On most occasions, organic pest control procedures happen to be less toxic and environmentally damaging. It is imperative to make use of the least toxic process at first whenever possible. In fact, you’ll come across some extremely effective organic pest control treatments at present. The good thing is that it will not be imperative for you to get beyond the initial few levels of defense with the correct preparation as well as cultural practices.
Creating the friendliest growing environment for the plants will be your first step when it comes to controlling pests. A garden which happens to be healthy is the single most effective natural pest control treatment out there. It helps to create biodiversity. As a result, beneficial insects will be performing your pest control on your behalf without the requirement of applying any kind of treatment.
Despite the fact that beneficial bugs are extremely effectual, you’ll probably have to endure some sort of pest damage. Even though natural methods are usually not that fast-acting, they can be quite effective similar to synthetic controls in the course of time.
With any sort of pest control treatment, the initial step would be to detect the offending bug, and then target a control technique which affects only it. You must not apply any non-selective chemical substance that might be responsible for killing beneficial insects too! You will come across quite a few organic options at present on the market, and some of them happen to be more specific to some particular pests as compared to the others. Below, we have mentioned some well-known options in the sequence of least to most poisonous.
Microbial Insecticides
These types of insecticides will not cause any harm to beneficial insects or mammals but will cause the harmful pest to become sick in the long run. Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) is considered to be amongst the most well-known choices out there. It is used by the author whenever required for treating several worm larvae ranging from cabbage loopers to hornworms, as well as cutworms. Bt consists of a particular bacteria which paralyzes the larvae’s digestive system, and the pests meet their death within a few days. In case there is any particular drawback to this insecticide, it’s the fact that it isn’t quite fast-acting; however, it can prove to be extremely effective in the long run.
Insecticidal Oils
Insecticidal oils will be working by suffocating the insect. This oil will cover them using a liquid which is petroleum-based, thus cutting off their supply of oxygen. This particular control process is being used for quite a while. It is used primarily for destroying the eggs as well as immature phases of bugs. These products are extremely effectual since they spread very well, and also break down quite fast. Although these oils will be able to affect beneficial pests, they are less poisonous to them.
On most occasions, oils are utilized for controlling aphids, spider mites, scales, psylla, mealy bugs, along with several other insects. It is a fact that insecticidal oils can cause harm to your trees and plants, and therefore, make it a point to go through the directions which come along with the packaging.
These oils should not be sprayed on a hot day, typically over 85 degrees, and it will be a good idea to spray a small portion of the plants initially. After several days, try to find out whether the oil has caused any damage prior to starting with a bigger application. In case you do not observe any damage then go on spraying on the leaf surfaces.
Diatomaceous earth
This particular product happens to be the fossilized silica husks of algae. In spite of being microscopic in size, these shells are coated with sharp projections which are capable of cutting and entering the insect’s cuticle. This results in the pest leaking essential body fluids. As a result, it dehydrates and dies. The unique feature of diatomaceous earth is the fact that it cannot be considered to be a poison causing the damage, but it is the dust’s physical abrasiveness.
DE is effectual against pests having soft bodies such as aphids, whiteflies, trips, caterpillars, slugs, root maggots, as well as snails. Nevertheless, DE is actually non-selective and is going to annihilate beneficial insects too. DE should be applied to the soil for pests which reside on the ground, and to the vegetation for other insects. DE is able to adhere effectively to moist foliage, and therefore, it is best to apply it early in the morning. Make certain to use “natural-grade” DE instead of “pool-grade” DE. It consists of additional chemicals that can prove to be harmful to humans as well as mammals. Make sure to put on a dust mask while working with a dusting agent.
Insecticidal Soaps
Insecticidal soaps make use of the fatty acids and salts within them for targeting soft-bodied pests such as aphids, mealy bugs, whiteflies, thrips, earwigs, and scales. The product enters the soft external shell of these insects and damages the cell membranes. Following this, they start breaking down, ultimately resulting in dehydration plus starvation.
These soaps might be phytotoxic to some particular vegetation, and therefore, make certain to conduct a test on a small area, prior to applying extensively.
Neem Oil
Neem is actually a broad-spectrum pesticide which acts as a poison, and repellent. Besides this, it likewise sterilizes some particular species of insects, and slows down or halts the development cycle of others. Neem is derived from parts of the Neem tree that is grown in India. This pesticide is applied as a soil drench or foliar spray. It can demolish a wide range of bugs including thrips, aphids, whiteflies, loopers, and mealy bugs. The systemic properties are the unique aspects of this biological agent. Neem extracts are absorbed by the plants through roots and plant foliage. As a result, neem is likewise effectual against leaf minors that are typically not affected by other foliar sprays.
In general, it is imperative to ingest neem so as to be toxic, and it is almost non-toxic to mammals. Even though it breaks down quite fast, neem ought to be sprayed only when required, and only on vegetation that is known to be affected. Thus, damage to beneficial bugs can be minimized to a great extent.