Botanical-based Insecticides

Botanical-based insecticides (aka botanicals) are pesticides derived from plants and plant products. Botanical-based insecticides without toxic synergists, are defined as ‘low impact pesticides’ under the New Jersey School IPM Act. Please note that because a product is plant-derived, it does not necessarily mean that it is less harmful to human health and the environment. Although rotenone and ryania (see below) are botanical derivatives, they are extremely toxic to the environment.

Two groups of botanical insecticides are:

1. Flower and vegetable oils
2. Floral pesticides

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1. Flower and Vegetable Oils are composed of a group of compounds that are natural components of plants. These oils are active ingredients in pesticide products registered for use as animal repellants, feeding depressants, insecticides, and miticides.

Sometimes both the chemicals in the oil, as well as the oil itself, are registered (licensed for use) by EPA as pesticide active ingredients. It is also fairly common for two or more oils to be used in the same pesticide product. These oils can be applied and used as liquid sprays, crystals, gels, and pellets, and by impregnating material, such as posts.

The table below is extracted from EPA’s ‘Fact Sheet on the Plant Oils’; note that these are registered active ingredients unless otherwise noted by footnote.

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SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FOR

PLANT OILS THAT ARE PESTICIDE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

Source: EPA Biopesticide Plant Oils Fact Sheet

^a “Flower and Plant Oils;” “Cedarwood Oil;” “Citronella” have been reviewed for reregistration as pesticides. See EPA’s list of Reregistration Eligibility Decision documents for each of these at the following web site:  http://cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/rereg/status.cfm?show=rereg
^b   EPA’s ‘Biopesticide Fact Sheets’ are online summaries of newly registered biopesticides.

Sources:

EPA RED Factsheet for Flower and Vegetable Oils. 1993.

EPA RED for Flower and Vegetable Oils. 1993.

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Neem Oil/Extract is derived from the Neem plant, Azadirachta indica.  EPA has registered 2 active ingredients from neem:

1. Azadirachtin (CAS # 11141-17-6). The key insecticidal ingredient found in the neem tree is azadirachtin, a naturally occurring substance that belongs to an organic molecule class called tetranortriterpenoids. It is found to be an insect growth regulator, interfering with the normal life cycle of insects, including feeding, molting, mating, and egg laying. It can be a feeding deterrent in some insects.
2. Clarified Hydrophobic Extract of Neem Oil (CAS # 8002-65-1).  The oil is known to be an insect repellant. Unlike azadirachtin, this active ingredient is also active against fungal diseases such as mildews and rusts.

Some currently registered Neem products include:  Azatin®, Neemix™, Triact™. Source:Recognizing Green List Pesticides for Use in Texas Schools; date accessed online 4/26/05.

(EPA Fact Sheet @ http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/ingredients/ factsheets/factsheet_025007.htm; Extoxnet PIP for neem @http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/ghindex.html).

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 2. Floral pesticides (eugenol, geraniol, 2 phenylethylproprionate, linanool)

Floral pesticides are natural substances isolated from flowers and other parts of plants. All of them have distinctive odors that give them their attractant and repellent properties. As pesticides, these chemical substances attract and kill insects, repel insects, and help keep cats and dogs away from places where they’ re not wanted. These substances are often used in baits as an attractant.

The table below is extracted from EPA’s Fact Sheet on the plant chemicals; note that these are registered active ingredients unless otherwise noted by footnote.

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FOR SELECTED SCENTED PLANT CHEMICALS THAT ARE  ACTIVE INGREDIENTS IN PESTICIDE PRODUCTS

Source:  EPA Biopesticide Floral Attractants, Repellents, and Insecticides Fact Sheet

PLANT CHEMICAL (No. of Products) Natural source	USE SITES	ACTIONS ON TARGET PESTS	REGISTERED/ REREGISTERED (YEAR)
Cinnamaldehyde(6)* Ceylon and Chinese cinnamon oils	Many food crops; Cotton; Ornamentals; Processed foods	Attracts corn rootworms and the corresponding beetles;**Repels dogs and cats; Controls fungi and insects	1994
Eugenol (17) Oil of cloves	Many food crops; Ornamentals; Buildings: inside and outside; Pets	Attracts Japanese beetles; Kills insects	1972/1993
Geraniol (9) (Isomeric with linalool) Oil of rose	Fruits; Vegetables; Ornamentals; Homes; Garbage dumps	Attracts Japanese beetles; Repels dogs and cats	1972/1993
Indole (2)* All plants	Fruits; Vegetables; Corn for feed and food	Attracts corn rootworms and the corresponding beetles.**	1994
Ionone, alpha (2) Many food plants containing beta- carotene	Outdoors only. Apply to plants and inanimate objects, e.g., lawn furniture.	Ingredient in dog/cat repellent; Attracts adult rose chafers (a beetle).	1972
Linalool (14)(3,7-Dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol) (Isomeric with geraniol) Oil of Ceylon cinnamon, sassafras	Dog and cat flea sprays; Carpets	Repels insects (mosquitoes, fleas), mites, ticks, spiders	1985
1-Octen-3-ol(3) Clover, alfalfa, other plants	Used with electronic insect killers. Non-agricultural sites only.	Attracts mosquitoes and dragonflies to electronic insect killers	1996
2-Phenylethyl-propionate (13) Peanuts	Food and feed crops; Ornamentals;  Various indoor and outdoor sites	Attracts Japanese beetles; Kills insects, mites, ticks, spiders, etc.	1979 (exempt from reregistration)
1,2,4-Trimethoxy- benzene (2)Squash flowers	Fruit, vegetable, and feed crops	Attracts corn rootworms and cucumber beetles**	1994

Notes: *GRAS: Generally Recognized As Safe for food use by FDA.

** Corn rootworms and cucumber beetles are different common names for the same or closely related insect species. For example, the southern corn rootworm (i.e., the larval stage) is called the spotted cucumber beetle as an adult. Scientifically, the species name is Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi.

Natural Source: Only one or a few sources are listed. Most of these chemicals are found in many different plants.

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Pyrethrins – are insecticides that are extracts of the chrysanthemum flower, Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium and Chrysanthemum cineum. The plant extract is called pyrethrum. There are 6 active ingredients of pyrethrum:

• Cynerins (I & II)
• Jasmolin (I & II)
• Pyrethrins (I & II)

The natural pyrethrins are contact poisons which quickly penetrate the nerve system of the insect, and cause knockdown.  Insects produce enzymes which can detoxify the natural pyrethrins, thus a knockdown dose is not necessarily a killing dose. Pyrethrins break down quickly in the environment, especially when exposed to natural sunlight. Often, they last only 1 or 2 days before being degraded (Note: pyrethrins themselves are considered low impact pesticides under the NJ School IPM Act; no notification or posting is required when these pesticides are used).

Alternately, ‘semisynthetized’ derivatives of the chrysanthemumic acids have been developed as insecticides that last longer in the environment than the natural pyrethrum. These are called pyrethroids (these are not considered low impact pesticides under the NJ School IPM Act; all notification and posting requirements must be followed for all pyrethroids).

Pyrethrins and pyrethroids are often combined commercially with other chemicals called synergists, which enhance the insecticidal activity of the pyrethrins and pyrethroids. Many formulations have synergists (such as piperonyl butoxide) added to inactivate the insect’s detoxifying enzyme. CB-38 Extra and PT Microcare are synergized pyrethrins (per communication D. Munn NJDEP 4/2/07).

The NJ School IPM Act states that a product which contains ‘toxic synergists’ is no longer considered a low impact material; all notification and posting requirements must be followed for pyrethrins with toxic synergists.  All pyrethrins and pyrethroids as well as piperonyl butoxide are listed as toxic substances under Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) under Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) (EPA 1995).

References:

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). 2003. Toxicological profile for pyrethrins and pyrethroids. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.

• NPIC Fact Sheet for ‘Pyrethrins Versus Pyrethroids’ @http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/pyrethrins.pdf ;

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Rotenone is a botanical insecticide and acaricide obtained from the roots of several tropical and subtropical plant species belonging to the genus Lonchocarpus or Derris. The product is a potent broad spectrum insecticide; and it is formulated as ‘piscicide’ for fish eradication in water body management.

IMPORTANT: See EPA’s 2007 Reregistration Eligibility Decision document for Rotenone ( EPA 738-R-07-005) www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/rotenone_red.pdf. ROTENONE registration was limited to applications to assist native fish and aquatic species recovery or aquatic invasive species control. All other uses have been voluntarily cancelled by the the registrants.

Ryanodine is made from the ground stems of Ryania speciosa, a native plant of tropical America. The principal alkaloid in this stem extract is ryanodine, which makes up approximately 0.2% of the product. Formulations were based on an active ingredient isolated from the wood of Ryanis speciosa.

Trade names for ryanodine include Ryania.  The registrants of this material voluntarily cancelled it before it was reregistered. Voluntary cancellation of all remaining registered ryanodine containing products and the active ingredient became final on July 23, 1997.(EPA RED Fact sheet@ www.epa. gov/REDs/factsheets/2595fact.pdf; Extoxnet PIP for ryania @http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/ghindex.html).

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Sabadilla is an extract of the plant Schoenocaulon officinale Grey (Liliaceae). There is only one registered sabadilla insecticide product remaining.

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d-limonene

Products include Demize.  Source: Recognizing Green List Pesticides for Use in Texas Schools;date accessed online 4/26/05.