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Pyrethrum is a botanical insecticide
produced primarily from the flowers of Tanacetum
cinerariaefolium, which is a species of the chrysanthemum
plant family. It is found mainly in tiny oil-containing
glands on the surface of the seed case in the tightly packed
flower head and is the plant�s own insecticide that has
evolved to keep insects away.
Pyrethrum is made up of six complex
chemical esters known as pyrethrins which work in
combination to repel and kill insects. |
Pyrethrin has been used effectively to control
insects for decades. It decomposes rapidly in the environment,
making it an excellent choice for controlling pests.
Pyrethrin has been extensively studied from a
toxicology viewpoint. It is low in acute toxicity to humans and
other vertebrate animals, is non-carcinogenic and causes no adverse
reproductive affects.
Pyrethrin is commonly used as a post
harvest treatment for fruits and vegetables especially during
shipment and is popular as a non-residual household insecticide
spray.
Permethrin
Permethrin is a broad spectrum synthetic pyrethroid insecticide.
Permethrin has been around since the 1970�s and is widely used today
in public health, home pest control, forestry, agriculture and head
lice control.
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In the US over 100 million applications of permethrin
are made each year in 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 is effective against adult mosquitoes, including the
Culex species, which transmitted West Nile virus last year.
Permethrin has a long history of being applied agriculturally to
control against pests in the production of fruits, vegetables, and
other crops. It has not been known to cause any chronic toxic
effects to humans. Mild eye and skin irritation may occur with
exposure to permethrin which can be treated by washing the eyes and
skin thoroughly with water after contact.
It is not toxic for household pets and is virtually non-toxic to
birds. It can be toxic to fish and caution would be used before
applying it in areas which would result in aquatic exposure. It
breaks down readily in soil and water, making it unlikely to leach
or contaminate groundwater