula CH3 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH-CH2 O (PO)g--(EO)6-H CH in which EO represents -CH 2

-CH

2 -0-, PO represents CH2CHO and

CH

3 15 the numbers 8 and 6 are average values and 431.5 g of sunflower oil are mixed and, at temperatures of at most 60*C, stirred until a homogeneous solution is formed. With stirring and at room temperature, 102 g of thiacloprid and 10 g of deltamethrin are added to this solution. After the addition has ended, the mixture is stirred at room temperature for another 20 10 minutes. The resulting homogeneous suspension is subjected initially to coarse grinding and then to fine grinding, giving a suspension in which 90% of the solids particles have a particle size of less than 6 ptm.

-28 Example 2 To prepare a suspension concentrate, 100 g of polyoxyethylene sorbitol oleate 112 g of a mixture of alkylarylsulphonate, ethylhexanol and a singly branched alcohol ethoxylate 5 2 g of anhydrous citric acid 0.5 g of polydimethylsiloxane 2 g of butylated hydroxytoluene 15 g of hydrogenated castor oil 230 g of ethylhexyl alkoxylate of the formula CH -CH2 CH2-CH2 CH- CH2- O (PO),-(EO)-H 10 OH in which EO represents -CH 2

-CH

2 -0-, PO represents -CH2CH-0- and

CH

3 the numbers 8 and 6 are average values and 15 426.5 g of sunflower oil are mixed and, at temperatures of at most 60*C, stirred until a homogeneous solution is formed. With stirring and at room temperature, 102 g of thiacloprid and 10 g of deltamethrin are added to this solution. After the addition has ended, the mixture is stirred at room temperature for another 10 minutes. The resulting homogeneous suspension is subjected initially to coarse grinding and 20 then to fine grinding, giving a suspension in which 90% of the solids particles have a particle size of less than 6 im.

- 29 Example 3 To prepare a suspension concentrate, 100 g of polyoxyethylene sorbitol oleate 112 g of a mixture of alkylarylsulphonate, ethylhexanol and a singly branched alcohol ethoxylate 5 2 g of anhydrous citric acid 0.5 g of polydimethylsiloxane 2 g of butylated hydroxytoluene 25 g of hydrogenated castor oil 230 g of ethylhexyl alkoxylate of the formula CHT-CH2 CH2 CH2 CH-CH2 O (PO)g-(EO)6-H 10 C 2

H

5 in which EO represents -CH 2

-CH

2 -0-, PO represents -CH2CH-0- and

CH

3 the numbers 8 and 6 are average values and 15 416.5 g of sunflower oil are mixed and, at temperatures of at most 60*C, stirred until a homogeneous solution is formed. With stirring and at room temperature, 102 g of thiacloprid and 10 g of deltamethrin are added to this solution. After the addition has ended, the mixture is stirred at room temperature for another 10 minutes. The resulting homogeneous suspension is subjected initially to coarse grinding and 20 then to fine grinding, giving a suspension in which 90% of the solids particles have a particle size of less than 6 pm.

- 30 Example 4 To prepare a suspension concentrate, 100 g of polyoxyethylene sorbitol oleate 113 g of a mixture of alkylarylsulphonate, ethylhexanol and a singly branched alcohol ethoxylate 5 2 g of anhydrous citric acid 0.5 g of polydimethylsiloxane 2 g of butylated hydroxytoluene 10 g of hydrogenated castor oil 198 g of ethylhexyl alkoxylate of the formula CH3 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH--CH2 O (PO)8-(EO)6-H 10 C 2

H

5 in which EO represents -CH 2

-CH

2 -0-, PO represents -CH2-CH- - and

CH

3 the numbers 8 and 6 are average values and 15 487.8 g of sunflower oil are mixed and, at temperatures of at most 60*C, stirred until a homogeneous solution is formed. With stirring and at room temperature, 76.5 g of imidacloprid and 10.2 g of deltamethrin are added to this solution. After the addition has ended, the mixture is stirred at room temperature for another 10 minutes. The resulting homogeneous suspension is subjected initially to coarse grinding and 20 then to fine grinding, giving a suspension in which 90% of the solids particles have a particle size of less than 6 pm.

-31 Example 5 To prepare a suspension concentrate, 100 g of polyoxyethylene sorbitol oleate 113 g of a mixture of alkylarylsulphonate, ethylhexanol and a singly branched alcohol ethoxylate 5 2 g of anhydrous citric acid 0.5 g of polydimethylsiloxane 2 g of butylated hydroxytoluene 15 g of hydrogenated castor oil 198 g of ethylhexyl alkoxylate of the formula CH -- CH2--CH2--CH2-CH- CH 2-0 (PO)g- (EO)6 -H 10 C 2

H

5 in which EO represents -CH 2

-CH

2 -O-, PO represents -CH2CH-0- and

CH

3 the numbers 8 and 6 are average values and 15 482.8 g of sunflower oil are mixed and, at temperatures of at most 60*C, stirred until a homogeneous solution is formed. With stirring and at room temperature, 76.5 g of imidacloprid and 10.2 g of deltamethrin are added to this solution. After the addition has ended, the mixture is stirred at room temperature for another 10 minutes. The resulting homogeneous suspension is subjected initially to coarse grinding and 20 then to fine grinding, giving a suspension in which 90% of the solids particles have a particle size of less than 6 im.

- 32 Example 6 To prepare a suspension concentrate, 100 g of polyoxyethylene sorbitol oleate 30 g of polyalkoxylated alcohol 5 5 g of naphthalenesulphonate 2 g of anhydrous citric acid 0.5 g of polydimethylsiloxane 2 g of butylated hydroxytoluene 10 g of hydrogenated castor oil 10 200 g of ethylhexyl alkoxylate of the formula CH3 CH2 CH2 CH2 CH-CH2 O (PO) 8-(EO)6 -H C2OH in which EO represents

-CH

2

-CH

2 -O-, PO represents -CH2-CH- - and

CH

3 15 the numbers 8 and 6 are average values and 497.4 g of sunflower oil are mixed and, at temperatures of at most 60*C, stirred until a homogeneous solution is formed. With stirring and at room temperature, 153.1 g of spirotetramate are added to this solution. After the addition has ended, the mixture is stirred at room temperature for another 10 minutes. The 20 resulting homogeneous suspension is subjected initially to coarse grinding and then to fine grinding, giving a suspension in which 90% of the solids particles have a particle size of less than 6 pm.

-33 Example 7 To prepare a suspension concentrate, 100 g of polyoxyethylene sorbitol oleate 30 g of polyalkoxylated alcohol 5 5 g of naphthalenesulphonate 2 g of anhydrous citric acid 0.5 g of polydimethylsiloxane 2 g of butylated hydroxytoluene 15 g of hydrogenated castor oil 10 200 g of ethylhexyl alkoxylate of the formula CH3-CH2-CH2--CHF--CH- CH2-0 (PO)8-(EO)6-H

C

2 H in which EO represents -CH 2

-CH

2 -0-, PO represents -CH2-CH-- and

CH

3 15 the numbers 8 and 6 are average values and 492.4 g of sunflower oil are mixed and, at temperatures of at most 60 0 C, stirred until a homogeneous solution is formed. With stirring and at room temperature, 153.1 g of spirotetramate are added to this solution. After the addition has ended, the mixture is stirred at room temperature for another 10 minutes. The 20 resulting homogeneous suspension is subjected initially to coarse grinding and then to fine grinding, giving a suspension in which 90% of the solids particles have a particle size of less than 6 ptm.

- 34 Example 8 To prepare a suspension concentrate, 90 g of tridecyl polyoxyethylene ester phosphate 10 g of naphthalenesulphonate 5 1 g of polydimethylsiloxane 15 g of hydrogenated castor oil 200 g of ethoxylated Guerbet alcohols of the formula (I-a-1) R-O-(-EO-)b-R' (I-a-1) in which 10 R represents branched C-C 18 -alkyl, R' represents n-butyl, isobutyl or t-butyl, EO represents -CH 2

-CH

2 -0- and b represents the number 8, the number 8 being an average value, and 474 g of mineral oil 15 are mixed and, at temperatures of at most 60*C, stirred until a homogeneous solution is formed. With stirring and at room temperature, 210 g of tebuconazole are added to this solution. After the addition has ended, the mixture is stirred at room temperature for another 10 minutes. The resulting homogeneous suspension is subjected initially to coarse grinding and then to fine grinding, giving a suspension in which 90% of the solids particles have a particle size of less than 6 pLim.

- 35 The following products were used in the examples: Aerosil@ R 812 S Hydrophobic silica Arlatone@ T(V) Polyoxyethylene sorbitol oleate Atlox@ 3467 Mixture of alkylarylsulphonate, ethylhexanol and a singly branched alcohol ethoxylate Atlox@ 4894 Polyalkoxylated alcohol Bayol@ 95 Mineral oil (paraffin oil) Castorwax@ MP-70 Hydrogenated castor oil Exxsol@ D 130 Mineral oil Morwet® D 425 Naphthalenesulphonate Rhodafac RS 610 Tridecyl polyoxyethylene ester phosphate Silfoam@ 1132 Polydimethylsiloxane Vulkanox@ BHT Butylated hydroxytoluene -36 Use example I Determination of the rain resistance after application of wax-containing OD formulations compared to an OD formulation without wax In principle, good rain resistance can be achieved by rapid uptake of the active compound over a 5 period of a few hours after application or by good resistance of the coating, which in turn depends on the wettability with rain and on the adherence on the surface of the plant. These properties act simultaneously and determine how fast active compound is washed off from the surface of the leaf. In this test, the amount of active compound washed off by the onset of rain is measured as a function of the period of time from the application of the composition to the onset of the rain. 10 Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum cultivar Carmen), wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cultivar Orestis) and barley were used for the tests. The ODI 10 formulations according to the invention (Example I, Example I and Example III) were compared to the commercial formulation Proteus® ODI 10 (Bayer CropScience). This formulation comprises the active compounds deltamethrin and thiacloprid. As a much more water-soluble active compound, thiacloprid alone (applied as an 15 aqueous solution) is rapidly washed off completely from the surface of the leaf. Accordingly, the effect of the formulation on rain resistance was measured for thiacloprid. Using tap water, the formulations were converted into spray liquors having a concentration of active compound of 0.2 g/l of thiacloprid, which corresponds to an application rate of 0.5 1 of product in 250 litres of water. As a tracer, the spray liquor contained radioactive thiacloprid at a 20 concentration of 1500 dpm/pl. 5 times 2 pIl of each formulation were applied to the front third of the leaf of 3 leaves (corresponds to time t = 0). The entire test was carried out at room temperature (20-22'C) in a stainless steel spray cabin which allowed irrigation with deionized water from a rain nozzle (full cone nozzle FC 468.528.16.42, Lechler). After the stated time following application, irrigation was started. This was carried out using an irrigation protocol of an amount of rain of 25 10 mm over a period of one hour in the form of 5 irrigations of in each case 2 mm (after t = 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min). This is a worst case scenario with respect to the rain action, since water is continuously present on the leaves and incipient dissolution and washing-off of the spray coating is thus at a maximum. Individually for each leaf, the rain liquid was collected quantitatively in a glass beaker by the rain 30 water dripping off via the tip of the leaf, and an aliquot was taken (washed-off fraction). The aliquots of the washed-off liquid and 5 controls of in each case 2 p1 of the applied amount were measured using a scintillation counter. The measured values were used to determine the percentage of the fraction that was washed off and the rain-resistant fraction of the spray coating.

-37 For some formulations according to the invention, Confidor@ Energy was used in an analogous manner as a comparative formulation. This formulation comprises imidacloprid and deltamethrin in amounts of 75 and 10 g/l, respectively, as active compounds.

-38 Table 1 Rain resistance of thiacloprid on cotton 2 hours after application Formulation % washed off % in the spray coating Proteus@ OD I10 92.2 7.8 Example 1 67.9 32.1 Example II 82.9 17.1 Example III 73.6 26.4 Table 2 5 Rain resistance of thiacloprid on cotton 0.5 hours (wind-dried; dry after 15 min) after application Formulation % washed off % in the spray coating Proteus@ OD110 86.0 14.0 Example I 64.5 35.5 Example II 55.0 45.0 Example III 54.3 45.7 Table 3 Rain resistance of thiacloprid on wheat 2 hours after application Formulation % washed off % in the spray coating Proteus@ ODI10 84.9 15.1 Example I 83.7 16.3 Example II 73.6 26.4 -39 Formulation % washed off % in the spray coating Example III 82.9 17.1 Table 4 Rain resistance of thiacloprid on barley 0.5 hours (wind-dried; dry after 15 min) after application Formulation % washed off % in the spray coating Proteus@ ODI10 72.2 27.8 Example I 68.0 32.0 Example II 67.0 33.0 Example III 69.4 31.6 5 Table 5 Rain resistance of imidacloprid on cotton 2 hours after application Formulation % washed off % in the spray coating Confidor@ Energy 93.6 6.4 Example IV 74.9 25 Example V 80.3 19.7 -40 Test description: Penetrants on the cuticle level Additives which act as penetrants on the level of the cuticles are referred to hereinbelow as accelerator additives (cf. Schanherr and Baur, 1994, Pesticide Science 42, 185-208). Accelerator additives are distinguished in that they penetrate from the aqueous spray liquor and/or the spray 5 coating into the cuticles and are thus able to increase the mobility of active compounds in the cuticles. In contrast, other additives, such as polyethylene glycol, act only in the spray coating (via the liquid phase) or act only as a wetting agent, such as, for example, sodium dodecylsulphate. In this test, the effect of additives on the penetration properties of other substances at the cuticle level is determined. Here, the mobility of a test substance in the cuticles is measured without and 10 with an additive using a desorption method. The method is published in detail in the literature (Baur et al., 1997, Pesticide Science, 51, 131-152), and only the principles and modifications are described hereinbelow. Here, the tracer test substance selected was a radiolabelled weak organic acid. The plant material used was enzymatically isolated leaf cuticles from the upper side of pear leaves of trees growing 15 outdoors. The cuticles were mounted in specially designed stainless steel diffusion cells. The tracer was applied dissolved in a citrate buffer at pH 3 to the side initially orientated to the inside of the leaf. This inside readily takes up the small radioactive amount of tracer in the non-dissociated acid form. This inside was then covered and kept at 100% atmospheric humidity. The morphological outside of the leaf cuticles, which is normally exposed to air, was then brought into contact with a 20 buffer (pH 7), the receptor solution, and the desorption was started. The penetrated acid form of the test substance is dissociated by the receptor, and desorption takes place following first order kinetics. The desorption constant is proportional to the mobility of the tracer in the cuticles. After at least 2 times for determining these constants, desorption is then continued using a buffer which additionally contains the additive to be tested. Depending on the properties of the additive, 25 there is then sorption of the additive in the cuticles, and depending on the effectiveness as plasticizer for the cuticles, the mobility of the tracer in the cuticles is increased. This manifests itself in a higher desorption constant, and the ratio of the increases with additive to those without additive describes the penetrant effect of the additive on the cuticle level. Comparison of the mean effect of various additives is thus representative for their effectiveness as plasticizers of cuticles.

C .NRPortb\DCC\CDL\4387643_l.DOC-25/06/2012 - 40a Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims (11)

1. A liquid agrochemical composition comprising: - at least one agrochemically active compound which is solid at room temperature, - hydrogenated castor oil, - at least one penetrant, - at least one vegetable oil or mineral oil, - at least one nonionic and/or at least one anionic dispersant.

2. The composition according to Claim 1, comprising - from I to 40% by weight of at least one agrochemically active compound which is solid at room temperature, - from 0.5 to 3% by weight of hydrogenated castor oil, - from 5 to 50% by weight of at least one penetrant, - from 15 to 75% by weight of at least one vegetable oil and/or mineral oil, - from 2.5 to 30% by weight of nonionic and/or anionic dispersants.

3. The composition according to Claim I or Claim 2, comprising, as an agrochemically active compound, thiacloprid.

4. The composition according to Claim I or Claim 2, comprising, as an agrochemically active compound, imidacloprid.

5. The composition according to Claim I or Claim 2, comprising, as an agrochemically active compound, spirotetramate.

6. The composition according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising, as an agrochemically active compound, at least one fungicide. C -\RPorb\DCC\CDL\4387643_ I DOC-256/I2 -42

7. The composition according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising, as an agrochemically active compound, tebuconazole.

8. A method for improving the rain resistance of a liquid agrochemical composition, the method comprising adding hydrogenated castor oil to a concentrated composition or a ready-to-use composition.

9. The method according to Claim 8, wherein hydrogenated castor oil in a final concentration of from 1 to 2.5% by weight is added to a concentrated composition.

10. Use of hydrogenated castor oil for increasing the rain resistance of liquid agrochemical compositions.

11. A liquid agrochemical composition comprising: - at least one agrochemically active compound which is solid at room temperature, - hydrogenated castor oil, - at least one penetrant, - at least one vegetable oil or mineral oil, - at least one nonionic and/or at least one anionic dispersant, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Examples.