Problems with insecticides on a bluebird trail (Part 1)

In addition to Messages that have appeared in the Bluebird Mailing Lists on this topic, the following are on the Audubon Society of Omaha website: Predators and Problems On The Bluebird Trail

Subj: Poets Corner: Tansy as an insect deterrent
Date: 6/21/99 9:39:09 PM Central Daylight Time
From: firefrost2"at"earthlink.net (Fread Loane)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: firefrost2"at"earthlink.net (Fread Loane)
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu (BLUEBIRD-L)

This is in response to the question of using herbals as an insect deterrent in the bottom of nestboxes:

Tanacetum vulgare, aka "Tansy", "Buttons", is a member of compositae (the daisies) and can be a rather aggressive tall ground cover. It is commonly found in the herb section of many nurseries and is very hardy. The plant is erect and leafy growing to 3' on grooved, angular stems. The leaves, alternately arranged, have wavy, much divided margins. Their length is approximately 6" and widths of 4". The plant is conspicuous in August and September when it flowers with its heads of round, flat, yellow clusters of florets, which probably earn it its common name of "Buttons." It has a very curious and not altogether disagreeable odor of camphor when bruised or crushed.

The name "Tansy" is probably derived from the Greek Athanaton (immortal), either, says Dodoens, because "it lasts so long in flower or because of its use to prevent dead bodies from corruption." It was said to have been given to Gannymede to make him immortal. Tansy was one of the "strewing herbs" and mentioned by Tusser in 1577 as being dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Literature cites its abilities to keep flies away and hence its use on dead bodies and as a strewing herb.

I also have a bed of Tanacetum vulgare and have used it with Basil strewn on the picnic table to keep houseflies away. Crush the leaves and scatter them over the surface of the table. The combination of camphor and basil is really quite pleasant. I have not tried it at the bottom of nestboxes as I have not had any trouble with blowflies....but would suggest its possible use. It is listed in the medicinal literature as a strong anthelmintic (rids the body of worms). Another interesting note is that this herb is strongly anti-flatuent. Hmmmm! Wonder how it would taste with beans?

Fread J. Loane
Tulsa, Oklahoma
where, again, a soft rain is falling.....

Subj: Re: milky spores to control Japanese beetles
Date: 6/30/99 2:29:22 PM Central Daylight Time
From: firefrost2"at"earthlink.net (Fread Loane)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: firefrost2"at"earthlink.net (Fread Loane)
To: MSBOC"at"aol.com, BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu

-Date: Wednesday, June 30, 1999 10:31 AM
Subject: milky spores to control Japanese beetles

Now that the Japanese beetles have arrived and are swarming my shrubs and trees, I was wondering if any of you experts have any information on the safety/efficacy of using Milky Spores to control the Japanese beetle grubs.

I am of course concerned primarily because I would be using this on my lawn where the bluebirds nest and catch their food.
Nancy Bocian
Newtown, CT

The control you speak of is commonly called "Milky Spore Disease", I know it as Baccillus popillae. As a baccillus, it is host specific and attacks only the larval forms of Chafer (June Bug) and the nasty Japanese Beetle. There is a great amount of controversy as to its efficacy. I comment on my own use of this product. I found it to be quite effective if properly introduced by following the manufacturer's recommendations. I experienced nearly a two year wait until the soil population built up and started to control the larvae. I personally would have no qualms about using it either in my vegetable garden, around pets, or children once it has been washed into the soil. You will be more pleased with a "body count" using the new pheremone attractant traps. These traps are loaded with a synthethized chemical which resembles the sex pheremone given off by the female J. beetle. Males are attracted to the trap and caught. No males, no babies!
Most organic supply houses should handle both of these organic controls.
Fread J. Loane
Horticulturist
Tulsa, OK

Subj: Cypermethrin
Date: 8/27/99 12:07:17 AM Central Daylight Time
From: firefrost2"at"earthlink.net (Fread Loane)
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: firefrost2"at"earthlink.net (Fread Loane)
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu (BLUEBIRD-L)

I may stand corrected, but CYPERMETHRIN is a restricted use chemical and as such, it is only available to those who are properly licensed to apply it. As I recall it is one of the pyrethroids synthesized from pyrethrin and its chemical structure makes it rather dangerous. I do recall that it is extremely poisonous to fish, often up to 10,000 times more potent than other pesticides!

In the horticulture industry we used it as a very potent miticide.

The statement made concerning its potential lethality should include that while a one percent solution may not be poisonous, however, the 99% inert ingredients (mainly petroleum distillates) are very toxic! It can never be overstressed to only apply insecticides strictly according to manufacturer's directions.

There seems to be great confusion about insecticides that are created from natural sources, that somehow they are safer. Nothing can be further from the truth! Insecticides are just that, no matter thier source. Pyrethroids have been proved to do nerve damage and affect the central nervous system.....that is a potent chemical folks. Use all necessary cautions when dealing with these forms of insecticides.

Fread J. Loane
Horticulturist
Tulsa, OK
Fread J. Loane
Tulsa, Oklahoma

For those of you who wish to learn more about cypermethrin, below is a site from the toxicology labs at Cornell that gives a great deal of information.

http://ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet/pips/cypermet.htm

Fread J. Loane
Horticulturist
Tulsa, OK

Subj: Wasp Control with Cypermethrin
Date: 8/27/99 8:57:38 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Bluebd1"at"aol.com
Sender: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu
Reply-to: Bluebd1"at"aol.com
To: BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu

Dick Walker Loogootee, IN

Cypermethrin...
As noted by Fread J. Loane, Cypermethrin in a highly concentrated form is definitely a restricted use chemical and is not available to the general public.

The concentrate that is available to the public is .1 percent Cypermethrin, and I quote from two of many favorable statements I have picked up on the Internet...

"Cypermethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide that is very safe to humans, pets, and wildlife, but is very effective against a wide range of insects including ants, fire ants, wasps, roaches, spiders and crickets."

"It is an odorless, very safe synthetic pyrethroid that can be used anywhere except food processing areas, and is ideal for the homeowner."

A person would think that Cornell and other similar research Universities would have something about the uses of Cypermethrin around birds and other wildlife, but so far my efforts to obtain "facts" from such institutions, or others, has been in vain.
HELP !

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 22:54:02 -0500
From: The Carriers eemmuu"at"att.net
To: bluebird bluebird bluebird-L"at"cornell.edu
Subject: another opinion....

Hi all! Boy what a day here in CT...hit 65!! Feel like "I made it through another New England winter"!!!

Problems with insecticides on a bluebird trail (Part 1)

Problems with insecticides on a bluebird trail (Part 2)

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