Sometimes even in rooms where a lot of time is devoted to the issue of cleanliness, harmful insects appear. You can use modern insecticides, but their use is limited due to high toxicity. It is for this reason that people prefer to use natural products in their homes that effectively repel insects. Pyrethrum powder is completely harmless to residents, but cockroaches and fleas leave an environment unfavorable for them.
What is "Pyrethrum"
Pyrethrum is a medicinal plant similar in appearance to chamomile. The country of its growth is Montenegro, as well as Croatia. The plant can also be found in Transcaucasia. Because of its external similarity, it is often called chamomile.
Pyrethrum powder is crushed inflorescences that were used to kill bedbugs and fleas two centuries ago. In ancient times, it was the well-known “Dalmatian powder”, which was actively used by housewives. They sprinkled it on the places where most insects lived.
There was also another type of powder that previously existed. It was called “Persian” and arsenic was added to it for greater effectiveness. But due to mass poisonings of domestic animals and people, its use came to naught.
Interestingly, soldiers from the time of Alexander the Great actively used Pyrethrum powder to get rid of bedbugs on clothes and bedding.
Composition of the product
When it is necessary to destroy insects in the house, when choosing a product, its safety for household members and animals is important. At first glance, there are many such drugs. But some have a pungent odor, while others are ineffective. Pyrethrum powder against bedbugs does not have these shortcomings. The effect occurs almost immediately and lasts for a long time.
In production, the drug is prepared by grinding the inflorescences of Pyrethrum - Caucasian chamomile. The result is a gray-green powder, which is the main component of the product.
People have long noticed that the fragrant plant repels harmful insects. Bunches of the plant were dried and hung around the house, placed in cabinets and placed in the kitchen. A pleasant floral aroma quickly spread throughout the house, which is harmless to humans and pets, but is not tolerated by fleas and cockroaches.
Pyrethrum powder – where to buy
Anyone who has encountered the appearance of bedbugs (how to distinguish a bedbug bite from a mosquito bite) begins to look for means to destroy them. After looking through reviews on the Internet, I decided on the name of the drug. One of the effective and natural remedies is pyrethrum. The second question that immediately arises is: “Where can I buy pyrethrum for bedbugs?”
The production of this drug is a rather labor-intensive process. Back in the 40s of the last century, its production decreased significantly. They have been replaced by modern drugs that are more effective, but also more toxic.
Today, pyrethrum can be bought at pharmacies, but not in every one. In most cases, they may offer herbal plants or capsules to improve health. And from insects - alas! It is difficult to find it even on the Internet. In Moscow you can buy it on the official website piretrum.ru in 300 gram packaging. But delivery is carried out only in this city.
In specialized stores there is pyrethrum aerosol. It comes in a spray bottle. It is considered a natural remedy. Easy to use and sold in hardware stores.
Some get out of the situation and prepare the remedy themselves from pharmaceutical chamomile. Or they use other means of killing bedbugs.
How the drug works
Pyrethrum powder has properties similar to insecticides. But it refers to means of contact action. When plant particles fall on the insect's cover, they quickly penetrate inside. The concentration quickly increases and spreads throughout the body.
The action of the powder is based on its effect on the nervous system:
- The transmission of nerve impulses is disrupted and, consequently, the entire vital system is disrupted.
- Insects are unable to move. Paralysis of all organs occurs.
Insects lose the ability to move, which means they are deprived of food. The number of adults decreases sharply. Those who survive are unable to reproduce. The population does not recover and quickly disappears. The remaining insects leave the dangerous place.
In a residential building where there are small children and animals, it is better to use natural Pyrethrum. Flea powder will help if the flea population has not reached a large size. In case of large crowds and in office or other non-residential premises, it is more rational to use a synthetic insecticide.
Properties of a natural product
The main advantage of the drug, which housewives note, is its complete environmental safety. As a plant component, it has the property of breaking down into natural components under direct sunlight in literally two days. But this property also determines the disadvantage of Pyrethrum. The duration of action of the powder is quite short. But here you have to choose between the complete safety of the product used, which is Pyrethrum powder, and the speed of destruction of harmful insects.
The main advantages of the drug:
- high effectiveness against bedbugs and cockroaches, when comparing Pyrethrum with other herbal products;
- safe use indoors where there are small children and pets;
- there is no need for special means to remove the used drug;
- there is no need to leave the living space during processing;
- when using highly toxic drugs, be sure to ventilate the room; Pyrethrum eliminates this need;
- insects do not get used to using Pyrethrum, so repeated treatments do not require increasing the dose;
- makes it possible to quickly and effectively get rid of fleas;
- does not affect indoor plants;
- “Pyrethrum” (powder for bedbugs and fleas) does not contain additional chemical compounds that would have a negative impact on human health.
Advantages and disadvantages of the drug
When talking about this or that insecticide, we must not forget that it always has “dark” and “light” sides. Let's get acquainted with the advantages of the drug:
- Low toxicity. This is, of course, the main trump card of Pyrethrum.
- Leaves no traces. Pyrethrum dissipates within one and a half to two hours. Therefore, if you did not have time to wash the floors in time after treatment, do not worry - your household will not be affected by the insecticide. It will simply evaporate under the influence of sunlight.
- Not addictive. More than 84% of all pest control products, when used repeatedly, induce immunity in insects to certain components. This will not work with pyrethrum. Insects will not be able to adapt the body to its destructive properties.
Pyrethrum against bedbugs can be purchased in the form of a concentrated emulsion
Wide range of applications. As mentioned earlier, the chemical allows you to “treat” apartments infested not only with bedbugs, but also with cockroaches, fleas and other unwanted guests.
In order to find out how true the claimed properties of Pyrethrum are, let’s turn to user reviews.
How to use Pyrethrum against pests
Instructions for use are included in each package. It provides recommendations for use and recommended doses. The amount of powder used depends on the type of insect being destroyed and the scale of the disaster.
Therefore, before starting the actual processing, you should determine the approximate number of insects. Their possible “paths” are also determined.
Pests often hide under baseboards and other hard-to-reach places. To treat them, you can use a spray bottle, which is sold at the pharmacy. If there is none, then a regular syringe will cope with the problem. In this case, a water-based solution is prepared from the powder.
Recommended treatment locations:
- baseboards;
- joints between tiles;
- carpet covering;
- cushioned furniture;
- kitchen furniture.
To kill cockroaches, bedbugs and fleas, you can purchase Pyrethrum powder. The instructions that come with the product will help you find the best way to use it. So, if you need to treat hard-to-reach places, it is recommended to prepare a solution.
Requires 5-6 tablespoons of powder and one liter of water. The resulting composition is poured into a spray bottle or syringe and the favorite places of pests are treated.
Scope of application
The effect of the powder is short-lived and lasts about 2-3 days. After this, wet cleaning is recommended, and the use of special detergents is not required. If necessary, you can repeat the processing.
It must be remembered that “Pyrethrum” acts only on adults, having a paralytic effect. It does not have the desired effect on the larvae, so offspring may soon appear. Therefore, for complete destruction of insects, at least five treatments are recommended.
The drug is active against bedbugs, cockroaches, fleas and lice. Insects often enter apartments located on the first floors from the basements. Therefore, it is recommended to pour the powder under the mat located at the front door. Of course, it is necessary to change it after 2-3 days.
It is allowed to use the product to control fleas on pets. To do this, the powder is spread on their fur. It tastes bitter, so your pet will not lick it off.
To get rid of lice, you can also use Pyrethrum powder. In the pharmacy, this product is sold in the form of a dry powder or solution, which must be rubbed into the scalp. After 30 minutes, the hair is washed with warm water. The treatment is repeated 3-4 times. The main problem is that the product is rarely commercially available.
Advantages and disadvantages
Bedbugs are the hardiest known domestic insects. Owners use a wide variety of means against bedbugs, but not all of them are effective. Usually, after treating an apartment with well-known chemicals, like Dichlorvos, people realize their helplessness and simply call the sanitation team. However, there is a remedy that few people know about. This is pyrethrum powder.
Unlike most chemicals, which not only work poorly, but also cause serious harm to health, this product is completely safe, so it can be used to treat a room without any time limits. It is made from natural raw materials, so it does not harm the health of either humans or animals. But it, like all other drugs against domestic parasites, has its drawbacks. Only fresh pyrethrum powder is effective against bedbugs. A significant disadvantage is that in the light it loses its strength. However, all this becomes not so significant when you consider the results that can be achieved using this natural remedy.
Precautions when working with the drug
Despite the declared safety and natural composition, certain precautions must be taken when working with the product. The powder contains pyrethrins, which can provoke allergic reactions. Before using the drug, you must make sure that no one close to you is sensitive to plants from the Asteraceae family.
Before starting treatment, especially with the prepared solution, it is better to take measures to help protect people:
- put on gloves;
- protect your face with a bandage;
- It is recommended to use special glasses.
After handling, you must wash your hands with soap and wash with cool water. The powder should be stored out of the reach of children.
conclusions
Pyrethrum powder is a natural remedy that fights crawling and flying insects as effectively as its chemical counterparts. But at the same time, it is safe to use in a home inhabited by children, elderly people and animals. This is confirmed by user reviews.
The product has no analogues among drugs that combine the effectiveness of an insecticide and the safety of the plant. However, as users note, you should not randomly sprinkle powder in the hope of getting rid of insects and neglect the instructions. Only complete adherence to the rules of use will help eliminate unpleasant “tenants” and guarantee safety for people.
The only problem noted in the reviews is that the powder has become difficult to obtain. It is very rarely sold in pharmacies. There are special websites where Pyrethrum is sold both in the form of a regular powder and in the form of a product based on it. These can be sprays or liquids. They differ in scope. To treat premises, one drug is required, for animals - another, and for plants - a third.
Pros and cons of powders
The undoubted advantages of using powders include the following points:
Price - a product to combat bedbugs can be purchased for 100-200 rubles, and its quality and effectiveness will be high; Variability in use - if it is necessary to treat with a whole complex of preparations, a working solution of different concentrations can be prepared from the powder - depending on the number of bedbugs in the apartment and the number of rooms that need to be treated; Transfer of substances and contact infection of individuals to each other; Long-term poisoning effect - which is important when destroying larvae emerging from eggs; Availability – you can purchase insecticide powder in hardware stores, supermarkets (in the household goods department), markets, or order online.
Disadvantages of powdered products:
- Unpleasant, sometimes pungent odor of the product;
- Toxicity – for humans and animals;
- Average effectiveness - which forces you to purchase additional insecticides and leads to additional costs.
