Posted on 05/23/2016 9:56:58 AM PDT by BenLurkin
And malaria thanks to the ban on DDT.
Not all birds were subject to eggshell thinning. Pretty much only birds that feed off of fish- osprey and bald eagles and brown pelicans. Bald eagles got it the worst because they were feeding from fish nearest agricultural fields and urban runoff, and DDT wasn’t breaking down, it was accumulating.
The environmentalists went after malathion as well at the time as I recall, and then of course everyone had termite problems.
We use permethrin for that now. Problem is, permethrin is toxic to cats.
Its natural form, pyrethrum, made from chrysanthemum flowers, isn’t toxic to cats but breaks down in sunlight, so it is good only inside the barn. The chrysanthemum has been used at least since the Napoleonic wars to rid the French of fleas and the dreaded louse.
“Its natural form, pyrethrum, made from chrysanthemum flowers, isn’t toxic to cats but breaks down in sunlight, so it is good only inside the barn....”
If I’m not mistaken, pyrethrum is even (or was) certified for use in organic farming methods. Either way, I use it, and it works on most all but the toughest of insects such as Mexican Bean Beetles, Squash Bugs, or full sized grasshoppers. But it even works on those when they’re young and still soft. But because it DOES break down rapidly in sunlight, it requires a daily application until the results are achieved. Good stuff!
DDT. We have rachel carson to thank for millions dieing over the years because of her inaccurate spew...silent spring.
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