2. If none of the before mentioned remedies work well enough for you, here are some "natural" pesticides that you can apply to help control your problem. Please realize though that "natural" does NOT mean harmless. These are all poisons of one degree or another. Some are relatively dilute or selective in the creatures that they affect. Others kill simply everything they come in contact with (including beneficials) and can be very toxic, even to humans. Remember: Arsenic is a "natural" substance! Time pesticide use to avoid beneficials as much as possible. Use the least toxic substance that will do the job and take proper precautions to protect the health of yourself and non-target creatures.
a. False Hellebore - This botanical insecticide comes in powder form. It can be mixed with water (usually 1 oz to 2 gallons of water) or applied as a dust mixed with hydrated lime and flour. It acts as a stomach poison for many chewing insects such as beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and sawflies.
b. Fatty acid soaps - (Safer's, etc.) These new insecticides are made from naturally occurring fatty acids. They are used in the control of soft-bodies insects such as Aphids, Mealybugs, Spider mites, and Whiteflies.
c. Nicotine Sulfate - (Black Leaf 40, etc.) This is a very potent fumigant and contact poison. Abroad-spectrum insecticide, it can kill pests and beneficials alike. Although it has little residual effect, it is fast-acting and extremely toxic. Because it is a tobacco product, be careful of its use around tomatoes.
d. Pyrethrum (Pyrethrin) - (Safer's, etc.) This is a very potent insecticide made from ground-up Chrysanthemum flowers. A contact poison, it has a quick knock-down effect causing paralysis, but some larger or hardier insects may recover. For this reason, Pyrethrins are often combined with other botanical insecticides where they provide the initial "knock-down" and the other insecticide(s) finish off the pest. It has little residual effect and has low toxicity for bees, ladybug larvae, and mammals. It may be an allergen for, some people. Pyrethrins break down quickly when exposed to light and air, and will need to be reapplied on a regular basis for continued control. Please do not confuse naturally occurring pyrethrin preparations with synthetic pyrethroid products. The latter are a group of synthetic pesticides that work in much the same way as pyrethrum, but they are highly toxic to bees and fish and persist much longer in the environment.
e. Rotenone - (Green Light, etc.) This is a resin derived from South American and Malaysian plant roots. It is a broad-spectrum contact and stomach poison and affects the nervous system and muscles. The insect stops feeding and dies within hours or a couple of days. It breaks down fairly quickly and has no residual effect. Rotenone is sometimes combined with Pyrethrum for its quick knock-down or with Ryania for a longer residual effect. It is available as a dust or spray. Rotenone is extremely toxic to fish!
f. Ryania - Made from a tropical shrub, this insecticide works as a stomach poison, by making the pest so sick it ceases to feed. It is only moderately toxic but has a longer residual effect than most botanicals and seems to work best in hot weather. Seldom found alone, it is usually combined with other organic insecticides for better overall effectiveness. It is considered "relatively harmless" to humans and other mammals, but is toxic to bees, earthworms and fish.
g. Sabadilla - This dust comes from the ground-up seeds of a tropical lily. Toxic alkaloids affect the pest's nervous system and cause death. A broad-spectrum contact poison, it degrades quickly in the sunlight and leaves no residue. Sabadilla is very potent and can be used on normally hard-to-kill insects such as Colorado Potato Beetles, Cucumber Beetles, Harlequin Bugs, and Leafhoppers. Use in the evening to avoid bees and other beneficials.