How many times when you were a child, did you bite into an apple or other fruit and there would be some insect or other chomping away with you! Unfortunately these days there are a lot of harmful chemical insecticides used on the foods that we eat.



This article outlines some natural plant insecticides which are a safer alternative for our general health and wellbeing. You will, perhaps, be surprised that all natural insecticide products can be made from the most unlikely compounds.

The first two we will look at are called Rotenone and Pyrethrum. Rotenone is derived from the root of a sub-tropical plant called Derris and acts like a broad-spectrum completely natural insecticide that will poison via ingestion and contact. It is most often used as a dust or a spray and although it is completely non-toxic to plants, it is deadly to fish and reasonably toxic to warm blooded mammals, so that includes dogs, cats and humans.

Homemade Pyrethrum comes from the Dalmatian chrysanthemum and is used in concentrate or dust form. This natural insecticide attacks the insect's central nervous system. In small quantities it can be used as an insect repellant also but will not harm the insect. Pyrethrum is completely bio-degradable when exposed to the sunlight and is a little less toxic than Rotenone, however both of these compounds will kill fish.

An unusual product to be used as an insecticide is soap. This is very effective and virtually harmless to humans and animals. However, overuse can be detrimental to some plants and it is not as effective if you are trying to treat an infestation.

Then there is nicotine. This can also be highly toxic for humans and for this reason is not domestically available. It is primarily used for insects that pierce and suck such as whiteflies, aphids and leafhoppers. Nicotine is more effective when applied in warm weather and as it degrades quickly; it can be used more safely with foods that are near to harvest.

All Natural Insecticide Products

Of course there is also a very natural way to repel insects and that is to plant your precious crop next door to some pungent smelling herbs that the insects will not like. Examples of insect repelling herbs are Lavender, which will repel most insects and Lemon Balm which is great around all your vegetables.