Is There a Natural Spray for Killing Bugs on Fruits & Vegetables?
With the current trend toward organic gardening and avoiding the use of chemical pesticides, a number of natural sprays are available to control pests that attack your garden and fruit trees. Unfortunately, there is no one single spray for all insect problems. Sometimes insect control is a better approach.
An important consideration to the term "natural" in the world of biological insect controls is that not all of these products are created equal nor are they all safe for the environment. In selecting the right product for your particular insect problem, always read the label before purchasing so you know what you are getting.
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Contact Insecticides Vs. Ingested Stomach Poisons
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To understand how insecticides work, some actually have to hit every insect to kill them (contact), while others will kill the insect when they eat a plant part coated with the spray. Contact versions are more time-consuming to apply and spray is wasted when you don't hit insects. The ingested poisons work once the insect eats what you sprayed. The only drawback is that it usually takes a number of hours before they die, so they can still do some plant damage.
"Natural" Insect Control Products
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Rotenone is considered natural since it is made from natural ingredients and is biodegradable. It works on beetles, red spider mites, aphids and other insects, but it is toxic to fish and other wildlife. As it lasts a long time in the environment, use rotenone as a last resort.
Pyrethrum is a synthetic insecticide made from the common chrysanthemum. While this may sound safe, it is actually toxic to fish and bees. Pyrethrum is used to control chewing and sucking insects such as aphids, cabbage lopers, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies and codling moths. Use as a last resort.
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Biological Pest Control
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For many insects--especially aphids, red spider mites and other pests--nothing beats a hard spray of water. Aphids fall to the ground and die, and spider mites prefer a dry, dusty plant, so this technique works well to control both. It is a good idea to try water before any other method, as it often works quite well.
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a true biological insect control that is biodegradable and non-toxic. It is allowed to be used on produce that is sold as organic. As a stomach poison, Bt kills caterpillars and worms on fruits and vegetables.
Insecticidal soap is effective for many soft-bodied insects such as scale and aphids. It is biodegradable, non-toxic and permitted for use on organic produce. The soap is a contact insecticide that smothers the insect with soapy water. The only drawback is you can't spray plants that are in full sun, as the soap can damage leaves.
Fruit Tree Insect Control
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For some tough-to-control insects that attack apple trees, pheromone traps can be used to lure codling moths to their deaths. There is also a granulosis virus product that can be spread during the main egg production period to control larvae.
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