Pesticides

Pests live where they are not wanted or cause harm to crops, people or animals. Pesticides can help get rid of them. Though you may think of pesticides as insect killers, they include chemicals to control weeds, rodents, mildew, germs and more. Many household products contain pesticides.

Pesticides can protect your health by killing germs, animals or plants that could hurt you. However, most pesticides can be harmful to people or pets. You might want to try non-chemical methods first. If you do need a pesticide, use it correctly. Be especially careful around children and pets. Disposing of pesticides properly is also important - it can help protect the environment.

Biologically-based pesticides are becoming more popular. They often are safer than traditional pesticides.

Environmental Protection Agency

Pesticide on Wikipedia

A '''pesticide''' is a chemical, or sometimes biological agent such as a virus or bacteria, used to control, to repel, to attract, or to kill pest (animal)s, which are organisms, including insects, weeds, birds, mammals, fish, and microbes, that compete with humans for food, destroy property, spread disease, or are considered a nuisance. Pesticides are usually, but not always, poisons.

Pesticides active against higher level animal life forms

* insecticides, which kill (or prevent the development of) insects * acaricides [http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/class_acaricides.html] or miticides, which kill mites * avicides [http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/class_avicides.html], which kill birds * chemosterilants [http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/class_chemosterilants.html] * molluscicides, which kill snails and other mollusks * nematicides [http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/class_nematicides.html], which kill roundworms * rodenticides [http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/class_rodenticides.html], which kill rodents, generally mice or rats

Repellents and attractants

* [http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/class_insect_attractants.html insect attractants] * insect repellents * [http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/class_bird_repellents.html bird repellents] * [http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/class_mammal_repellents.html mammal repellents]

Pesticides active against plants and lower level life forms

* [http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/class_bactericides.html bactericide]s * herbicides, which kill or prevent the development of weeds * fungicides, which kill fungus * plant growth regulators [http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/class_plant_growth_regulators.html], which prevent excess growth of a plant (for example, prevention of lodging in wheat) * virucides [http://www.hclrss.demon.co.uk/class_virucides.html] [ Read More ]

External Resources

Environmental Media Services - Resources for journalists and others interested in environmental issues. Includes, breaking news and backgrounders, press-events, facts and contacts on biotechnology, sprawl, chemicals and health, pollution, trade, pesticides, and global warming.

Gempler's - Tools, gardening clothes, insect traps, fertilizers and pesticides, plus a good range of soil testers and weather monitors.

Garden Shop Online - Natural gardening products including tools, seeds, books videos as well as organic fertilizers and pesticides.

Audubon Workshop - Offers houses, boxes, and feeders, featuring feed for insect-eating birds. Also sells bird-friendly pesticides.

Insect Aside - Makes a bug vacuum that catches bugs without pesticide, and the Bug Rack-It, a hand-held racket with a sticky netted surface.

Roberts Flower Supply - Supplier of planting media, supports, hangers, and pots, fertilizer and pesticides, humidity trays, greenhouse supplies, Cypripedium species and hybrids, and other native orchids. Located in Ohio, order by phone.

Grow In Hydro - Offers supplies for growing orchids using a semi-hydroponic technique, including PrimeAgra brand ceramic medium, containers, fertilizers, and pesticides, as well as a small selection of orchid plants.

Mom's Veggiewash - Fruit and vegetable wash that is designed to clean away pesticides, herbicides, bacteria, and handling contaminants.

Pure Products Essential OilS - Guaranteed pure essential oil, therapeutic, raw, holistic, free from pesticides and chemicals, no fillers added, only from first distillation.