Rainy River..

A natural insecticide will kill insects, that much is certain.  Natural insecticide has been used for centuries, at least.  If you are a curious person, you might like to know how natural insecticide kills insects. 

Diatomaceous Earth is a natural insecticide made of the skeletal remains of plankton.  What it does is to puncture the bodies of the insects.  Then, it dehydrates them.  When this natural insecticide has done its work, unwanted insects will dry up and practically blow away. 

Rotenone is a natural insecticide, as well.  It is made from the roots of the derris plant.  It does its killing by poisoning the stomachs of insects.  However, it is slow-acting and needs to be reapplied often for maximum effect.

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Did you know hot sauce mixed with garlic and water can chase away those annoying caterpillars who have been feeding on your precious plants?  You may appreciate butterflies, but not their babies.  So, maybe you just want them to relocate to another area.  Many natural insecticides are used as repellants rather than as a way to kill insects.

Spider mites hate the mixture of hydrated lime (1/4 c.) and water (add a small drop of soap to help it stick).  Be careful not to use too much or the lime could hurt your plants.

Tomato leaves mixed with water can repel insects.  Soaps are used in several different types of mixtures.  But soaps are washed away with rain or automatic sprinklers.

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Many insect fighting chemicals on the market are the same basic ingredients with just enough variation to allow a different brand name.  It’s similar to buying ibuprofen.  You can buy many different versions and strengths of it, but it all boils down to the same basic ingredient.  Watered down versions can cause a problem as well as a waste of money.

People are usually either for or against the use of natural insecticides.  Whether or not your particular choice is a benefit depends on the circumstances.  How advanced is the insect infestation?  What are you allergic to?  What will harm your plants?  What will be safe to use around your pets or livestock?  What is available and accessible to you and how fast can you get it when you need it?  Do you need to use more than one method of control and removal?  What is cost effective?

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Some people have the mistaken idea that all insects are bad.  An abnormal paranoia of anything that creeps and crawls or slithers can sell a lot of chemicals and natural insecticides.  The market feeds off people’s fear of insects.  Parents teach their children to be leery of insects.  While it’s true that there are many insects that can cause harm, they usually do so as a way to protect themselves and preserve their species.

Attacking all insects is irrational.  It would cause a huge imbalance in nature if we didn’t have insects.  It’s even necessary to feed off the predatory insects to keep the insect population under control.

If you need to attack insects, at least do nature the justice of attacking the ones that are only a threat to you or your plants’ survival or health.  People who are allergic to certain insects have little choice but to rid their homes and property of them.  A wasp or bee sting could put some people in the hospital.

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