 K-State Research and Extension News Kansas Healthy Yards Videos
 Tips for Natural Pesticides  The use of selective pesticides or
alternative pesticides is an alternative away from the typical
conventional broad-spectrum materials that can be harmful to
natural enemies, and can be harmful to people, too.  Insectidal
soaps are desiccants.  When you spray them on a plant, they
break down the membrane of the insect and it basically loses all
it’s water.  Oils, on the other hand, are what we call
suffocants.  When you spray them, they cover the breathing
pores, and the insect basically dies of suffocation or
asphyxiation.  So that’s the difference. They both primarily
work very well in the soft bodies insects such as aphids, mealy
bugs, white flies, and spider mites.  Oils will kill the eggs of
certain insects and mites, so that gives them a little spectrum
activity.  Where the soaps primarily kill the nymphs, the
larvae, or the adult stage.  The advantage is that they’re
selective and they have short residual ac