Botanical pesticides

• Botanical insecticides, sometimes referred to as “botanicals,” are naturally occurring insecticides derived from plants. Insecticidal soaps are soaps that have been selected and formulated for their insecticidal action.
• Several plant-based insecticides such as nicotinoids, natural pyrethrins, rotenoids, neem products (azadirachtin), etc. are used.
• Most abundantly used are neem-based as they contain several chemicals including ‘azadirachtin’ that affect the reproductive and digestive processes of several pests.
• Synergists like Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) are commonly used. PBO is found in most products that contain pyrethrins.
• It is also an effective synergist for rotenone, sabadilla, ryania, and citrus oil derivatives, as well as some synthetic pyrethroids and carbamate insecticides.

Advantages of botanicals

1. Rapid degradation

• Botanicals degrade rapidly in sunlight, air, and moisture and are readily broken down by detoxification enzymes.
• Less persistence in the environment and reduced risks to non-target organisms.
• Many botanicals may be applied to food crops shortly before harvest without leaving excessive residues.

2. Rapid action

• Botanicals act very quickly to stop feeding by pest insects.
• Although they may not cause death for hours or days, they often cause immediate paralysis /cessation of feeding.

3. Low mammalian toxicity

• Most botanicals have low to moderate mammalian toxicity.

4. Selectivity.

• Although most botanicals have broad-spectrum activity in standard laboratory tests, in the field, their rapid degradation and action of some as stomach poisons make them more selective in some instances for plant-feeding pest insects and less harmful to beneficial insects.

5. Low toxicity to plants

• Most botanicals are not phytotoxic (toxic to plants).
• Nicotine sulfate, however, may be toxic to some ornamentals.