Why Natural Pesticides?
December 5th, 2009If left unchecked, everything on our planet that is not
covered with water would be covered with insects. Humans regard
most insects as pests.
Mosquitoes bother us, sucking our blood and spreading
disease. Flies get on our food and invade our space. Termites
eat our wood and destroy our structures. Bedbugs also invade
our space and sense of security. Lice can get in the hair when
unwashed. On and on, the list of insect pests goes.
The good Lord in his infinite knowledge arranged natural
means of insect control. However, because humans have agendas
that disrupt the flow of nature, natural means of insect
control become ineffective. Humans must now develop pesticides.
There are many forms of insecticides. The many forms of
insecticides are agents of chemical or biological origin.
Chemical pesticides creates problems for the environment and
for humans. Many chemical insecticides are even fatal to
humans. Compounding the problem with chemical insecticides is
the fact that we need insect control, everywhere. Chemicals to
control insects at school, public places, work and the home
accumulate pretty rapidly. Humans exposed to all these
chemicals will have negative consequences.
The best way to control insects while protecting humans and
the environment is with natural insecticide. The most popular
form of natural insecticide is botanical. They are many plants
that can be used in one way or another as natural insecticide.
There are other natural forms of insecticides as well. Boric
acid for example, is a strong natural insecticide. But boric
acid is not botanical. Using other insects to destroy insect
pests is also a natural insecticide. In some cases, insects
used to control other insects, can become pests to humans as
well.
Using plants to control insects is the best, safest and most
inexpensive form of natural insecticide. Some botanical
insecticides include: Derris, Pyrethrum, Neem, Nicotine, and
Caffeine. Humans have been using natural insecticide for
thousands of years. Some historical accounts record leaders and
people from all over the world using botanical insecticides.
The five plant based insecticides formally listed, have been
proven to be quite effective.
The plants themselves are an insecticide. But humans have
found ways to use the natural insecticide more potent. They do
this by crushing the root of the plant, or soaking the leaves
in water, combining it with chemicals, rubbing it on objects,
etc. When manufacturers create natural insecticides, it really
is a mimicking system of what the plant does.
Interestingly, natural insecticide does not normally kill
insect pests. Instead, it paralyzes the insects. It also may
act as a natural repellent. But, natural insecticide does
exist. The use of chemical insecticides do not need to be
employed. The more we use natural insecticides, the better off
our planet will be. The better off it will be for humans as
well. We should be diligent as Guardians of this planet, to use
the means to control insects, the way God intended us to do it.
Using chemical means may backfire and hurt us tremendously.
