Everyone wants to go green. We want “crunchy,” no harm to the environment, myself, my kids, the pets, nature, but we still want the bugs gone.
Unfortunately, to protect people, pets and food, sometimes other things have to die. Any time you kill anything you are changing the environment. No matter how Organic, or how natural, everything we do changes the environment.
So going green is a matter of consequences to the environment.
Fifra 25 B products are considered minimal risk pesticides and some further guidance can be found here: https://aapco.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/fifra-minimum-risk-pesticides-label-guidance-3-12.pdf
Most Fifra 25B products include essential oils, like Cedar, Thyme, Rosemary, etc…
But let’s look at precautionary statements on a 25B product:
“PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS: This product can cause irritation to eyes, mouth, lungs and skin. Avoid breathing dust; avoid contact with eyes. Should eye contact occur, flush well with large amounts of fresh water. Wearing proper PPE such as a mask, goggles and gloves are recommended. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after application of this product. Keep children and pets off treated areas until after the first watering session; allow application area to dry before allowing children or pets to play on the treated area.”
Is this what you expected on a green product? Do you expect it to be immediately safe for your kids to roll around in? Because that is NOT WHAT GREEN MEANS!
Eco-friendly (green) pest control is an “integrated pest management” strategy targeted at solving pest problems while minimizing the hazardous effects to people, wildlife and the planet.
And what is “integrated pest management?” IPM is an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties. Pesticides are used only after monitoring indicates they are needed according to established guidelines, and treatments are made with the goal of removing only the target organism. Pest control materials are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, beneficial and nontarget organisms, and the environment.
So keep this in mind when hiring an exterminator who claims to be green:
1. If they say “this chemical is derived from Chrysanthemum flowers." They are using standard pesticides called Pyrethrins and these are not necessarily what You the consumer may consider "botanical."
2. If they are fogging or misting with a backpack sprayer, even if it has green or all natural products, it will still kill non-target organisms when the fog hits them (i.e. bees and butterflies). Is there a better/safer way to apply?
3. Are they making suggestions outside of just applying products? Did they recommend to you that you clean up the leaf litter? That you change your outside lights to yellow instead of white? That you fix your door sweeps or screen your weep holes? These are are all things we can do, before a pesticide is ever applied, to help prevent pests in our home and environment.
4. Do they power spray your home with a large hose pulled from a truck and no regard to flowering/blooming plants in your garden? Or do they take the time to judiciously apply only were it’s safe to do so, in smaller and more effective ways?
Anyone can say they are “Green” or “Eco-friendly” or use/offer botanical pesticides. Be aware, ask questions, and always assume that any pesticide that is applied needs to be completely dry before your children or your pets are allowed near it, even if it’s “just” an essential oil.
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