Green and organic pest control aim to be more environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional pest control. However, there are no unified standards for what constitutes "green" pest control. Organic specifically refers to a process using bio-rational pesticides and integrated pest management (IPM) protocols. IPM is a multi-step process that first uses non-chemical controls and reserves pesticides only for when tolerance thresholds are exceeded. Effective pest control plans implement IPM by closely inspecting for pests, identifying conducive conditions, setting action thresholds, and correcting issues before considering pesticide use.

2. This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

4. Defining Green
Pest Control
•Green pest control is thought of by many as an environmentally
conscious solution providing an alternative to traditional pest control
treatments and the word green is used to imply it is a more
environmentally sound solution.
•Green pest control when put to action however, does not have a unifying
set of standards. – In fact! Green pest control does not have the same
definition to everyone.
•“Green” can in many cases be used as a marketing term by those
looking to sell their products and services, or it can mean to some the
exact product of organic pest control.

5. •Organic” is a specific term.
•Its primary use is almost always to describe a specific
process, and commodities created under the process.
•While some may think of the term organic with regards to
safety, the term Implies something unrelated when
describing pesticide products.
•Organic, actually can have two distinct meanings.
•As a process, such as with organic pest control, it is
meant to imply a certain level of safety, especially when
compared to non-organic methods.

6. •Organic” is a specific term.
•As for the chemicals used in the process, the term organic does not imply
safety. An organic pesticide in some cases may be just as dangerous as a
synthetic one.
•Therefore, further research beyond a pesticides composition may be needed
to determine a pesticide’s safety level.
•Organic pesticides are related to organic pest control but are not a necessary
part of it.

7. •The pesticides used in organic pest control are often
referred to as biorational pesticides.
•Pesticides that are made with naturally occurring
residual active ingredients that are low risk, and
some synthetic compounds with little to no risk are
referred to as "Bio-Rationals." (Bio meaning
"Biological" and Rational meaning "Sensible.")
•Biorationals include several categories and they
contain the products that are generally used in
organic pest control.

8. ►Because of the many steps required and the prerequisites of organic pest
control, using an organic pesticide alone does not equate to performing organic
pest control.
►Organic pest control is more complicated and involves the use of biorational
pesticides combined with specific IPM protocols.
►Generally pesticides containing synthetic active ingredients cannot be
considered biorational or organic.
However, some synthetic products such as soaps and oils that leave no residual
and have only a contact kill are considered biorational and can be used in organic
pest control.

9. Three Important Terms
•Three Important Terms
1. Organic (as a strategy or process)
2. Biorational (with regards to products used)
3. IPM (integrated pest management)
►These terms are important and if an Organic process is not used,
non-biorational pesticides are used, or IPM isn’t included in the
process, then a treatment should not be considered “organic” and by
rational standards the term “green” should also not be applied because
while there is no common standard, it would be misleading.

10. Connecting Green Pest Control and IPM
•A green pest control program should be as intricate as possible.
•Planning should be heavily focused on the details as well as the larger
picture.
•Focusing on both the micro and the macro provides for almost every
necessity, prepares for almost every mistake, and considers the
environmental impact of every aspect of the service.

11. Connecting Green Pest Control and IPM
•►Because all pest control services have some form of environmental
impact, care should be taken to determine environmental issues which
may occur from treatments.
•►Non-target sites and non-target insects and animals can be affected
by a treatment.
•►Some effects can go unknown indefinitely.

12. Integrated
Pest
Management
Due to the multiple steps involved in the process chemical
application is less important and monitoring the property for pest
activity is necessary.
IPM (Integrated Pest Management) is a solution incorporating
multiple techniques for enhanced control with a lower impact on
the human health and the environment.
Traditionally pest control has been centered around the use of
pesticides, but in the last few years it has moved to a more
complete approach with the use of Integrated Pest Management
(IPM).

13. Integrated Pest Management
•►Pesticide applications, when they occur should be as precise as possible and always
have a specific reason.
•►Pesticide limits are a self-imposed action which helps further decrease exposure and
are thought-out in such a way that the perfect amount of pesticide is used and never
too much.
•►Crack and crevice treatments, spot treatments, and void treatments are considered
a better solution and have replaced the “more the better” approach to pest control.
•►They are Ironically also more effective generally

14. Part 2.
The 5 Steps of IPM
►1. Inspecting and monitoring infestation levels
►2. Assessing the problem and determining the level of infestation
►3. Determining tolerance levels and setting action thresholds
►4. Implementing the pest management plan which starts first with non-chemical control methods
and may continue with pesticide applications
►5. Evaluating, monitoring, and communicating to assess the success of the pest management
plan.

15. Inspecting
►Inspecting and determining the problem are the
most crucial steps in the process.
►If an insect is misidentified, it’s reason for being
there and the proper method for control may be
lost to the technician.
►Inspecting properties should always be done
before any treatment strategy is put into place.
►Look not just for pests and their evidence, but for
conducive conditions which may be the reason for
the pest problem, or a foreshadowing of a problem
to come.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

16. Inspecting
►Pests need
• Food
• Water
• Harborage
►Correct issues which relate to the things above and any type of
structural defect which empowers their infestations, or creates the
problem to begin with.

17. Determining Infestation Levels
►How many pests are found help determine what steps to take
►If one or two insects are found, there may be no way to lower
infestation levels
►At some point pesticides are appropriate, but if infestations are so low
that non-pesticidal methods will lead to control, pesticides should not
be used.
►One main goal of Green or Organic pest control is to limit pesticide
use – pesticide use should be avoided when not necessary.

18. Determining Infestation Levels
►Glue traps, pheromone traps, and other monitoring devices should be
used in conjunction with inspections.
►Inspections should be set up for the most reasonable times, and should be
in depth.

19. Establishing Tolerance Levels
•►Pest tolerance levels are the levels at which a pest problem
becomes intolerable and specific actions are warranted.
•►…such as pesticide applications
•►…but not always
•►In some cases you may have another predetermined
treatment method.

20. Establishing Tolerance Levels
•►It’s all about planning ahead!
•►An idea of tolerance levels may be like this:
•►An ant on the countertop may not be considered a reasonable point at
which pesticides are applied but when a trail is found, pesticide
applications may commence.
•►Rodents caught in small numbers in traps may be adequate but in large
numbers there may be a point at which the use of rodenticides is
considered appropriate.
•►A few spiders found in glue boards may not warrant treatment but webs
on the outside of a structure may warrant a cleaning. Continued
persistence may lead to pesticide application.

21. Implementing
a plan

22. Part 3. Making a plan
►A detailed planning of
services is the best way to
assure the desired level of
control is reached on a
property.
►When performing IPM based
services like organic pest
management, one of the most
important variables in planning
is the determination of whether
and when pesticides should be
used.

23. Part 3. Making a plan
►Because action thresholds are pre-defined, pesticide applications always
have a defined purpose.
►Choosing action thresholds is one of the most important steps in making a
plan.
►An action threshold is the predetermined point at which some action is
taken to control the pest problem.
►This is typically established by reaching predetermined tolerance levels;
pesticides should only be applied when tolerance levels are met.

24. IPM Specifications
►Homeowners should pay attention to pest related issues on
their properties, focusing on conditions which could add to the
severity and likelihood of an infestation.
►IPM plans should focus on correcting all possible issues
before applying any pesticides.

25. IPM Specifications
►As part of a professionally drafted plan, corrections may be required before any pesticide
application.
►Conducive conditions and other defects should always be corrected before pesticide
applications are made.
►Pest control professionals should require this as part of their IPM Plans
►Pest problems can be made worse by applying a pesticide before a pest is identified and before
conducive conditions are corrected!

26. •Homeowners, occupants and property managers should
remember to define their own tolerances.
•Pesticide tolerances (when shouldn’t applications happen/
why shouldn’t they).
•Pest tolerances (when are there too many bugs).
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

27. This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.
►They must also
Verify the correction of all issues.
Monitor the levels of pest activity for changes.
Communicate with IPM coordinators and those
performing services.

28. This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.
•►Pest Control Professionals have the responsibilities of
•►Applying pesticides when appropriate
•►Some sanitation and correction work
•►Creating the IPM Plan used on the property
•►Assigning pest related responsibilities on the property –
•►The PMP does not do everything – he relies on those on the property to
do what he can’t

29. Communication
•Open communication is expected throughout any pest
management program.
•►Spoken and written communication between those
performing services and others involved in control is a
necessity.
•►Responsibilities should be pre-defined and communicated
to everyone involved in control. This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

30. Communication
•Open communication is expected throughout any pest management
program.
•►Written communication leaves a record.
•►Contracts, service tickets, and customer emails are all forms of
communication.
•►For more complex properties, problem areas reminder logs and trend logs
should be used to determine the extent of pest problems, and the efficacy
of control measures.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

31. Documentation
►Service tickets are used to convey what was done on
an individual service.
►The have the which products were used, their active
ingredient percentages and amounts.
►They typically have noted on them what the target
pest was and you may even note where products were
applied.
►If a folder or file is left on the property these tickets
should be left in there along with other
documentation.

32. Documentation
►Pest problem areas reminder logs
►This form is used by those on properties like hotels,
restaurants, and other commercial, and
semi-commercial settings
►employees, tenants, and management use these to
document what has been seen, heard, and otherwise
found.
►Pest technicians can verify the corrections of issues
and what measures were employed to correct it and
document on the form what was done.

33. Documentatio
n
•Trend logs
•►Trends logs are
filled out on a
regular basis after
a review is
performed on the
service tickets
and Problem
areas logs to see
if any trends are
occurring.
•►An ongoing or
newly discovered
trend might lead
to a change in
strategies.

34. Site map
•►Many professionals
create a sitemap with a
drawing of the structure(s)
to be controlled and the
surrounding property.

35. Site map
►These sitemaps will usually show
locations of
►Ongoing and previous pest issues.
►Conducive conditions.
►Likely conducive conditions.
►Locations of monitoring equipment such
as bait stations and pheromone traps.
►Other areas of interest.

36. Site map
•►Site maps should be
updated annually or
when necessary.
•►The more current a
site map is, the more
likely it is to be
accurate.

37. Mechanical
Exclusion/
Environmental
Alterations
•►Open doors, and windows with no screens will
provide insects with an obvious entrance to the
structure.
•►Not so obvious entry comes from improperly
sealed doors and windows.
•►Inadequate doors and windows should be
corrected with weather-stripping, door
thresholds, door sweeps or other forms of
exclusion to detour entry.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

38. Mechanical Exclusion/
Environmental
Alterations
•►Pipes and conduits going through stucco and
siding are great entry points for insects, and
they should be sealed using caulking or
sealants.
•►Damaged vent screens should be repaired or
replaced.
•►Cracks in stucco and concrete may provide
pest entry and harborage.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

39. Mechanical Exclusion/ Environmental
Alterations
►Rodents can find access through multiple locations including
roof soffits, weep screeds, and otherwise non-suspicious areas.
►Mechanical exclusion is a necessary step in any IPM plan
because it lowers the need for chemical application.
►Exclusion can in many cases can lower pest intrusion with a goal
to eliminate pesticide applications all together.
Exclusion can be used to enhance a chemical application or in
many cases can be used to replace it.

40. Non-Pesticidal Repellents
►Some pesticides can have repellency to insects
or other pests and these repellent pesticides can
be used sparingly as part of an appropriate pest
management plan.
►Likewise the same type of repellency can be
found in many non-pesticidal compounds.

41. Non-Pesticid
al Repellents
►In many cases cinnamon, nutmeg, and other spices
are used as an organic pest control solution.
The disadvantage of spices and other compounds
with a powerful built-in repellency is the tendency
of these products to force insects into unexpected
areas, and scatter social insects such as ants, and
roaches.
A good pest control solution uses a pests behavior
against them, but in many cases repellent
products of any kind can cause and unwanted
change to behavior and ultimately increase the
level of a pest problem.

42. Castor Oil Treatments
•►For gophers and moles, castor oil is used as a natural repellent.
•►It has both advantages and disadvantages with animals reacting
immediately, but quickly adapting to excessive applications.
•►When it is applied strategically it can be very effective.
•►It has been shown to work by making soil undesirable to burrowing
animals because it irritates pests enough to push them out of the area.
•►Many brands come with surfactants in the bottle to drive the castor oil
deeper into the ground.
•►Safety concerns are put to rest by the ultra-low toxicity of diluted castor
oil because castor oil at these low rates poses no reasonable threat to any
wildlife.

43. Biological control and Bio-Pesticides
•►In many cases, living organisms are used to
control pests as the primary method for
biological control.
•►Biological control includes the use of
•►lady bugs
•►green lacewings for general pest control
•►predatory wasps for caterpillars
•►nematodes for fleas
•►bacteria containing pucks for mosquitos

44. Part 5. Biorational pesticide
applications

45. ►It is the duty of any pest control technician to select the
appropriate pesticides for every job, and to base his opinion
on multiple factors.
►Pesticide selection should always have a balance of
effectiveness vs safety and necessity vs tolerance.
►IPM should be the primary focus of any organic pest
control program.
►Pesticides made with naturally occurring residual active
ingredients or with specific synthetic compounds believed to
be low or non-risk are referred to a biorational pesticides.
►(bio meaning biological and rational meaning sensible)

46. ►Organic pest control and organic pesticides do not
equal the same thing.
Organic pesticides provide peace of mind to customers
who think product selection is important
Only some organic pesticides are appropriate for use as
part of an organic pest management service.
Organic Pest (control) management, which is more
involved than simply using organic pesticides, provides
the more viable option with regards to safety and
control.

47. The types of bio-rational
pesticides
•►Low impact organic pesticides
•►While many people assume
organic means safe, the word
organic means something
completely different. Organic, when
describing pesticides, means the
pesticides are made from naturally
occurring compounds containing
carbon.

48. The types of
bio-rational
pesticides
• ►Inorganic pesticides
• ►while inorganic products do not
contain carbon they are also derived
from naturally occurring compounds.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

49. The types of
bio-rational pesticides
•►Low toxicity soaps and oils
•►Generally, pesticides containing
synthetic active ingredients are not
labeled for use in organic pest control
sites except for soaps and oils with
little or no residual action.

50. The types of
bio-rational
pesticides
• ►Bio-Pesticides
• As previously mentioned these are biological
organisms such as predatory nematodes or bacteria
sprays
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

51. Commercial and Residential Settings
•►Organic pest control procedures are defined by the USDA under the
NOP (National Organic Program) and are reviewed by the OMRI
(Organic Materials Review Institute).
•►A list of pesticides currently labeled for use in organic production is
available online at the OMRI website.
This Photo by Unknown author is
licensed under CC BY-SA.

52. Commercial and Residential Settings
•►As part of the prescribed uses of pesticides under the NOP
programs, their use is limited in many cases and in others banned.
•►As an example no residual pesticide can be used inside of an
organic food warehouse under the NOP's rules and when applications
of non-residual products are made the warehouse must have no
products in it, and be closed.
•►Anticoagulant baits have traditionally been banned for use in
organic accounts, but in rare instances some baits have been labeled
by the OMRI. Trapping, and exclusion are the preferred and most
widely available solutions for rodent control with regards to organic
accounts.
This Photo by Unknown author is
licensed under CC BY-SA.

53. Commercial and Residential Settings
•►Organic pest management within residential structures includes
many of the requirements found within warehouses but considers the
differing nature of the residential environment.
•►Some pesticides not found in the OMRI list are still appropriate for
organic pest management in non-commercial settings, but every
product on the OMRI list is appropriate for non-commercial settings
when used properly.
This Photo by Unknown author is
licensed under CC BY-SA.

54. Calling pesticides “safe”
►The term’s "safe" and
“non-toxic” are generally not
appropriate for any pesticide
because it may imply a level of
safety higher than is expected
for specific products in
non-specific situations.
►While basic safety can be
assumed through a proper
application, one could with
some effort, possibly find a
situation where even the most
innocuous products could pose
some type of danger

55. Calling pesticides “safe”
►Some low toxicity products are labeled as GRAS
GRAS (generally regarded as safe) implies a level of safety which
can be assumed when all label directions are followed, and all
appropriate safety concerns are met.
The term GRAS cannot be associated with all pesticides since a
pesticide must be specifically registered with the term in mind.
It applies to many neem oil based products such as Cirkil and
many other plant oil based products.

56. Pesticide Toxicity and
LD50
•►Pesticide Toxicity is measured in 3
basic ways
•►LD50 for dermal exposure
•►An LD50 measurement is determined
by the amount of pesticide absorbed
through the skin causing death in 50
percent of a test population.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

57. Pesticide Toxicity and
LD50
•►LD50 for ingestion
•An LD50 measurement is determined by
the amount of pesticide ingested
causing death in 50 percent of a test
population
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

58. Pesticide Toxicity and
LD50
•►LC50 for inhalation hazard.
•►An LC50 measurement is determined
by the amount of pesticide inhaled
causing death in 50 percent of the test
population.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.
►For all of these values, the lower the number, the more toxic it is.

59. Pyrethrum
•►Pyrethrum is made of 6 compounds
•►pyrethrin I, Pyrethrin II, cinerin I, cinerin II, jasmolin I, jasmolin II
•►The products works as sodium channel modulator and blocks nerve
signals along the nerve axons by binding to the sodium channel forcing
the sodium channel to stay open.
•►This mode of action is more toxic to insects than people making it a
low toxicity active ingredient.

60. Pyrethrum
•►It is made from the chrysanthemum flower.
•►Synthetic pyrethroids mimic this mode of action but are
recreations of pyrethrum made in lab.
•►Pyrethrum breaks down very quickly and has little to no
residual therefore a synergist is almost always required for it to be
effective.
•►Many insects have developed resistance to pyrethrum as a
result of it's over use.

61. Essential Plant Oils
►Plant oils work differently than pyrethrum and are generally more
preferred by organic pest control customers.
Plant oils bond to a chemical found in insects called octopamine.
Octopamine is used by insects as a nuerotransmitter to regulate
movement, heart rate, and metabolism.
Plant oils that block octompamine cause organs and muscles to shut down.
Mammals do not have octopamine receptors in their bodies, and therefore
products containing these plant oils are very low toxicity and usually fall
under the GRAS category.

62. Essential Plant Oils
•►Essentria IC3 is a common example of a plant oil based product. It
contains rosemary oil, geraniol, and peppermint oil.
•►IC3 has its own adjuvant in the bottle, whereas the addition of an
adjuvant is required for most other plant oil based products.
•►The product is exempt from EPA registration due it's low toxicity, and
the natural components found within. It can be used near open water since
it is considered safe around fish and other aquatic life.
•►Another essential plant oil used in insect control is made from cedar.

63. Neem Oil
•►Neem Oil is an organic oil that is made from
the neem seed.
•►It kills insects through growth regulation
and by altering feeding habits.
•►The active ingredient has been used for
many years on lawn and garden pests, but has
now been adapted for use on bed bugs.
•►Cirkil is made from cold pressed neem oil
and works to kill bed bugs that are resistant to
pyrethroids.
•►Neem oil does have an odor and Cirkil tends
to be very potent.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

64. Orange Oil
►The active ingredient in orange oil is d-limonene.
It is manufactured from citrus peels, and vapor
distilled to make the active ingredient.
Orange Oil's mode of action is believed to be the
overstimulation of sensory and motor nerves.
The overstimulation eventually leads to paralysis.

65. Orange Oil
•►Orange oil is marketed as an alternative to all other forms
of termite treatment, but orange oil alone is however not as
effective compared to fumigation, and many other types of
local treatment.
•►A more appropriate biorational approach that is more
effective is the use of borates since borates have a long term
residual compared to orange oil, and boron has a higher
efficacy.
•►Many pest control companies have added boron
application to the orange oil treatment for the higher
efficacy. In fact, a boron application on top of an orange oil
treatment tends to eliminate the colonies that are left
behind after an orange oil application.

66. Surfactants
•►Surfactants are a type of
adjuvant designed to give
additional efficacy to a
pesticide mixture without
adding to the toxicity level,
and without enhancing the
effect of a specific mode of
action which is the case
with synergists.

67. Surfactants
•►Surfactants have several
uses, including being used as
spreaders.
•►They make water molecules
bond together more easily
which creates a more even
distribution on plant leaves and
on ground surfaces.

68. Surfactants
•►Finished solutions containing
surfactants can also penetrate
the soil easier making them
wetting agents.
•►Wetting agents lower surface
tension on soil allowing
pesticides to more easily
penetrate the soil surface.

69. Surfactants
Pesticide sprays come in several types of
formulations and with several types such as
wettable powders, suspensions, and
microencapsulated products, soil
penetration does not happen as readily as it
does for pesticides formulated as emulsions.
An extract from the yucca schidigera plant is
used as a surfactant in many pesticide
formulations and is one example.

70. Borates
• ►Borates are chemical
compounds containing the
mineral boron.
• ►These boron based products
must be ingested for them to
have a toxic effect on insects.
• ►Borates kill protozoa, and
dysentery in the gut of many
insects interfering with their
metabolism, and in many cases
starving insects to death by
taking away their ability to eat.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

71. Borates
•►The common term "boron" is used to describe
DOT (disodium octaborate tetrahyrate).
•►Boric Acid is made when "boron" is combined
with hydrochloric acid.
•►Boron can be mixed with water to form a
solution and when applied to wood will
penetrate the cellular structure making a
termite colonies food source toxic to them.
•►Boron dusts, and baits can be used to control
ants, cockroaches and many other pests.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

72. Green and Organic Pest Control
•All content of this presentation is intellectual property belonging to
Andrew Dzieman A.C.E. All copyrights and trademarks are property of
their respective owners. The book, “The Definitive Guide to Green
and Organic Pest Control by Andrew Dzieman,” associated with this
presentation is available at Amazon.com and other online retailers.
•Used with permission of the author.