Natural Pesticide

The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines a “pesticide” as any substance or mixture of substances used to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate infestation by any pest, from insects and mice to unwanted plants (such as weeds) and microorganisms (such as bacteria and viruses).

Because they are designed to kill or otherwise adversely affect living organisms, the use of most pesticides is accompanied by some risk of harm to humans, animals, and the environment. Concern with respect to the health risks associated with toxic ingredients used in pesticides has propelled the trend towards biologically-based or organic options, such as pheromones and microbial-based products.

The critical question, as always, however, is whether or not “natural” pesticides will work. The stakes are increasingly high. The Canadian Forest Service, for instance, describes the current Pine Beetle epidemic as having destroyed millions of lodgepole pine in British Columbia alone.

We carry a Mountain Pine Beetle Repellant whose active ingredient, Verbenone, is naturally occurring and functions to repel the beetles from healthy trees, thereby helping to stop an outbreaks in its tracks.

Insecticide Sprays and Pest Management

The demand for friendly, non toxic insecticides has led facility managers, janitorial services, and municipalities to adopt more effective pest management methodologies, which are commonly formalized under the moniker, “Integrated Pest Management” (IPM). IPM is based primarily upon the principle that pesticide application should be only one element of an overall pest control strategy, which encompasses periodic monitoring to detect incipient infestations, sanitation efforts, and pest proofing. Insofar as insect control within urban environments is concerned, implementing an effective strategy is, again, of paramount importance.

We carry user-friendly insecticides which have been found to control and eliminate the following pests:

• Bed bugs, which are so-named for their preferred habitat: mattresses, sofas and other furniture. These  elusive, nocturnal creatures also hide behind baseboards, electrical switchplates, picture frames, even wall paper. Bed bugs do not transmit diseases, but they do feed on the blood of humans and their bites can become red, itchy welts.

• Wasps or Yellowjackets, which commonly nest in the ground or in cavernous areas  such as eaves, attics, and decks. They feed predominantly on sweets and proteins, which explains why wasps commonly invade outdoor activities. The main symptoms of a Yellowjacket sting are notorious: itching, swelling and redness at the sting site, along with severe pain or burning that generally lasts 1 to 2 hours. A less well- known consequence of sustaining a Yellowjacket sting is developing a potentially life threatening Anaphylactic reaction, which can begin with difficulty breathing and swallowing starting within 2 hours of having being stung, and in extreme cases, end with death.

• Fruit Flies, which have infiltrated many homes and commercial kitchens seeking out ripening fruits and other foodstuffs, where they lay their eggs to start the next generation. Fruit Flies are drawn to gases like acetic acid (vinegar) and ethanol emitted by ripening fruits and vegetables. Females deposit their eggs in cracks or broken skin of the produce, which hatch into larvae (maggots) that feast on yeast products inside the produce. When they emerge as adult flies about 10 days later, the insects become sexually active in about two days and the cycle begins again. Females can lay approximately 500 eggs in their roughly two-week-long lifespan.

• Fleas, which are parasites that feed on the blood of warm-blooded mammals – most often humans and household pets. They usually remain on their warm-blooded hosts at all times, but can also be found on shoes, pant legs, or blankets, which can transfer the fleas to new environments. Not unlike Bed Bugs, Flea bites can cause painful, itchy red bumps, however Fleas are also the most common transmitter of the rare Bubonic Plague, can transmit the bacterial disease Murine Typhus to humans through infected rats, and leave behind debris that has been found to cause allergic reactions. Pets beset with fleas are susceptible maladies including tapeworms, Dermatitus, and anemia.

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Mountain Pine Beetle Repellent:  Natural pesticide protects valuable pine trees from the most destructive forest pest in North America.  Functions as a natural repellent, replicating the beetle’s own pheromones to send a message that other trees are full and that beetles should look elsewhere for a suitable host.

To reproduce, pine bark beetles aggregate in large numbers in their host pine trees. At the beginning of an attack, various chemicals produced by infested trees and by the beetles attract additional beetles of the same species. When the numbers of adults and larvae approach the maximum that the tree can support, anti-aggregation signal chemicals are produced to keep additional beetles away. In the case of the Mountain Pine Beetle or Southern Pine Bark Beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis), this anti-aggregation signal chemical is Verbenone – a phermone produced both by the beetle itself, and by a fungus that is always present on the beetle.

As a preventative IPM tool, staple or nail the first repellent pouch 7 feet high (2m) on the north face of the tree just prior to beetle flight season (April to June, depending upon location). Attach the second pouch just prior to peak flight (usually mid-August). Forest Managers have used Mountain Pine Beetle Repellent to control infestations by hanging the verbenone pouches on nearby susceptible healthy trees (after having cut down or sometimes burnt infested trees) to repel and confuse the beetles.

Sterifab: Versatile formulation eliminates health hazards not visible to the naked eye. One of the few insecticides widely documented to effectively kill bed bugs, Sterifab also eliminates lice, fleas, ticks and dust mites. Contains a potent disinfectant that kills and inhibits future growth of harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Also eliminates mold and mildew. Dries in 15 to 20 minutes and leaves no residue to irritate human occupants.

Wasp Trap Bag: Pesticide-free, non toxic lure draws wasps into the trap and keeps them there. Innovative new design has maximized catch-rate. Portable lure can be used as a hanging trap or free-standing. Environmentally friendly and reusable.

Fruit Fly Trap: An easy and effective way to eliminate fruit flies from your kitchen, without using harmful sprays or chemicals. A natural attractant entices fruit flies into the inconspicuous decorative trap, where a disposable sticky card ensures they don’t escape. Uses proven attractant technology developed by a leading supplier of pest management products for the US Forest Service and US Department of Agriculture. Easy to use and re-use – when the card is full, simply replace it with a new card. Pesticide free and non-toxic. Safe to use around children, pets and food.