Pesticide Use Reduction
Pesticide use reduction makes sense! Pesticides are designed to kill or adversely
affect living organisms.
Children are especially vulnerable because of their smaller
bodies and developing organs. In addition to harmful effects
on humans, pesticides can wreak havoc on wildlife or pets,
even when they are correctly applied.
Pest problems get solved when the cause of the
problem is identified and dealt with.
Despite this common sense appeal for pesticide
use reduction:
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About 90% of home owners in the United
States use approximately 136 million pounds of pesticides a
year. This is about 3 times more per acre than the average
farmer applies!
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Twenty-four out of the 25 most common pests
are only problems because their natural predators have been
killed by pesticides.
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Of the 48 most commonly used pesticides in
schools and homes 21 are possible human carcinogens, 27
cause reproductive effects, 31 affect the nervous system, 31
cause liver or kidney damage, 41 are sensitizers or
irritants, and 17 cause birth defects.
Guides to Safer Products and Practices
“The old ‘spray and pray’ approach is simply
outdated,” says Frank Meek, Technical Director of Orkin.1
The best long-term solution for pest problems
is to use multiple, environmentally sound control techniques
that work together to discourage pests from returning.
This technique is call Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Attracting birds to eatsunwanted insects in just one example
of techniques you can use. More examples are described below.
Integrated Pest Management controls
Cultural controls eliminate conditions
favorable to pests. Tactics include improving and amending the
soil; choosing hardy, native plants for landscaping; mowing
regularly;
maintaining clean sites and good water management.
Mechanical controls eliminate pests by
physically removing them. Examples include hand-picking or
rinsing (with water) insects off garden plants, or using an
old-fashioned mousetrap in your home.
Biological controls use other organisms to eliminate problem
pests. Applying ladybugs to plats infested with aphids is a
biological control.
Chemical controls include pesticides. Pesticides are
potentially hazardous and should be used with extreme care.
Read the label FIRST
If you have to use chemicals, always read the label before you
buy to select the appropriate product for the job. “CAUTION,”
“WARNING,” and “DANGER” on product labels indicate you are
dealing with a hazardous material.
Try the least toxic solution first using some
of the alternatives listed below, and find more alternatives
from the resources below. Use only the recommended amount, and
wear the proper protective equipment (gloves, glasses, long
pants, long-sleeved shirt, mask, etc.).
Insect Alternatives
|
Insect |
Alternatives |
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Aphids, leafminers, caterpillars, sawflies, or thrips |
Hose down plants or use insecticidal soap, summer oils, or
use yellow sticky traps. Order lacewings and ladybugs for
aphids. |
|
Mosquitoes, flies, ants, ticks, silverfish, slugs, and
wasps |
Use pyrethrins for flying insects and ground level plates of
beer for slugs or snails. |
|
Aphids, bagworms, carpenter ants, lacebugs, scale,
whiteflies, grubs, termites |
Use parasitic nematodes for grubs, beetles, and
grasshoppers; boric acid for ants; bifenazate (Floramite)
for spider mites; and bait stations with diflubenzuron
(Siren Termite Bait) for termites. |
|
Aphids, whiteflies, and mealybugs |
Use insecticidal soap for aphids, whiteflies, and
mealybugs. |
|
Aphids or soft-bodied insects |
Pyrethrins, horticultural oil, or insecticidal soap. |
Weeds
Herbicides (such as 2,4-D and glyphosate) kill many broadleaf
plants; however contested studies have linked 2,4-D to cancer. It is
moderately toxic to birds and highly toxic to fish. Glyphosate
causes cell death in virtually any plant.
Alternatives
Use better mowing techniques, mulch, and care
for the soil, hand weeding when necessary.
A healthy lawn is less likely to have weeds.
Use grasses developed for your area, hand weed, dethatch
and aerate. Add native plants and mulch beds to reduce the
size of your lawn. Dispose of Waste Properly
Where: Boulder County runs a FREE household hazardous
waste collection facility, which is located at 5880 Butte Mill Road,
Boulder.
For hours of operation, additional
information:
Resource Conservation Division
Top of Page
1Reference: 1. DeSorbo, M.A., {2004} Combating Cockroaches,
Food Quality, Oct/Nov 2004, pp. 24-28 |
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Tips |
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Try a less toxic alternative.
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Plant local species.
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Keep your lawn healthy.
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Dispose of pesticides properly.
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