Science | Science Experiment of the Week 12 | 327 - Safe Insecticide

Environmentally Friendly Insect Spray - This time of year, the insects really chew on the plants, so we have been battling them. Some of the pests require commercial chemicals to kill, but often Lisa uses things from the kitchen.

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This Week's Experiment - #327 Safe Insecticide

These experiments are from Robert Krampf - The Happy Scientist

I spent some time this week helping Lisa with her flowers. This time of year, the insects really chew on the plants, so we have been battling them. Some of the pests require commercial chemicals to kill, but often Lisa uses things from the kitchen. To make an environmentally friendly insecticide, you will need:

a 2 liter soda bottle
dish detergent
water
a spray bottle
a teaspoon measure

Add 4 teaspoons of dish washing detergent to the soda bottle. Then fill it with water. Put on the cap and shake it a bit to mix. Then pour it into the spray bottle. Use this to spray plants that are infested with aphids, mealy bugs, or other insect pests.

How does something so simple work? It has to do with the way insects breath. Instead of breathing through a nose and mouth, insects breath through holes in their abdomen called spiracles. Imagine what it would be like if you had holes along your waist that you breathed through. The body of the insect is covered with a waterproof cuticle layer. That causes water to flow off the insect, so it does not drown. The soap solution sticks to this cuticle instead of flowing off. The cuticle layer actually pulls the soap solution into the spiracles to drown the insect.

For the spray to work it must be sprayed onto the insect, so it can reach the spiracles. Just spraying a spot where the insects will walk does not work. Still, if you spray directly onto the creatures, the soap solution will kill ants, roaches, crickets, aphids, and many other insects. It will also kill spiders, so be careful not to spray these useful, pest-controling creatures. It is not dangerous to birds, lizards, snakes, younger brothers, or other similar creatures. Still, you should not spray your younger brother, even if he does normally avoid soapy water.

Have a wonderful week.

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