Polybutylbenzylphenols and benzyl-3,4-methylenedioxybenzenes in insect population control

A method of inhibiting procreation in insects, which comprises

• administering to the insects a compound selected from the group consisting of
• (a) compounds of the structure ##STR17## wherein n is an integer from 1 to 3,
• R is hydrogen or lower alkyl containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and
• R.sub.1 is hydrogen, lower alkyl containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or lower alkoxy containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms,
• (b) compounds of the structure ##STR18## wherein R.sub.2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, lower alkoxy containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or lower alkenyl containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms,
• R.sub.3 is hydrogen or lower alkyl containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms,
• R.sub.4, R.sub.5, and R.sub.6 are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and lower alkoxy containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and
• wherein,
• if R.sub.2 is hydrogen, then R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 must be independently lower alkyl containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or lower alkoxy containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and
• wherein,
• if R.sub.4, R.sub.5, and R.sub.6 are hydrogen and R.sub.3 is methyl then R.sub.2 must be lower alkoxy containing from 2 to 5 carbon atoms,
• (c) compounds of the structure ##STR19## wherein R.sub.7 is lower alkyl containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or lower alkoxy containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms or lower alkenyl containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and
• R.sub.8 is hydrogen or lower alkyl containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and
• (d) compounds of the structure ##STR20## wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkyl containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms,
• said compound being administered in an amount insufficient to kill the insects but sufficient to inhibit procreation therein.