cover plants sprayed with insecticides and pesticides

Microbes may sometimes be used for indirect control of plant pests. Milky spore is sold through many garden catalogs. This bacterium has become distributed widely throughout eastern North America, originally through government programs and subsequently by the insects themselves. Know the insect you are spraying for and keep away from plants where butterfly larvae feed.Īnother bacterium long used for insect control is Bacillus popilliae, which produces the 'milky spore' disease of Japanese beetle grubs, a major lawn pest. What's more, Bt kills not only the larvae of pests, but also the larvae of butterflies. Bt also breaks down rapidly upon exposure to sunlight and water, rarely lasting more than a few days. Because it must be eaten, thorough coverage of the affected plant is critical. Bt is considered quite safe to humans, and most products can be used right up to harvest.īt does have some limitations, however. This means that most beneficial insects are spared the adverse effects. Most Bt products only kill caterpillars that eat it. The primary advantage of Bt is its highly selective action. Susceptible insects stop eating soon after ingesting Bt, as it destroys the lining of their gut. To be effective, Bt must be eaten by the pest. Leaf beetles, such as the Colorado potato beetle, are susceptible to the 'tenebrionis' strain (Btt).

For example, the 'kurstaki' strain of Bt (Btk) kills caterpillars, such as gypsy moth, hornworms and cabbageworms. Different strains of Bt, which occurs naturally in soils around the world, produce toxins that affect different insects. The microbe most commonly used for garden pest control is the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, better known as Bt. Is a measure of the damage they can do to you if they're ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.) All pesticides-synthetic and natural-are regulated as pesticides by the Environmental Protection Agency and the states, and by law must be used strictly in accordance with all instructions on the product labels. Others are as acutely toxic (or sometimes more toxic) than common synthetic garden pesticides. Most botanical pesticides, for example, do less ecological damage than synthetics because they break down rapidly when exposed to heat, light and water. Pesticides derived from natural sources, like those that are manufactured from petrochemicals, have a wide range of effects. These products are known as botanical insecticides or, simply, botanicals. Some plants are especially rich in chemicals that can be extracted and used for insect control. Many plants produce a host of chemical defenses that they use to naturally resist attack from various pests. Plants themselves have proven to be sources of some of the most potent pest-control products. Vegetable oils or, more commonly, refined petroleum oils, yield horticultural oils that can be highly effective for pest management.

These products are known as insecticidal soaps.

For example, combining vegetable oils with an alkaline substance, such as potassium hydroxide, produces soaps that can be used to control mites and insects. These are called microbial pesticides.Ĭombinations of natural products have also proved effective pest controls. Many bacteria, fungi and other organisms cause diseases that kill or cripple insect pests. Microbes are one natural source of pest control. Because some of these pesticides have been associated with health and environmental hazards, interest in alternatives has been increasing in recent years. Most yard and garden pesticides available today are synthesized chemicals.

Pollinators and Birds | Sustainable Gardening Natural Pesticides

Cover plants sprayed with insecticides and pesticides