Insect Pest Control -- Natural and Chemical MethodsInsect Pest Control Pest control refers to the act of managing the presence of pests and insects in the garden. Pests and harmful insects are a farmer’s problem with their agriculture and a gardener’s source of worry. These pests and harmful insects feed on the plants, depriving them of the essential nutrients, and leaving them seriously damaged. Insect pest control is necessary to avoid financial losses especially if plants are a source of livelihood. Nonetheless, even when plants are cultivated as a hobby or as a means of living, pest control is also required as it maintains healthy gardens. In today’s time, insect pest control is viewed from different ways. But it can be summarized between natural and non-natural. Non-natural ways of controlling pest involves the use of pesticides and other biological pest controls. In the commercial markets, a lot of insecticides and pesticides are promoted as an effective way of controlling pests. However, most of these products may not work on some insects at all, especially if the insects have their own way of protection. Also, in instances that they work, the insecticides or pesticides may be effective to a few pests or insects only. If pests are an animal such as rodents, moles and squirrels, pesticides are ineffective. Many use poisoned bait, while others resort to preparing traps in the garden or vicinity. In sugar cane plantation, the fields are burned after the harvest, to ensure that all remnants of insects, like eggs and larvae are killed. Other non-natural methods include space fumigation, poison spray, repellents, and space treatments such as fogging or misting. The natural approach to pest control includes do-it-yourself methods, organic control, and companion planting. Do-it-yourself methods of insect pest control are often concocted solutions using natural ingredients mainly found in the kitchen. Some of the examples of DIY pest control are garlic pest control and insect repellant, insect repellent spray from tomato leaves, and milk as a fungicide. A few of the organic control methods are garden dust, copper dust, lime sulfur spray, hot pepper wax, tobacco wax, neem oil, liquid copper, oxidate, liquid sulfur, and organic green house spray. There are also organic herbicides available in the market. On the other hand, companion planting is among the popular natural methods of pest control. Its idea is to choose a particular plant amidst a totally different plant species, for a purpose of repelling insects or attracting beneficial insects. Among the plants considered in companion planting include:
Whichever method is preferred, it is important to consider its impact on one’s health , to the economy and environment. Similar Posts ________________________________________________________________ Return to the Top of Insect Pest Control Page listed under Garden Pests |