Organic Pest Control - Mechanical Methods
Traps Traps attract the insect to them and them contain them in a device from which they cannot escape. This can be a sticky surface such as a fly ribbon or glue trap. The trap may also be a bottle or bag that the insect enters and is usually drowned in the water inside the trap. Attracting the insect to the trap is usually a function of baiting it with a food or pheromone. Pheromones are the chemical compounds insects use to communicate. These pheromones mimic feeding, mating and aggregation behaviors of the target insect. Handpicking Yes, you can limit insect damage by manually removing them from the plant. While tedious, it can be effective. Hand Weeding is a key organic strategy for selective weed removal in lawns and gardens. Beneficial Bugs Another strategy organic gardeners can employ is releasing or attracting beneficial insects to your garden. There are numerous Beneficial Insects, the most common are lady bugs, lace wings, predatory mites, and praying mantid. Diatomaceous Earth DE is a fossilized diatom powder. Under a micropsope, these fossils look like chards of glass. As an insect crawls across them, it’s exoskeleton is cut or abraded causing moisture loss and dehydration. It is typically classified as a desiccant. Boric Acid This is a product that is mined from the ground. Use by dusting Boric Acid in an area where insects typically travel; the boric acid will stick to the tiny hairs on their bodies as the insects crawl across the powder. When they clean themselves, it changes their internal ph, resulting in their deaths. Safer®Brand brings you a variety of effective insect control products that are gentler on the environment! Most of them proudly display the OMRI Listed® seal and comply for use in organic gardening! |