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Botanical Insecticides
- Use these plant oils in place of conventional insecticides -
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Summary: New, natural, plant-based (botanical) insecticides offer an effective, low toxicity, and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional pesticides. A variety of formulations are now available.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
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What are plant-based (botanical) insecticides?
 Plants produce many powerful chemicals some of which are used to defend themselves against herbivores and disease organisms. Just a few examples of these highly active plant-based chemicals are nicotine (Nicotiana plants), plant sterols (drug precursors), urushiol (poison oak and ivy oil), pyrethrum and rotenone (insecticides).
Some plants also produce essential oils (from the word "essence") in specialized gland cells. Examples of essential oils are peppermint oil, clove oil, citrus oils, lavender oil, thyme oil, and rosemary oil. Recent research has shown that certain combinations of these essential oils, sometimes also combined with natural pyrethrins, are effective and low toxicity natural insecticides.
Are plant oil insecticides safe to use indoors?
I don't normally suggest that you use insecticides indoors. With a few exceptions, conventional insecticides are just too hazardous for this use. Some botanical insecticides, on the other hand, especially those that do not contain petroleum distillate solvents (see below), are safe enough to use indoors by homeowners and can be just as effective as conventional insecticides for many uses.
other names: natural pesticides, natural insecticides
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Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) is a source of eugenol used in some botanical pesticides. Image from Wikipedia.org.
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Until recently the availability of natural, botanical insecticides was limited to a few products like neem oil and pyrethrum. While these products are effective and exhibit very low environmental impact they have a limited range of uses.
To be an effective alternative to conventional insecticides "botanicals" must be available in a range of formulations and combinations of active ingredients that can be used in a variety of pest control situations. Dusts, aerosols, liquid concentrates and wettable powder formulations are especially useful. Each of these formulations is targeted for specific sites or pests.
Aerosol sprays are used when the area to be treated is relatively small. They are very convenient but can be expensive on a per application basis. Wettable powders are less expensive and generally used when the treated area is large. Dust formulations must be kept dry but exhibit the greatest residual activity.
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EcoSMART™ plant-based insecticides
EcoSMART Technologies makes plant-based pesticides (insecticides and herbicides) for homeowners and pest control companies who are interested in a least-toxic approach to pest management. The products listed in the table below are grouped by their EPA registration status. "EcoEXEMPT" products are exempt from EPA pesticide registration because they contain no ingredients that require registration. "EcoPCO" products require EPA registration because they contain the same essential oils but add petroleum distillate solvents and, in some cases pyrethrin, another plant-based insecticide, which do require EPA registration. Use the table below for an overview of EcoSMART insecticides.
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Natural Plant Oil Insecticides
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Product Name
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Formulation & Uses
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aerosol stream (jet) spray; yellowjacket and paper wasp nests; exempt from EPA registration [complete instructions]
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aerosol spray; ants, bed bugs, carpet beetles, centipedes, general household insect pests, clover mites, crickets, drug store beetles, earwigs, elm leaf beetles, millipedes, pillbugs, scorpions, silverfish, spiders; exempt from EPA registration [complete instructions]
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dust; useful for dusting in/under cabinets, behind furniture, etc.; ants, centipedes, crickets, earwigs, silverfish, sowbugs, spiders; can be combined with borate insecticide to extend residual activity; exempt from EPA registration [complete instructions]
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1 gallon concentrate; intended for application by sprayer; indoor/outdoor use; food processing facilities; schools, etc.; fire ant mounds; broadly effective for crawling and flying pests; exempt from EPA registration [complete instructions]
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aerosol spray; similar use to EcoEXEMPT KO except EcoPCO ACU contains petroleum distillate as inert ingredient; EPA registered [complete instructions]
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aerosol spray; contains pyrethrins + plant oils; a "stronger" version of EcoPCO ACU; contains petroleum distillate as inert ingredient; EPA registered [complete instructions]
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dust; contains pyrethrins + plant oils; bed bugs, cockroaches, centipedes, firebrats, spiders; can be combined with borate insecticide to extend residual activity; EPA registered [complete instructions]
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wettable powder; EPA registered; contains pyrethrins + plant oils; intended for application by sprayer; indoor/outdoor use; broadly effective for indoor/outdoor and landscape pests; a good alternative to pyrethroids for boxelder bugs [complete instructions]
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Plant-based insecticides are not entirely new. Neem oil, pyrethrum and rotenone have been used for many years as safe alternatives to conventional insecticides. What's new is the use of plant essential oils like those in these EcoSMART products.
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Please note: I have no connection to EcoSMART Technologies and as such don't endorse these insecticides for any particular use. However, I believe these products are a very important addition to the homeowner and PCO markets because they are the first that I'm aware of to provide a safe and effective alternative to conventional pesticides.
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