We Asked Exterminators Their Favorite Organic Pesticides

No one likes to share their home with unwanted pests, but reaching for harsh synthetic pesticides isn't always the answer. While traditional pesticides can help reduce the amount of creepy crawlers in your space, they also come with some serious downsides — including bad side effects on your health and biodiversity. Instead, you might be wondering if organic pesticides can effectively tackle pests. The tricky part is figuring out which options actually work and which ones are bogus. To get the inside scoop on what works best, House Digest asked three pest control experts about their favorite organic pesticides.

Our trio of experts included John D'Abruzzo (Truly Nolen's Manager for Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and the Treasure Coast in Florida), Dr. Chris Christensen, (the owner of Truly Nolen Pest Control in Lexington, Kentucky), and Steve Tschanz (owner of the York-Simcoe Truly Nolen franchise in Canada). Each of them shared their go-to organic pesticide picks, so with their expert advice, you'll be ready to take on mosquitoes, bed bugs, cockroaches, and other household pests — without polluting your space and your ecosystem with toxic chemicals. 

Whether you want to pick something up at the store, make a natural all-purpose insect repellent, or hire local pest control professionals, knowing about the different types of organic pesticides will make it much easier to find the right fit.

Organic pesticides are substances that can be used for pest control, obviously — but unlike synthetic ones, they don't use man-made chemicals created through industrial engineering processes. Instead, organic pesticides are made with natural sources such as minerals, plants, or animals, as Truly Nolen's John D'Abruzzo –manager for Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Treasure Coast – explained in his exclusive interview with House Digest. When used correctly, swapping out synthetic pesticides for organic options comes with plenty of benefits. "They are environmentally friendly, water contamination is reduced when chemical runoff occurs, and insects are less likely to develop resistance to naturally derived ingredients," D'Abruzzo stated.

However, that doesn't mean they're completely risk-free either. "While they are more environmentally friendly and less toxic than synthetic pesticides, they can still be harmful if not used properly and label instructions are not followed," D'abruzzo added.

With that said, when applied properly, organic pesticides can be effective against a wide variety of bugs. "There is an array of organic pesticide materials that can control insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts, chewing mouthparts, and even soft-bodied insects that are susceptible to dehydration," D'Abruzzo said. They're especially useful for insects that reproduce quickly and thrive in different environments. If you're purchasing and applying these biopesticides yourself, always read the label first to make sure that the product is effective against your target pest.

Mosquitoes and cockroaches are common yet annoying pests to have in your house. Unfortunately, traditional bug sprays that are sold against them are toxic to pollinators like butterflies and bees, and even sometimes toxic to pets. The good news is that making your home less attractive to mosquitoes and cockroaches doesn't have to involve toxic chemicals. In our exclusive interview with Dr. Chris Christensen — owner of Truly Nolen Pest Control in Lexington, Kentucky — he recommended using Insect Growth Regulators as an organic alternative to traditional pesticides. These products mimic hormones and help reduce insect populations without polluting or disrupting the surrounding environment. "They are, in many cases, specific to a particular pest group, for example, cockroaches. So there is not a general impact on non-target insects and other animals," Christensen explained. "They have no impact on mammals, including man, so that provides another layer of careful usage."

Another great option against mosquitoes is Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), as recommended by John D'Abruzzo. This is a species of naturally occurring bacteria that lives in soils and poisons insects when they ingest it. "As a biological insecticide, [Bt] can be used to control mosquito larvae when applied to standing water, where mosquitoes breed," he added. While Bt isn't known to be harmful to humans, it can sometimes cause skin reactions, said D'Abruzzo. 

Finally, Steve Tschanz recommends looking into Mosquito Barrier."[It's] a garlic product for mosquito control for clients that do not want pesticides in their environment, but do not want mosquito bites." This option is more of a repellent than a true pesticide, though, according to Tschanz.

Steve Tschanz, who owns the York-Simcoe Franchise of Truly Nolen in Canada, told House Digest in our exclusive interview that he turns to a biopesticide called Aprehend for bed bug control. This solution is made with naturally occurring fungal spores, formulated in an oil-based spray that creates a barrier wherever bed bugs travel. As the bed bugs walk across the solution, they pick up fungal spores with their legs and bodies. Then, when the bed bugs return to their hiding spot, they carry the fungal spores back with them and spread them throughout the entire population.

Bed bug infections are also effectively treated using Pyrethrins, an organic pesticide which comes from the flowers of Chrysanthemum plants; These are a common biopesticide against various pests, including bed bugs. As John D'Abruzzo explains, "Pyrethrins are naturally occurring from plants, and are biodegradable and eco-friendly," explained D'Abruzzo. "They're fast-acting and have little to no residual effect."

While biopesticides can be used by homeowners and pest control professionals alike, bed bug infestations can be tough to tackle without professional help. If you're dealing with bed bugs, beware that putting off calling professional pest control until an infestation is out of control is a mistake that many people make when dealing with bed bugs, and that you might regret it in the long run.

Pyrethrins, which Truly Nolen manager John D'Abruzzo recommends using, can be used for a wide range of general household pests, in fact. Pyrethrins kill insects through direct contact when mixed with what is known as a "synergist," an additional component that makes the biopesticide more effective and helps prevent bugs from reemerging after they're first paralyzed by it.

Insect Growth Regulators, which Chris Christensen recommends, are also effective against a wide range of economically important pests, including cockroaches, fleas, subterranean termites, and stored product pests like cigarette and drugstore beetles. As mentioned earlier, Insect Growth Regulators mimic hormones, enabling pest control professionals to directly target insect populations without affecting the broader environment. "When you review the history of man's efforts to manage insect pests and their damage, it was the dream of early entomologists to be able to impact insect populations by modifying the physiology of insects. Insect Growth Regulators do just that," Christensen said. In addition to not affecting non-target insects and other animals, Insect Growth Regulators could also be a sustainable option because treated populations of insects don't seem to develop resistance to them, as Christensen explained.

With all that said, it's clear that many types of pest problems can be solved by more sustainable, organic solutions. With that said, each situation is unique, and for particular types of infestation (such as bed bugs) calling in an expert early can prevent far worse damage later.