[Pil-pc-oceania] Pil-pc-oceania Digest, Vol 17, Issue 44
Catherine Walker
cwalker at sonic.net
Sun Mar 16 12:59:29 EST 2008
Why not just use diatomaceous earth or Grants Ant stakes? Both are very
effective and the toxicity is minimal in the Grants product.
http://www.colehardware.com/hotline/96/10/ants.htm
http://www.thefrugallife.com/ants.html
Cheers,
Catherine
On 15/3/08 5:48 PM,
"pil-pc-oceania-request at lists.permacultureinternational.org"
<pil-pc-oceania-request at lists.permacultureinternational.org> wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Ant infestation (Deb Guildner)
> 2. Re: Ant infestation (Robyn Francis)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008 09:25:53 +1030
> From: "Deb Guildner" <bocor at bigbutton.com.au>
> Subject: [Pil-pc-oceania] Ant infestation
> To: "permacultue discussion list"
> <pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org>
> Message-ID: <011701c886ef$bea5c5e0$0201a8c0 at deborahly2acqi>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Might have to revisit the labels on Ant Rid style powder pest control
> products...many have chemicals in them.
> Unfortunately among the plethora of ant powders et al at the local hardware
> store, I found no borax product in stock.
>
> After being consistently mercilessly attacked and bitten by the throngs of
> ants invading my recently installed wormfarm, who were also busily extending
> their underground dwelling space to take full advantage of the new resource) I
> have resorted to using this product which was available at Bunnings,along with
> the usual undesirable synthetic alternatives and just plain nasty chemicals
> (better off avoided altogether):
> PROGANICS (brand) 'pyrethrum bug killer': actives: 0.3g/L pyrethrins, 1.2g/L
> piperonyl butoxide (see info below)
> Even realtively natural products must always be used with care: if it works on
> bugs it will work on you! Frogs and other aquatic fauna, and also beneficial
> insects (bees etc) are most susceptible to contamination from nerve toxins,
> so use these products sparingly . Normal OHS precautions and protocols must
> always be applied.
>
> Green Harvest website has this to say about:
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> "PYRETHRUM:
>
> Pyrethrum is an extract from a daisy; it is considered around the world to
> have the safest 'knockdown' action on a wide range of insects. There are
> hundreds of products containing pyrethrum; we have selected one with a high
> concentration of active ingredient from an Australian manufacturer. Pyrethrum
> may impact beneficial insects, so it should only be used as a 'last resort'.
> (See also Beat-A-Bug Insect Spray)
>
>
> KENDON PYRETHRUM INSECTICIDE S.F. - Professional Concentrate
> Controls ants, aphids, caterpillars, leafhoppers and thrips. Contains
> piperonyl butoxide. Material Safety Data Sheet
>
> PB109 100 ml (100 ml makes up to 300 litres) (Pyrethrin 75g/L) $25.00 (This
> stated concentration does seem extremely high, could it be wrong...is it
> really 7.5g/L?: Deb)
>
> KENDON PYRETHRUM INSECT DUST
> Easy to use shaker pack. It can be used in the garden or house. It controls a
> wide range of insect pests including caterpillars, aphids, leafhoppers,
> thrips, silverfish, ants, cockroaches, potato moth and flies. Contains
> piperonyl butoxide. Material Safety Data Sheet PB110 300g $15.00"
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> Looking at the concentration and price of the Proganics brand product (750 mls
> @ $6.00 ready to use 0.3g/L: a very safe low concentration),
>
> Green Harvests Kendon insecticide concentrate is the best value...but you
> would have to be a commercial grower etc to use that quantity, and probably
> over a longish period of time.
>
>
>
> For a large resident population of ants as in the wall of the weatherboard
> house:
>
> Place some concentrate into a saucer of sweetened water inside or near the
> wall of the house (preferably inside the building where ants can access it,
> but only if there are no children or pets at risk from it).
>
>
>
> Pyrethrum is also effective against ahids, thrips, caterpillars, flies,
> earwigs and cabbage moths.
>
> If you need to treat indoor plants, take them outside and carefully spray them
> there,
>
>
>
> Cheers
>
> Deb
>
> Other web info on pyrethrins:
>
> http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Chemical.jsp?Rec_Id=PC34291
>
> Pyrethrin (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
> The pyrethrins are a pair of natural organic compounds that have potent
> insecticidal activity. Pyrethrin I and pyrethrin II are structurally related
> esters with a cyclopropane core [1] [2]. They differ by the oxidation state of
> one carbon. They are viscous liquids that oxidize readily to become
> inactivated.
> The pyrethrins are contained in the seed cases of the perennial plant
> pyrethrum (Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium), which is grown commercially to
> supply the insecticide. Although extracts of the plant were already used as
> insecticide, the structure was first published by Hermann Staudinger and
> Lavoslav Ruzicka in 1924.[3] Pyrethrins are neurotoxins that attack the
> nervous systems of all insects. When present in amounts not fatal to insects,
> they still appear to have an insect repellent effect. They are harmful to
> fish, but are far less toxic to mammals and birds than many synthetic
> insecticides. They are non-persistent, being biodegradable, and also break
> down easily on exposure to light or oxygen. They are considered to be amongst
> the safest insecticides for use around food. For humans, pyrethrin is known to
> irritate eyes, skin, and respiratory systems and is particularly harmful to
> aquatic life.
>
> Due to its relatively inert properties toward mammals, pyrethrins are
> gradually replacing Organophosphates and Organochlorides as the pesticide of
> first choice.
>
> (etc)
>
>
> Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) is a pesticide synergist. It does not, by itself have
> pesticidal properties. However, when added to insecticide mixtures, typically
> pyrethrin, pyrethroid, and carbamate insecticides, their potency is increased
> considerably.[1]
>
> Piperonyl butoxide is a potent cytochrome P450 inhibitor. This family of
> enzymes act as the principal detoxification pathway for many pesticides.
> Inhibiting the detoxification pathway allows higher unmetabolised systemic
> concentrations of the active insecticide to remain within the target animal
> for a longer period.
>
> Piperonyl butoxide is moderately stable, and is a semisynthetic derivative of
> safrole.
>
> It is debatable whether the substance is oncogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic
> in humans. Its acute oral and dermal toxicity in mammals is low, however it is
> toxic to fish and potentiates rotenone.[2]
>
>
> References
> 1.. ^ National Pesticide Information Center - Piperonyl Butoxide General
> Fact Sheet
> 2.. ^ National Pesticide Information Center - Piperonyl Butoxide Technical
> Fact Sheet
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: David Arnold
> To: permacultue discussion list
> Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2008 12:04 PM
> Subject: Re: [Pil-pc-oceania] Ant infestation
>
>
> the commercial ant-rid product is just boron in sweet solution. treegrowers
> often need to supplement the amount of boron in their soil, especially as
> boron availability is reduced by application of lime. i have put boron on my
> trees here previously, and need to do so again.
>
> bulk ant-rid can be made with Boron dissolved in hot water with honey
>
> dave
>
>
> On 15/03/2008, Tamara Griffiths <scarletwoman at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Hi All,
>
> I have a friend who has an entire wall of ants in an old weatherboard.
> Short of feeding an echidna, blue tongues etc, I am not sure of what to
> advise.
>
> They don't want to get the pest man in. What do you all think about ant
> dust (I don't use it myself). They could get an animal communicator :)
>
> Help!
>
> Love T
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger
>
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>
>
>
>
> --
> David Arnold
> Permaculture Designer
> 4446 Murchison Rd
> Violet Town VIC AUS 3669
> 03 5798 1679
> arnold.vt at gmail.com
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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> Message: 2
> Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008 11:48:27 +1100
> From: Robyn Francis <robyn at permaculture.com.au>
> Subject: Re: [Pil-pc-oceania] Ant infestation
> To: permacultue discussion list
> <pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org>
> Message-ID: <C402B98B.6E52%robyn at permaculture.com.au>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Ants carry the borax infected food back to the nest to feed the young ? it
> kills the larvae, not the adult ants, eventually killing off the nest, or at
> least substantially reducing the population
> Ciao
> Robyn
>
>
> On 15/3/08 2:15 PM, "Tamara Griffiths" <scarletwoman at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Thanks David,
>>
>> I wonder how the boron works. Something to do with the oleic acid in ants? I
>> have read that borax (etc.) is fairly harmless to humans.
>>
>> I was thinking that diatomaceous earth might also work, but I've never used
>> it.
>>
>> Thanks again,
>> Tamara
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>> Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:34:22 +1100
>>> From: arnold.vt at gmail.com
>>> To: pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org
>>> Subject: Re: [Pil-pc-oceania] Ant infestation
>>>
>>> the commercial ant-rid product is just boron in sweet solution. treegrowers
>>> often need to supplement the amount of boron in their soil, especially as
>>> boron availability is reduced by application of lime. i have put boron on
>>> my
>>> trees here previously, and need to do so again.
>>>
>>> bulk ant-rid can be made with Boron dissolved in hot water with honey
>>>
>>> dave
>>>
>>>
>>> On 15/03/2008, Tamara Griffiths <scarletwoman at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi All,
>>>>
>>>> I have a friend who has an entire wall of ants in an old weatherboard.
>>>> Short
>>>> of feeding an echidna, blue tongues etc, I am not sure of what to advise.
>>>>
>>>> They don't want to get the pest man in. What do you all think about ant
>>>> dust
>>>> (I don't use it myself). They could get an animal communicator :)
>>>>
>>>> Help!
>>>>
>>>> Love T
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger
>>>> <http://clk.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Pil-pc-oceania mailing list
>>>> Pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org
>>>> http://jasper.cmsarchitects.com/mailman/listinfo/pil-pc-oceania
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>
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