Insecticides with Plant Oils as Active Ingredients

The Green Light Company (P.O. Box 17985, San Antonio, TX 78217, web
site http://www.greenlightco.com) recently introduced Bioganic(R) Home &
Garden Spray RTU and Bioganic(R) Lawn & Garden Spray RTS, both
containing
plant oils as active (and also as ³inert²) ingredients. According to
Green Light, ³Bioganic products were developed to provide consumers with
formulations that are safe around children, pets, and the environment.
They are 100% organic [meaning that they meet the requirements of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture¹s National Organic Program], both sprays
kill and repel insects, and may be used on vegetables up until the day
of harvest. These unique products have broad label uses (ornamentals,
potted plants, etc.).² Judging from information provided by Green Light
and additional information available on the World Wide Web (especially
at the sites http://www.ecopco.com and http://www.ecoipm.com), these new
insecticides combine extraordinary safety and efficacy‹ they soon might
be the products of choice even for home gardeners who currently use
conventional broad-spectrum sprays! Below are excerpts from a recent
Green Light press release.

Green Light Bioganic(R) products employ the natural defenses that
plants ... have used for their self-protection against insects and
pathogens for centuries‹essential oils. After many years of researching
the natural defenses of plants, Green Light introduces revolutionary and
proprietary combinations of effective insecticidal plant oils that offer
reduced-risk alternatives. In addition, there is less probability
insects will become resistant to the oils, a problem common to most
insecticides currently in use.
The active ingredients in the Bioganic(R) line of products are unique
blends of essential oils. [According to the Material Safety Data Sheets,
available at the Green Light web site listed above, the active
ingredients in both the Home & Garden Spray and the Lawn & Garden Spray
are clove oil, sesame oil, and thyme oil, while the inert ingredients in
both products are wintergreen oil, soybean oil, lecithin, and water. Not
counting water or lecithin, the concentrations of active and inert
ingredients are higher in the Lawn & Garden Spray (which is formulated
for hoseend spraying) than in Home & Garden Spray (which is formulated
for finger-trigger spraying).] Approved as Direct Food Additives or
classified as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) by the U.S. Food &
Drug Administration, these oils are commonly used to add flavor and
aroma to many cosmetic, beverage, and food products, including cake,
candy, sweeteners, gum, soft drinks, and lipstick.... Researchers began
evaluating different plant oils to determine if they had insecticidal
activity. It was determined that these oils shared a common molecular
structure and that by combining a variety of these plant oils, the
combination could enhance their activity. A patent was granted for this
work. The combination significantly enhanced the effectiveness of these
products without compromising their safety. THESE NEW ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
ARE SO REVOLUTIONARY THAT THEY HAVE GAINED THE INTEREST AND ENDORSEMENT
OF PROMINENT ENTOMOLOGISTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

Green Light Bioganic(R) ... plant oils kill insects by blocking
specific neural pathways [in insects] that don¹t exist in mammals or
birds. These plant oils attack the octopamine neuroreceptors. Octopamine
is a key insect neurotransmitter that regulates insect movement,
behavior, and metabolism. The blockage of the receptor activity prevents
the transmission of the octopamine signals, which leads to certain
characteristic signs of toxicity, such as excitation and hyperextension
in the hind legs and abdomen, followed by immobilization and/or
knockdown, followed by death of the insect. This process will begin
immediately. Mortality in insects can occur within minutes of
application but might take hours depending on the type of insect pest
and concentration of product that contacts the insect directly....
Residues degrade rapidly and are not persistent ... [with] minimal
impact on beneficial insects ... Not phytotoxic ...

The Material Safety Data Sheets for the Bioganic(R) insecticides
state: ³The individual components of this product are known to have low
oral and dermal toxicity. This mixture is expected to have a similar
toxicological profile. Prolonged contact with the skin may cause
irritation.²
Among the target insect pests for the Bioganic(R) products are
these: ants, aphids, caterpillars, centipedes, cockroaches, earwigs,
fleas, flies, gnats, grasshoppers, millipedes, mosquitoes, pillbugs
(sowbugs), spiders, ticks, and whiteflies. Both formulations can be
ordered from the Green Light web site if you can¹t find a local retail
outlet; one quart of the Home & Garden Spray costs $10 plus shipping,
and one quart of the Lawn & Garden Spray costs $12 plus shipping.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Reprinted with permission from the April 2003 _HortIdeas_. Copyright
2003 by Greg and Pat Williams. HORTIDEAS (ISSN 0742-8219) is published
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--
Bob Batson


"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines"

I am just waiting for the first parents who lose a child to west nile to sue the shit
out of a company claiming their "natural oils" repels mosquitoes.

USE DEET, just spray the stuff that works on clothing and hats instead of the childs
skin. then dress the kid in the sprayed clothing.

INgrid


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.

dr.,

even a few "chemiphobes" (me) still have the sense to use deet.






On Thu, 24 Apr 2003 02:21:46 GMT, wrote:

USE DEET, just spray the stuff that works on clothing and hats instead of the childs
skin. then dress the kid in the sprayed clothing.

INgrid



"As crude a weapon as a cave man's club the chemical barrage has been hurled at the fabric of life."
Rachel Carson

your "natural oils" do repel mosquitos- I use a product called Natrapel that
contains citronella and it works great. You cant sue a company because thier
product didnt live up to a claim it never made in the first place. I cant go
suing a beer company because I didnt have a bunch of girls all over me like the
commercials. "repels mosquitoes" does not in any way claim to prevent west
nile virus. The chances of actually getting the virus are very slim.

Toad

You can in Texas. Some guy went to work and slipped on a wet floor which was
marked "WET FLOOR" with a cone and he sued the boot company. He lost, but the
legal fees for the boot manufacturer were staggering.


On 24 Apr 2003 03:39:18 GMT, (Marley1372) wrote:

your "natural oils" do repel mosquitos- I use a product called Natrapel that
contains citronella and it works great. You cant sue a company because thier
product didnt live up to a claim it never made in the first place. I cant go
suing a beer company because I didnt have a bunch of girls all over me like the
commercials. "repels mosquitoes" does not in any way claim to prevent west
nile virus. The chances of actually getting the virus are very slim.

Toad

Ticks are not repelled by natural oils. Mosquitos are only repelled
by natural oils for a short time (it doesn't last long). Only DEET
repels ticks and mosquitos for extended times. Permethrin (a natural
insecticide) sprayed on clothing is a contact insecticide for ticks
and other crawling insects and will last even through washing for
about 2 weeks. A combination of DEET and Permethrin should help
prevent lime disease and west nile fever. DEET is not hazardous and
Permethrin is only to be sprayed on clothing, not the skin.

Cheers, Steve Henning, Reading, PA USA

Visit my Rhododendron and Azalea web pages at:
http://www.users.fast.net/~shenning/rhody.html
Also visit the Rhododendron and Azalea Bookstore at:
http://members.aol.com/rhodyman/rhodybooks.html

every single INDEPENDENT trial of "natural" products show they repel for very short
times. do they put their time limit on their product? everyone thinks "natural"
means safe. hoooo haaaa .. how about the oil from poison ivy???? there is greater
chance a child will break out in allergic rash from combination of natural oils that
from DEET sprayed and dried on clothes before kids are dressed. Ingrid


(Marley1372) wrote:

your "natural oils" do repel mosquitos- I use a product called Natrapel that
contains citronella and it works great. You cant sue a company because thier
product didnt live up to a claim it never made in the first place. I cant go
suing a beer company because I didnt have a bunch of girls all over me like the
commercials. "repels mosquitoes" does not in any way claim to prevent west
nile virus. The chances of actually getting the virus are very slim.

Toad



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.

Are they Kosher?
Frank

wrote:

I am just waiting for the first parents who lose a child to west nile to sue the shit
out of a company claiming their "natural oils" repels mosquitoes.

USE DEET, just spray the stuff that works on clothing and hats instead of the childs
skin. then dress the kid in the sprayed clothing.

" The active ingredients in the Bioganic(R) line of products are unique
blends of essential oils. [According to the Material Safety Data Sheets,
available at the Green Light web site listed above, the active
ingredients in both the Home & Garden Spray and the Lawn & Garden Spray
are clove oil, sesame oil, and thyme oil, while the inert ingredients in
both products are wintergreen oil, soybean oil, lecithin, and water."

Save your money. Your spice cabinet likely contains the same ingredients.

Permethrin is a natural insecticide?

http://www.safe2use.com/poisons-pest...report/cox.htm


On 24 Apr 2003 05:56:51 -0700, (Steve Henning) wrote:

Ticks are not repelled by natural oils. Mosquitos are only repelled
by natural oils for a short time (it doesn't last long). Only DEET
repels ticks and mosquitos for extended times. Permethrin (a natural
insecticide) sprayed on clothing is a contact insecticide for ticks
and other crawling insects and will last even through washing for
about 2 weeks. A combination of DEET and Permethrin should help
prevent lime disease and west nile fever. DEET is not hazardous and
Permethrin is only to be sprayed on clothing, not the skin.

Cheers, Steve Henning, Reading, PA USA

Visit my Rhododendron and Azalea web pages at:
http://www.users.fast.net/~shenning/rhody.html
Also visit the Rhododendron and Azalea Bookstore at:
http://members.aol.com/rhodyman/rhodybooks.html

Aside from the toxicity, people tend to think more is better. That's what
causes most of the problems with synthetic pesticides or repellents. People
don't read the label. I just stay indoors during the hours mosquitoes are most
active. Around here it's dawn and dusk. If I go outside, I wear long sleeves
no matter how hot, and cover my ankles and legs with pants or leggings or
something.

DEET is a good product, but people do not use it correctly.


On Thu, 24 Apr 2003 14:07:59 GMT, wrote:

every single INDEPENDENT trial of "natural" products show they repel for very short
times. do they put their time limit on their product? everyone thinks "natural"
means safe. hoooo haaaa .. how about the oil from poison ivy???? there is greater
chance a child will break out in allergic rash from combination of natural oils that
from DEET sprayed and dried on clothes before kids are dressed. Ingrid


(Marley1372) wrote:

your "natural oils" do repel mosquitos- I use a product called Natrapel that
contains citronella and it works great. You cant sue a company because thier
product didnt live up to a claim it never made in the first place. I cant go
suing a beer company because I didnt have a bunch of girls all over me like the
commercials. "repels mosquitoes" does not in any way claim to prevent west
nile virus. The chances of actually getting the virus are very slim.

Toad



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.

animaux wrote:

Permethrin is a natural insecticide?

Yes, it occurs naturally in many plants. Many natural substances are
quite toxic. There is no relationship between natural and safe.

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA
http://www.users.fast.net/~shenning

On Thu, 15 May 2003 20:42:44 GMT, "Stephen M. Henning" wrote:

animaux wrote:

Permethrin is a natural insecticide?

Yes, it occurs naturally in many plants. Many natural substances are
quite toxic. There is no relationship between natural and safe.

Permethrin is a pyrethroid which is not natural. Pyrethrum is found in ONE
plant.

Fact:
http://www.safe2use.com/poisons-pest...report/cox.htm

animaux wrote:

Permethrin is a pyrethroid which is not natural. Pyrethrum is found in ONE
plant.

According to Oregon State University, my alma mater:

The term "pyrethrins" refers to the natural insecticides commercially
derived from chrysanthemum flowers; "pyrethroids" are the synthetic
chemicals, and "pyrethrum" is a general name covering both compounds.
Pyrethrins are natural insecticides extracted from several species of
chrysanthemums. The flowers of the plant are harvested shortly after
blooming and are either dried and powdered or the oils within the
flowers are extracted with solvents. Two pyrethrins are most prominent,
pyrethrin-I and pyrethrin-II. The pyrethrins have another four different
active ingredients, Cinerin I and II and Jasmolin I and II. It is a bit
presumptuous to assume that none of these chemicals or other pyrethrins
don't occur in other plants found in nature. Many plants have never
been examined and even more plants are discovered every year.

Ref: http://ace.ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet/pips/pyrethri.htm

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
Visit my Rhododendron and Azalea web pages at:
http://www.users.fast.net/~shenning/rhody.html
Also visit the Rhododendron and Azalea Bookstore at:
http://members.aol.com/rhodyman/rhodybooks.html
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA http://www.users.fast.net/~shenning

On Fri, 16 May 2003 18:44:35 GMT, "Stephen M. Henning" wrote:

animaux wrote:

Permethrin is a pyrethroid which is not natural. Pyrethrum is found in ONE
plant.

According to Oregon State University, my alma mater:

The term "pyrethrins" refers to the natural insecticides commercially
derived from chrysanthemum flowers; "pyrethroids" are the synthetic
chemicals, and "pyrethrum" is a general name covering both compounds.
Pyrethrins are natural insecticides extracted from several species of
chrysanthemums. The flowers of the plant are harvested shortly after
blooming and are either dried and powdered or the oils within the
flowers are extracted with solvents. Two pyrethrins are most prominent,
pyrethrin-I and pyrethrin-II. The pyrethrins have another four different
active ingredients, Cinerin I and II and Jasmolin I and II. It is a bit
presumptuous to assume that none of these chemicals or other pyrethrins
don't occur in other plants found in nature. Many plants have never
been examined and even more plants are discovered every year.

Ref: http://ace.ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet/pips/pyrethri.htm

Oh, I was not talking about pyrethrins. I was talking about PeRmethrin. It has
nothing to do with pyrethrum or pyrethrins. Pyrethroids are not naturally
occuring.