Most Common Pests in LaMorinda, Risks from Most Common Pesticides, and Safer Solutions
Home Background Pesticides Current Projects & Committees Environmental Hazards in Schools Press and News Releases Recipes for Safer Cleaning Recommended Businesses Environmental Topics Related Websites Donations Jobs Available Advisory Board	Most Common Pests in LaMorinda, Risks from Most Common Pesticides, and Safer Solutions Common Pest Toxic Solution Breakdown Time Health Hazards Safer Solution Ants (Ours is Argentine) & other insects Diazinon- illegal to sell for home use Jan, ’04. 40 days w/ air. Under soil, longer. brain & hormone damage, fetus/kids. Caulk cracks, clean spills, bait stations – Combat™(white) w/ fipronil works better than black ones w/ hydramethylnon; Never leave outdoors. Remove after ant trails are cleaned up! Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, used by Terminix & others 23–34 days w/ air hormone disruptor in animals. Suspected also in kids/fetus Bifenthrin (Tal-Star) used by Tru-Green Chem Lawn 123 days w/ air. WHO: possible cancer, US EPA: reproductive & developmental toxin; suspect hormone disruptor in people Gophers Strychnine used by pest control operators is found to be usually ineffective Could not find info, but likely less than a week in air. High acute toxicity: convulsions, shock, collapse, stiffness. 3’ down & 1’ above mesh fencing, traps, or undesirable plantings. sometimes dog/cat feces or castor oil repellant. ¹ Grubs in turf - raccoons dig up Triazicide (cyhalothrin, lambda) 61.8 days w/ air hormone disruptor in animals; No test/not known in kids. Healthy lawn care: aerate, de-thatch, re-seed bare patches, mowing techniques, fertilize with clippings and Dr. Earth™ fertilizers. Beneficial nematodes. ¹ Bifenthrin –in Scott’s Lawn Care, Pro Step III fertilizer 123 days w/ air WHO: possible cancer, US EPA: listed as reproductive & developmental toxin kids Weeds (turf) MCPA, MCPP, Dicamba (Tri-Power, Tru Green Chem Lawn) 10-24 days w/airup to 1,872 days under soil Development/reproductive toxin in fetus/kids; possible carcinogen Corn gluten meal ¹ Apply before weeds emerge in spring or late winter. Weeds (beds) Round-Up (glyphosates) 12-21 days immune system, hormone, liver, and intestine disfunction. Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Mulch 3-4”, 10-20% acetic or citric acids ¹ or Clove Oil mixed in w/ horticulture acids. ¹ See www.pfse.net for info on where to purchase products, plant species that gophers like least to eat, and more links to resources addressing sustainable maintenance methods. We are in the process of working with Moraga Garden Center, McDonnell Nursery in Orinda, and Orchard Nursery in Lafayette to stock these items. WHO: World Health Organization US EPA: United States Environmental Protection Agency RESOURCES: PfSE : Pesticide use reform projects in Lamorinda, presentations, trainings, consulting in healthy homes/buildings check-up to optimize indoor air quality and other environmental health issues. www.pfse.net. 925-283-4609. PANNA: Recommended! Research on pesticide drift; publications; award-winning search engine database to research toxicity of pesticide in question; legislative work and more. Www.panna.org. 415-981-6205. Beyond Pesticides: Updates community on list serve regarding pesticide issues in the U.S. Fact sheets and publications by list serve and mail. Legislative work and more. www.beyondpesticides.org Physicians for Social Responsibility: Started by Harvard School of Public Health physicians to inform the community. Www.psr.org. Berkeley office: 510-845-8395. Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control: Can identify vectors such as ticks, spiders, etc. Provide abatement of certain pests for free. www.ccmvcd.dst.ca.us. 925-685-9301 Biointegral Research Center: Recommended! Subscribe to excellent, integrated pest management quarterly publications: 510-524-2567. www.birc.org. Free, on-line consulting by Dr. Quarles: www. Ourwaterourworld.org. UC Cooperative Extension: ipm.ucdavis.eud/index.html: IPM consulting, database on safer pest control. University of CA, Master Gardeners: free garden pest advice by phone or on-line. Can take samples of diseased plants to Pleasant Hill. 925-646-6586 or www.ccmg.ucdavis.edu.
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