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**Grendelmort**

74894 Wrote:

....not to mention the bees and all the other beneficial insects :-(

I have not noticed it bothering bees or other good insects (I still see them around the plants). The spray coats the plants and makes the unappetizing to what likes to eat them. Bees, lacewings, preying mantises all eat the other bugs so it doesnt bother them.

This is not a poison - it simply keeps plant eaters from having dinner.

**74894** lop guest User ID: 74894 04-15-2012 12:52 AM

Grendelmort Wrote:

74894 Wrote:
....not to mention the bees and all the other beneficial insects :-(

I have not noticed it bothering bees or other good insects (I still see them around the plants). The spray coats the plants and makes the unappetizing to what likes to eat them. Bees, lacewings, preying mantises all eat the other bugs so it doesnt bother them.

This is not a poison - it simply keeps plant eaters from having dinner.

I shouldn't have been so glib sorry. Yes it is a poison due to the tobacco. Not being from there I am unsure of the brand used- it would likely have been treated with various chemicals during its process, therefore not organic. Nicotine is lethal to butterflies by contact alone [they taste through their feet]. The predatory insects will still be affected eventually by ingesting the tainted insects. The bees take the pollen back. We know what harm the synthetic nicotine derivative neonicotinoids does to the insect world- how is the home-made stuff any different?

I agree with the other poster regarding neem oil. As a commercial gardener I've found it to be very effective. However, it is not merely a deterrent but an insecticide, as is tobacco.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neem

chookaKahn nli

**LoP Guest** lop guest User ID: 90408 04-15-2012 03:23 AM

I advise people to only use this stuff in the evenings. The reason is Bees. The nicotine will mess them up, so spray it late when they have headed off to their hives for the night.

**LoP Guest** lop guest User ID: 90408 04-15-2012 03:25 AM

Grendelmort Wrote:

74894 Wrote:
....not to mention the bees and all the other beneficial insects :-(

I have not noticed it bothering bees or other good insects (I still see them around the plants). The spray coats the plants and makes the unappetizing to what likes to eat them. Bees, lacewings, preying mantises all eat the other bugs so it doesnt bother them.

This is not a poison - it simply keeps plant eaters from having dinner.

yes it does bother the bees. They get the nicotine on them and it messes up their nervous system, even though they don;t eat the leaves or whatever. You need to use the stuff late in he day. Jerry baker spoke at length about this too.

**Wicman**

I can testify that this will work. But everyone should keep in mind that "organic" does not mean that its safer than manmade chemicals for the same purpose. Pyrethrum is "organic" and in its pure form will kill damn near anything...very toxic shit.

I always laugh when people talk about using soapy water to kill bugs....have you read whats in soap lately? Jptdknpa

**LoP Guest** lop guest User ID: 90657 04-16-2012 08:37 PM

neonicotinoids http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/0...s-gardens/

**LoP Guest** lop guest User ID: 65790 04-16-2012 09:05 PM

Grendelmort Wrote:

74894 Wrote:
....not to mention the bees and all the other beneficial insects :-(

I have not noticed it bothering bees or other good insects (I still see them around the plants). The spray coats the plants and makes the unappetizing to what likes to eat them. Bees, lacewings, preying mantises all eat the other bugs so it doesnt bother them.

This is not a poison - it simply keeps plant eaters from having dinner.

Does it work on the potato beetles?

That's the only pest I have a problem with and wouldn't
need to use it during blossoming, but it would be good to
keep the bugs down during early and late plant development.