The LSU AgCenter has been publishing information to bring organic practices to home gardeners. Gardeners want to protect their vegetables and fruits from insect pests while avoiding synthetic or chemical insecticides. One solution is to use organic pesticides to maintain yields without synthetic products.
These organic insecticides are designed to control insect pests, but what happens if beneficial insects are exposed to organic pesticides? This narrative examines some of the effects of popular organic pesticides on beneficial insects such as pollinators and predators of insect pests.
If you want to contact Beehive Buzz, please send your questions and pictures to Keith Hawkins, Area Horticulture Agent (AHA), 337-463-7006 or khawkins@agcenter.lsu.edu. Also, you can be on the “beemail” email list by emailing your request to the address above.
“This work has been supported, in part, by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Renewable Resources Extension Act Award, Accession Number 1011417.”