Bioactive film-forming composition for control of crawling insects and the like

An evaporable bioactive composition, characterized as being able to form a bioactive film on a surface of control of crawling insects and the like, comprising:

• a water-in-oil emulsion;
• a bioactive ingredient dispersed throughout the emulsion, wherein the bioactive ingredient is selected from the group consisting of an insecticidally-active ingredient, an insect-repellent ingredient, and combinations thereof, wherein the insecticidally-active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of synthetic pyrethroids, natural pyrethrum, and organo phosphates, and wherein the insect-repellent ingredient is selected from the group consisting of synthetic pyrethroids having intrinsic repellancy, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, BHA, BHT, Neem extract and Sembury extract;
• and
• a lubricating agent also dispersed throughout the emulsion, wherein the lubricating agent is present in an amount of about 1 to about 20 weight percent based upon the weight of the bioactive composition, wherein the lubricating agent is selected from the group consisting of silicones, mineral oils, petrolatum and polybutenes, and blends of each of these,
• wherein the water-in-oil emulsion comprises a continuous phase, an aqueous discontinuous phase, and an effective amount of an emulsifier system for dispersing the discontinuous phase throughout the continuous phase,
• wherein the bioactive composition is characterized in that after particles of the bioactive composition have been applied to a surface, a substantial portion of the continuous and discontinuous phases will evaporate over time, thereby leaving a bioactive film on the surface, and
• wherein the film is characterized as comprising the emulsifier system, the bioactive ingredient, and the lubricating agent,
• whereby the film effectively and substantially adheres to the surface for an extended period of time while retaining a high degree of residuality, thereby providing a substantial and effective positive barrier for control of crawling insects and the like.