How Plant Pesticides Work
Plant pesticides keep damaging insects under control without harming the health of the plant or the environment. Some pesticides are made from plant oils, such as Neem oil. Others are made with chemical such as pyrethroids. Understanding how plant pesticides work will help you choose the correct product for pest control on the plants in your yard or garden. Does this Spark an idea?
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Pyrethroid Insecticides
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Pyrethrins are a common ingredient in many plant pesticides available today. According to the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA, pyrethrins and pyrethroid insecticides are a synthetic version of the pesticide pyrethrin which is present in chrysanthemums. Sumithrin and resmethrin are two pyrethriods that are fast acting. Others, such as permethrin, bifenthrin or cyfluthrin, are slower acting and remain on the leaves of plants for several days.
Oils
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Neem oil is a pesticide derived from the neem plant. This tree is grown in the tropics and it has seeds that contain properties that disrupt the growth of insects, such as whiteflies. Neem oil is most effective when used on immature whiteflies and other developing insects. Horticultural oils are another oil product that works by coating the insect with oil, causing it to suffocate.
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Systemic Insecticides
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Systemic insecticides are absorbed by plants and have no ill effects on the health of the plant. These products work as a poison, which kills the insect after ingestion. After systemic insecticides are applied to the foliage of plants, insects that feed on it die. Insects may not receive a lethal dose upon ingestion, but they will avoid the plant during feeding in the future. Systemic insecticides are not typically used for food crops because the insecticide can remain inside the food long after harvest.
Microbial Insecticide
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The most commonly used microbial insecticide is Bacillius thuringiensis or Bt. This product is made from natural soil-borne bacteria that kill a variety of insects and damaging pests. Certain strains of Bt control caterpillars, while another strain is used to control gnats and mosquitoes. Bt is also safe for use around children and small animals, and does not harm fish in nearby lakes or ponds.
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References
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