By: Charlene Rennick
If you think you have an insect infestation, there are many effective organic substances that will destroy bugs without causing harm to the plant, the environment or people.
The chrysanthemum flower produces a substance called Pyrethrin, which is a base for many organic pest control products. While it is safe for the plant and the environment, it is poisonous to humans and animals. Rapeseed extract is another green product usually mixed with canola oil. This mixture gets rid of bugs in any stage of their life cycle, including eggs and larvae. Oxygen cannot penetrate the oil barrier so the insects suffocate. This type of pest control does not evaporate quickly so it is not necessary to re-use it throughout the metamorphoses. It is also handy because it prevents other bugs from arriving and feeding on the exterior leafy growth. The bug cannot penetrate the barrier or stick to the foliage while they chew.
Are you sick of fruit flies? Try this combination: mix cider vinegar, dish soap (most are biodegradable) in a bowl and stir. Poke some tiny fruit-fly sized holes in a piece of paper and place it over top of the bowl. You will be astounded at the number of little critters that drown themselves in the acidic and slippery solution.
While you are at it, a mild solution of that same biodegradable dish soap mixed with water will wipe away an external infestation. Dip a cotton ball in it and gently wash away eggs, larvae and mites. Just make sure to rinse equally gently and thoroughly when you are through.
Coloured strips of brightly painted paper slathered liberally with Vaseline will attract bugs into the gelatinous quagmire. Any type of acrylic paint will do as long as it is fresh and smells like paint.
Some people advocate the use of predator bugs. While this may sound like jumping from the frying pan into the fire, it does make some kind of sense. The predator eats the infestation, the population of the prey declines, and so does the food supply for the big guy. Eventually, the food chain ends and the predators become as extinct as the dinosaurs. The only difficulty with this theory is where to get the predator bugs.
Be sure and check with your local hydroponics supply retailer or the Ministry of the Environment government website before you bring a bug inside. You don’t want to choose one that may have a more prolific lifestyle than the pest you are already trying to exterminate. Using beneficial bugs does work; it just may not be something you want to invest the time in if you have a small scale kitchen garden. Ladybugs and praying mantis have healthy appetites for garden delicacies, so you may want to think twice next time you see one and carry a well-ventilated jar.