It is a proven fact that organic pest control procedures are usually less toxic as well as environmentally destructive. It is imperative to make use of the method which is least toxic at first. At present, you will come across quite a few extremely effective and natural treatments for pest control. And the good thing is that you will seldom need to get past the initial few defense levels in case you are properly prepared.
Creating a friendly growing environment for the plants in your yard is going to be the initial step when it comes to controlling pests in the best possible way. As a matter of fact, the single most effective natural pest control treatment happens to be a healthy garden. It aids in creating biodiversity. As a result, there is no need to apply any type of treatment, and the beneficial bugs are going to perform pest control on your behalf.
Despite the fact that there is no doubt regarding the effectiveness of beneficial insects, you need to be somewhat tolerant when it comes to pest damage. Although organic methods might not give the results desired by you within a short span of time, they can be quite effective just like the synthetic controls over time.
With any sort of pest control treatment, your initial step would be to detect the culprit in the garden, and then figure out a control process which will be affecting only that bug. You will not like the idea of using any chemical substances which will destroy the beneficial bugs too! You will come across quite a few organic options at present, and many of these happen to be more specific to some particular pests as compared to others. In the following paragraphs, we have thrown light on some of the most well-known options.
Microbial insecticides
Microbial insecticides happen to be specific only to the target pest and will make the insect become sick effectively. However, they will not cause any harm to the beneficial bugs or even mammals. Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) is amongst the most popular choices. They can be used for treating several types of worm larvae ranging from cutworms, cabbage loopers, and hornworms. The digestive system of the bug is going to become paralyzed by the bacteria present in Bt, and the bugs are going to die after a few days. One drawback to this type of insecticide is that it is not that fast-acting; nevertheless, it can be quite effective in the long run.
Insecticidal oils
These types of insecticides will be suffocating the bug effectively. After covering the insect with a petroleum-based fluid, it will cut off the supply of oxygen. This process of pest control is being used for quite some time now. The main function of the oil will be to destroy the eggs as well as immature stages of the bugs. Insecticidal oils are quite effective given that they spread quite well and will likewise break down quite fast. Nevertheless, they might be affecting the beneficial insects to some extent as well.
Insecticidal oils are typically employed for controlling insects such as scales, aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, and psylla. It is a fact that your trees and plants can be harmed by these oils, mainly their leaves, and therefore, make certain to go through the instructions before using them.
These oils should not be sprayed on a sultry day, particularly more than 80 degrees, and it will be advisable to spray a small portion of the plants initially. Try to find out the extent of damage caused by the oils after several days, and then apply on a larger scale. In case you don’t observe any damage, then go on spraying while covering the entire surfaces of the leaves.
Diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is actually the fossilized silica shells of algae. In spite of being extremely small in size, these shells are covered with sharp projections which have the ability to cut and get into the insect’s cuticle. This results in the insect leaking some essential body fluids. As a result, it dies eventually after being dehydrated. The thing to note about this organic insecticide is that it cannot be considered to be a poison causing the damage, and it is actually the dust’s physical abrasiveness that does the damage.
Diatomaceous earth can be used for destroying insects having soft bodies including trips, aphids, root maggots, snails, slugs, caterpillars, whiteflies, and so on. But the bad thing is that DE is going to destroy the beneficial bugs as well. It will be advisable to apply this stuff to the soil for bugs that dwell in the ground, and for other pests to the foliage. It will be better to apply DE early during the day since it is going to adhere properly to foliage that is moist, or you may also apply it following a downpour. Make it a point to use natural-grade products rather than pool-grade ones. It consists of additional chemical substances which can prove to be detrimental to mammals and humans as well. Moreover, make it a point to put on a mask while applying this particular dusting agent.
Insecticidal soaps
Insecticidal soaps are going to use the fatty acids and salts present within them for destroying soft-bodied bugs such as aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, thrips, earwigs, as well as scales. The soap is going to cause significant damage to the cell membranes by entering into the soft external shell of the insects. Eventually, the bug starts breaking down, becoming dehydrated and starved.
It is suggested to test the soap initially by applying it on a small area given that it can prove to be phytotoxic to some specific plants, and then apply on a larger scale. Another drawback with this product is that it can cause harm to the beneficial bugs too; therefore, it will be prudent to apply them sparingly similar to any other pesticide out there. However, the good thing is that these soaps are not toxic to human beings and other mammals as well.
