Natural insecticide based on sweet orange essential oil
Natural insecticide based on sweet orange essential oil
From the plants will come the future of humanity; from the great laboratory that is nature we can get everything we need for our life. Innovation comes mainly in agriculture. In this article we will talk about a natural insecticide based on sweet orange essential oil.
The essential oil of sweet orange that comes from the rind of the fruit Citrus sinensis, in addition to the various therapeutic applications for humans can be used as an excellent natural insecticide, free of harmful effects for humans and pets. It is interesting to note that it does not present phytotoxicity problems with plants, even though before each application it is always good to carry out tests on small samples of plants to be treated to see any phytotoxicity phenomena.
The natural insecticide based on sweet orange essential oil acts by contact, in particular on insects with soft exoskeleton, both young and adult; it is also active against some pathogenic plant fungi. This natural insecticide causes the cuticle to dry out and is effective above all against thrips, whiteflies and leafhoppers. The mechanism of action is strictly physical and therefore there are no phenomena of resistance by insects.
This insecticide based on sweet orange essential oil should be used on dry vegetation, spraying the product very well and preferably on plants that are not in a state of water stress. Joint use with high sulfur doses is not recommended (but with reduced amounts of sulfur it can be used in viticulture). The treatment based on this insecticide must be carried out at the first signs of presence of the parasite, with a periodicity of 7 – 10 days. The active ingredient is allowed in organic farming.
The action of this natural insecticide is particularly effective and recommended in regard to Aleurodidae (very common in greenhouses); of the Thrips (such as Thrips tabaci and Frankliniella occidentalis); of the red spider (Tetranychus urticae and Panonychus ulmi); of the Cicaline (as Metcalfa pruinosa and Empoasca vitis) and also acts with good effectiveness against carpocapsa larvae, eriophides and also allows to limit the damage caused by oidium and downy mildew.
Please note that the use of insecticides, even if natural, should never be done lightly. An increase in insect or mite infestation is a response of the ecosystem to some error in cultivation or agricultural organization. Also remember that this insecticide based on sweet orange essential oil can cause irritation in case of contact with the eyes or sensitization if in contact with the skin. It has a degree of toxicity to aquatic organisms, so special care must be taken not to pollute water bodies.
It should also never be applied during flowering so as not to damage bees and other pollinating insects.