We recommend the following insecticides for use in your automatic insect control system:

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.

The natural pyrethrins are contact poisons which quickly penetrate the nerve system of the insect. A few minutes after application, the insect cannot move or fly away. But, a "knockdown dose" does not mean a killing dose. The natural pyrethrins are swiftly detoxified by enzymes in the insect. Thus, some pests will recover. To delay the enzyme action so a lethal dose is assured, organophosphates, carbamates, or synergists may be added to the pyrethrins.

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 is one of the safest insecticides known, as it has a very low Mammalian toxicity, and is rapidly metabolised if accidentally swallowed by warm blooded animals. 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.

Pyrethin has flushing action, it disturbs insects so that they move out of their hiding places and expose themselves to the insecticidal spray. Pyrethrum has greater 'flushing' power than any other commercial insecticide. Against insects, it has a very rapid paralytic action, knocking them down followed by kill. Pyrethrum repellents insects at very low concentrations, a property used in the protection of stored grain, the preparations of insect resistant packaging, and in deterring mosquitoes, both by spray-on repellents and mosquito coils. In addition, the smoke from Pyrethrum-based mosquito coils will inhibit mosquitoes from biting. 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.

Pyrethrum rapidly degrades by sunlight into harmless breakdown products, but at the same time it can be safely stored for years in suitable containers.

Despite its long history of use, very few cases of insects resistance to Pyrethrum have been discovered, and these have mainly arisen as a result of cross-tolerance conferred by the insects developing resistance to another insecticide. This is in strong contrast to synthetic insecticides where innumerable cases of resistance have been discovered throughout the world.

Pyrethrum is effective against a wide range of insect pests including mosquitoes, cockroaches, fleas, flies, aphids, etc. Thus a single can of a suitably formulated aerosol can be safely used against any insect found in the house or garden.

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. Permethrin is used against a number of pests, on nut, fruit, vegetable, cotton, ornamental, mushroom, potato and cereal crops. It is used in greenhouses, home gardens and for termite control. It also controls animal ectoparasites, biting flies, and cockroaches.

Permethrin, a chemical used to kill a variety of insects. Permethrin is referred to as a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide because, while manmade, it resembles naturally-occurring chemicals with insecticidal properties, called pyrethroids. Pyrethroids are found especially in chrysanthemums. Pyrethroids are one of the oldest classes of organic insecticides known. Permethrin, like all synthetic pyrethroids, kills insects by strongly exciting their nervous systems. They quickly paralyze the nervous systems of insects, producing a quick "knockdown" effect on insect pest populations. Permethrin acts as a stomach poison when it is ingested by insects or as a contact poison through direct contact with target pests. It kills adults, eggs, and larvae, and has a slight repellent effect against insects. Permethrin is available in dusts, emulsifiable concentrates, smokes, ULV (ultra low volume), and wettable powder formulations

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 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.

PBO (Piperonyl Butioxide) is an emulsifiable synergist for use in combination with insecticides, especially synthetic pyrethroids, as a tank mix to overcome resistance that pests develop with constant use of insecticides.

PBO is a unique tank additive that restores activity against resistant strains of pests. It acts by inhibiting naturally occurring enzymes that would otherwise degrade the insecticide molecule.

PBO breaks through the insect's defense and its synergistic activity makes the insecticide more powerful and effective. With the high cost of insecticides, PBO effectively reduces the cost per gallon of spray solution by allowing the applicator to use less active ingredient to obtain the mortality rate desired.

Insects are amazingly adaptable, and possess an enzyme system called the mixed-function oxidases (MFO's) that give them the ability to de-toxify and become resistant to many insecticides, especially synthetic pyrethroids. Continual application of pesticides start the build-up of resistance and thus the efficacy of the spray diminishes. PBO inhibits the action of MFO's and restores the killing power of the insecticide, which results in less expensive and/or more effective pest control. Actual results show that PBO either decreased the cost of pest control since smaller doses are needed, or provided better control of insects where cases of maximum dosages of pesticides without PBO had failed.

Therefore, PBO can PROLONG the usefulness of insecticides by overcoming MFO resistance. Improved control means fewer applications of insecticides, thus providing cost savings as well as environmental benefits.