Pryethrum
(Chrysanthemum cineraria folium) is a perennial temperate plant with small white, daisy-like flowers from which natural insecticides, the pyrethrins, are derived. Traditionally, pyrethrum was produced in many African countries where hand-labor was used to plant, harvest, and dry the crop. Political upheaval, drought, and lack of an organized development and marketing structure resulted in unreliable pyrethrum supplies for U.S. manufacturers. In the late 1980's, however, Australia began a pyrethrum development project and is now a major producer of the crop. This has helped to stabilize the industry. Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ecuador still remain the primary suppliers of pyrethrum, however. Smaller amounts are grown in Japan, Brazil and India.

The United States is the principal consumer of world supplies of pyrethrum. Demand for pyrethrum-based insecticides is on the rise because of its long safety record, very low toxicity, and rapid breakdown. Because of the selective and relatively small-scale use of pyrethrum for over 160 years, there has been relatively little development of insect resistance. As a result of these characteristics, in recent years the use of pyrethrum based products has increased dramatically on organic farms and for home insect control.

Pyrethrins are contact poisons which quickly act upon the nervous system. In small doses, insects are knocked down; the toxins excite the neurons causing convulsions. In the final stages of poisoning, the insect cannot coordinate its voluntary muscles (ataxia); the nervous system appears 'exhausted'. But insects can recover unless the dosage is sufficient to kill.

For pyrethrum to be fully lethal to insects, it is generally combined with a 'synergist', a chemical that enhances the pyrethrins action on the nervous system. The synergist may be as simple as vegetable oil or diatomaceous earth, or more complex like piperonyl butoxide.

Pyrethrins have low toxicity to mammals, because mammals can metabolize the chemicals. Pyrethrins breakdown in the presence of sunlight, moisture, or oxygen making the chemicals biodegradable. In the past two centuries of pyrethrum use, very few insects have developed resistance to these toxins.

"I am very pleased.  I like how easy it is to adjust the controls of the system.  For me, my system was installed in one day and the next day - NO MOSQUITOES!"

Kathy C.

"We have noticed an immediate decrease in all our bugs.  The spiders that used to take up residence in the eaves of our cabana are completely gone.  There are no more mosquitoes or bugs of any kind around our outdoor living area!  Once we walk a few steps outside of the coverage area, the bugs are there waiting for us."
Miles & Carrie E.

 

 

“We think it is a GODSEND!  Fantastic!  Life without excessive bugs is more carefree.”

Wayman & Susan S.

 

“I went from ant “infestation” in my kitchen to total lack of ants.  Same in my bathroom.  And I only sprayed one time.  The best part was the spray smelled really good and didn’t give me a nauseating headache like the other sprays I’ve used.  I think the spray residue is keeping ants from coming in from outside because I sprayed it around the windows.  It kicks ass!”

Amanda E.

 

"Excellent installation and service.  Very effective."

Jim G.

 

Permethrin
Permethrin is a moderately to practically non-toxic pesticide used to kill pest insects in agriculture, home pest control, forestry, and in public health programs, including head lice control. It was first marketed in 1973. Worldwide, the dominant use of permethrin is on cotton, accounting for about 60 percent (by weight) of the permethrin used.  In the U.S., almost 70 percent of the permethrin used in agriculture is used on corn, wheat, and alfalfa.  Over 100 million applications of permethrin are made each year in U.S. homes, and over 18 million applications are made in yards and gardens.

Permethrin, like all synthetic pyrethroids, kills insects by strongly exciting their nervous systems.  Permethrin makes the nervous system hypersensitive to stimuli from sense organs. Rather than sending a single impulse in response to a stimulus, permethrin-exposed nerves send a train of impulses. This excitation occurs because permethrin blocks the movement of sodium ions from outside to inside of the nerve cells.

Permethrin is a synthetic broad-spectrum insecticide, similar to natural pyrethrin insecticides.  It is ineffective when applied to your skin, yet very durable on clothing and gear.  Permethrin is a complex organic compound, when metabolized by the skin (the largest organ of the body) through a process of ester hydrolysis is broken down to amino acids (simple proteins), carbon dioxide and water.  This is the same process that digests hand and body lotions when applied to your skin.