Traditional pest control methods rely heavily on toxic chemical substances. These can be harmful to people, pets, and the environment. Eco-friendly pest control generally refers to pesticides that do not contain toxins. Pest controllers also make use of techniques to discourage pest infestations. If these products and techniques are used correctly, they can work effectively to remove pests from your home or business.
Microbial Insecticides
Pests can be infected with parasites, bacteria, or viruses in much the same way as humans can. Microbial insecticides utilise bacteria to make the pests sick and to cause them to die. These products effectively target a specific species so that they do not do harm to other creatures in the environment, such as the bugs that are useful to us, or to people and animals.
Microbial insecticides are extremely effective at targeting specific pests without infecting non-target insects and animals. This is because there are specific diseases that affect certain bugs without being a threat to other animal life.
Insecticidal Soaps
Insecticidal soaps are manufactured to contain certain salts and fatty acids. These substances have the ability to penetrate the outer shell of insects that have soft bodies, like aphids, causing irreversible damage. This impairs the external cells from taking in nutrition and water, leading to starvation and dehydration. Other bugs that can be treated effectively with insecticidal soaps are thrips, mealy bugs, earwigs, and whiteflies. You can apply these soaps to your garden without harming other flora such as your rose bushes and fruit trees.
Insecticidal Oils
Insecticidal oils contain petroleum. This covers the insect from the outside and can kill it within ten minutes. You can read more here on how the solution works. Insecticidal oils can be applied to larvae and eggs as well as to adult insects like aphids, mealy bugs, and spider mites.
Some plants can be affected negatively by insecticidal oils, so it is important to get advice from us, a professional Bristol pest control company, about the most suitable product for your problem. Always ask about how solutions interact with the environment. Enquire about ecofriendly pest control options versus the more traditional methods of pest control. Be open to professional advice. If you have pets, make sure a solution is safe for them.
Diatomaceous Earth
When diatoms are fossilised, their remains form diatomaceous earth. The product is similar to silica and looks like a powder. Any insects that touch or are touched by diatomaceous earth are desiccated. If you take a closer look at this powder under a microscope, you will see that fossilised diatoms consist of sharp edges. These edges penetrate and damage the exoskeleton of any pests they make contact with. This causes the insect to lose vital fluids and die of dehydration. Because diatomaceous earth is in a powder form, it is useful for getting into hard-to-reach cavities where insects lurk. It is effective in eradicating ants, cockroaches, snails, and bed bugs.
Neem Oil
Neem oil comes from the neem tree and is made into a spray. It works as a deterrent to pests as well as killing them. If absorbed by a plant’s roots into its tissues, the whole plant becomes resistant to certain bugs. Neem oil also sterilises some species, thus ending their life cycle.
Botanical Insecticides
Botanical insecticides contain pyrethrin, which comes from daisies. Nevertheless, it kills many insects on contact. It can affect friendly bugs too.
Keep your options open to find the best solution for your home or business.
Recent Comments