Chemically stable granules containing insecticidal phosphoroamidothioates

A granular insecticidal composition comprising:

• from about 2 to about 24 weight percent of an insecticidal compound or mixture of compounds of the formula:
• ##STR7## where R and R.sup.1 individually are alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl containing up to 6 carbons, R.sup.2 is hydrogen, alkyl containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl containing 3 to 8 carbon atoms, alkenyl containing 2 to 18 carbon atoms or alkynyl containing 3 to 18 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 is hydrogen or alkyl containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and Y is oxygen or sulfur;
• from about 75 to about 97 weight percent of ammonium sulfate;
• and
• one or more processing aids selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent of one or more flowability agents;
• (b) from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent of one or more lubricants;
• (c) from about 1 to about 6 weight percent of one or more binders,
• with the proviso that the total weight percent of additives (a), (b) and (c) in said granular composition ranges from at least 1 weight percent to less than about 6 weight percent.

A method for killing insects which comprises contacting insects or their growth habitats with an insecticidally effective amount of granules comprising:

• at least about 2 weight percent of a compound of the formula:
• ##STR8## where R and R.sup.1 individually are alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl containing up to 6 carbons, R.sup.2 is hydrogen, alkyl containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl containing 3 to 8 carbon atoms, alkenyl containing 2 to 18 carbon atoms or alkynyl containing 3 to 18 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 is hydrogen or alkyl containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and Y is oxygen or sulfur;
• at least about 75 weight percent of ammonium sulfate;
• and
• one or more processing aids selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent of one or more flowability agents;
• (b) from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent of one or more lubricants;
• (c) from about 1 to about 6 weight percent of one or more binders,
• with the proviso that the total weight percent of additives (a), (b) and (c) in said granular composition ranges from at least 1 weight percent to less than about 6 weight percent.

A method for killing insects which comprises contacting insects or their growth habitats with an insecticidally effective amount of granules comprising:

• from about 2 to about 24 weight percent of a compound of the formula:
• ##STR9## where R and R.sup.1 individually are alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl containing up to 6 carbons, R.sup.2 is hydrogen, alkyl containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl containing 3 to 8 carbon atoms, alkenyl containing 2 to 18 carbon atoms or alkynyl containing 3 to 18 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 is hydrogen or alkyl containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and Y is oxygen or sulfur;
• from about 75 to about 97 weight percent of ammonium sulfate;
• and
• one or more processing aids selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent of one or more flowability agents;
• (b) from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent of one or more lubricants;
• (c) from about 1 to about 6 weight percent of one or more binders,
• with the proviso that the total weight percent of additives (a), (b) and (c) in said granular composition ranges from at least 1 weight percent to less than about 6 weight percent.

A method for killing insects which comprises contacting the root zones of plants which are ingested by said insects or the plant's growth medium with a granular composition comprising:

• at least about 2 weight percent of a compound of the formula:
• ##STR10## where R and R.sup.1 individually are alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl containing up to 6 carbons, R.sup.2 is hydrogen, alkyl containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl containing 3 to 8 carbon atoms, alkenyl containing 2 to 18 carbon atoms or alkynyl containing 3 to 18 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 is hydrogen or alkyl containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and Y is oxygen or sulfur;
• at least about 75 weight percent of ammonium sulfate;
• and
• one or more processing aids selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent of one or more flowability agents;
• (b) from about 0.5 to about 5 weight percent of one or more lubricants;
• (c) from about 1 to about 6 weight percent of one or more binders,
• with the proviso that the total weight percent of additives (a), (b) and (c) in said granular composition ranges from at least 1 weight percent to less than about 6 weight percent.