Insecticidal_Soap1

Insecticidal Soaps
IPM of Alaska
http://ipmofalaska.homestead.com/files/soap.html
Insecticidal soaps control many targeted pests with fewer potential adverse effects to
the user, beneficial insects and the environment as compared with traditional
pesticides. Insecticidal soaps work only on direct contact with the pests. The most
common soaps are made of the potassium salts of fatty acids. The fatty acids disrupt
the structure and permeability of the insects' cell membranes. The cell contents are
able to leak from the damaged cells, and the insect quickly dies. There is no residual
insecticidal activity once the soap spray has dried.
Benefits of Insecticidal Soap

Insecticidal soap works best on soft-bodied insects such as aphids, mealybugs,
spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies. It can also used for caterpillars, and leafhoppers,
though these large bodied insects can be more difficult to control with soaps alone.
The addition of horticultural oils can increase the effectiveness of soap for harder to
kill insects. Lady beetle adults, Bumble bees, and syrphid flies are relatively
unaffected. Soap can be used with many beneficial insects, however predatory mites,
green lacewing larvae, and small parasitic wasps (such as the Encarsia,
Trichogramma and Aphidius wasps) can be harmed with soap. Once the spray has
dried, however, beneficial insects can safely be reintroduced into the treated area.
Soaps have low mammalian toxicity. However, they can be mildly irritating to the skin
or eyes. (See Application Safety) Insecticidal soaps are biodegradable, do not persist
in the environment, and they do not contain any organic solvents. It is less likely that
resistance to insecticidal soaps will develop as quickly as to the more traditional
pesticides. Resistance within the insect tends to develop more quickly with materials
that have a very specific mode of action. A material that affects the insect's nervous
system, for example, has a greater chance of developing resistance in a shorter
period of time. Insecticidal soaps can be used in rotation with other pesticides with
more specific modes of action to help slow the development of resistance. It is also
possible to tank-mix soaps with a reduced rate of another pesticide. However,
mixtures with foliar nutrients or pesticides containing metallic ions, such as zinc or
iron, may be physically incompatible or phytotoxic.
Limitations in the Use of Insecticidal Soap

Once an insecticidal soap spray has dried, there is no residual activity because
soaps work only on contact. Therefore, if an insect has not been coated with the
spray, it will not be affected by walking over or ingesting plant material that has been
treated with soap.
Insecticidal soaps should be applied when conditions favor slow drying to maximize
effectiveness, e.g., in the early morning hours with dew coverage or in the early
evening. Avoid treating with soaps on hot sunny afternoons which promote rapid
drying of the material. Thorough coverage is vital for the soap to be effective: Spray
thoroughly, but not beyond the point of runoff. Repeat applications may also be
needed as determined by follow up scouting or monitoring.
As with any contact insecticide, familiarity with the biology and life cycle of the
targeted pest will lead to more effective management. Many types of pests feed and
hide on the undersides of the leaves. Spraying only on the upper surfaces will have
no effect, as the treatment will not come in contact with the targeted pest. (see Spray
Coverage)
Guidelines for Using Insecticidal Soap

All soaps are long chain fatty acids, but not all soaps have insecticidal properties.
Insecticidal soaps are specifically formulated to have high insect-killing properties,
while being safe for most plant species.
Insecticidal soap works on contact only. Insecticidal soaps kill susceptible insects by
washing away the protective coating on the surface of the insect and by disrupting
normal membrane functions inside the insect. The insects must come into direct
contact with the spray droplets for the material to be effective. Good coverage is
essential. The soaps have no residual activity toward insects, but repeated
applications may have damaging effects on some types of plants.
Water Quality and Insecticidal Soap Effectiveness

Water hardness reduces the effectiveness of insecticidal soaps. Calcium, magnesium
and iron precipitate the fatty acids and render them useless against the insects. It is
important to use the purest water possible. Conduct a "jar test" to determine if your
water is compatible with the soap. Mix the concentration of soap that you intend to
use with water in a glass jar. Mix and allow to stand 15 minutes. If the mix remains
uniform and milky, then your water quality is adequate. If a scum develops on the
surface of the water, then conditioning of the water will be necessary. The water can
be conditioned using a commercially available non-nionic buffering and conditioning
agent. Insecticidal soaps may foam; if your sprayer has an agitator, a defoaming
agent may also be added. Insecticidal soap is simply a highly refined soap.
Spray Coverage
Good spray coverage is essential for adequate results. Spray equipment must be
clean and operating at peak efficiency. The proper configuration of nozzles for good
coverage must by utilized in order to wet both sides of the leaves and growing points
of the plants. Some of the new sprayers that create a fog-like spray may also
improve coverage. Spraying in the evening or early morning hours so that the spray
droplets do not dry out quickly may also improve the effectiveness of the application.
Phytotoxicity
Insecticidal soaps may cause phytotoxicity (toxic to the plant) symptoms, such as
yellow or brown spotting on the leaves, burned tips or leaf scorch on certain plants. In
general, some cole crops and certain ornamentals are sensitive to burn caused by
soaps. Multiple applications in a short time interval can aggravate phytotoxicity. In
addition, water conditioning agents can increase phytotoxicity. A small spray strip
should be applied and observed before a full-scale application is made if there is a
question concerning sensitivity. Mountain ash, Japanese maple, jade plant, lantana,
gardenia, bleeding heart and crown of thorns are known to be sensitive to soap.
Certain cultivars of azalea, poinsettia, begonia, impatiens, ferns, palms and
succulents may also be sensitive. When uncertain, spot treat a portion of the plant,
and wait at least 24 hours to see if any phytotoxic symptoms develop before treating
an entire group of plants. Plants under drought stress, young transplants, unrooted
cuttings and plants with soft young growth are more likely to develop phytotoxic
symptoms and should not be treated with soap. Soap mixed in hard water may be
less effective and more toxic to the treated plants. A precipitate may be formed when
the metal ions (e.g., Calcium, iron or magnesium) found in hard water bind to the
fatty acids in the soap.
Rates
The concentration of the spray is more important than the amount of soap applied.
Usually insecticidal soaps are used as a 2% solution. If water is increased or
decreased, then the amount of soap must be increased or decreased accordingly to
avoid phytoxicity.
Pests Controlled
Insecticidal soaps are used against soft bodied insects and mites such as aphids,
thrips, white flies, spider mites and immature leafhoppers. Insecticidal soaps have
been about 40-50% effective against these pests.
Soap sprays, alone or in combination with horticultural oils or botanical oils, are also
valuable in the management of certain plant diseases, most notably Powdery Mildew.
Repeated applications may be necessary to adequately control high populations of
pests, and close attention should be paid to all details outlined above to achieve
maximum control.
Application Safety
Even though soaps have low toxicity to humans, they should always be used with
caution. Read and follow all label directions.
Many landscapers and gardeners have tried to reduce their use of traditional
pesticides by using less toxic insecticidal soaps, only to be disappointed with the
control achieved. In many instances, the poor results were due to water type, failure
to apply the soap directly on the pest, or application for insect species which are not
affected by soap.
Homemade soap sprays, made from dish or laundry soap, do not work as well. Make
it too strong and you can damage your plants, not strong enough and the pests will
only get cleaned. Some soap products contain materials such as scents and
detergents that may also harm your plants. It is advisable to use commercially
available insecticidal soap (such as Safer®, or M-Pede®), or pure castille soap. If
price is a concern, buy the concentrate form. Insecticidal soaps can be purchased at
most home and garden supply sources and discount stores in Alaska. If you choose
to make your own solution with liquid soap, test it first to make sure it will not damage
your plants. (see Phytoxicity) One recipe is: one teaspoon of liquid soap such as mild
Dove®, Pure Ivory Soap®, or Dr. Bonners® or pure castille soap, per quart of water.
Do not use extra strength, grease-cutting, or anti-bacterial soap.
References to product brand names in this article do not imply endorsement. IPM of Alaska is not a contractual applicator of pesticides,
nor do we recommend the use of pesticides. Pesticides listed in this article do not imply a recommendation by IPM of Alaska.

Insecticidal_Soap1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Insecticidal_Soap1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Insecticidal_Soap1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Insecticidal Soaps

Benefits of Insecticidal Soap

Limitations in the Use of Insecticidal Soap

Guidelines for Using Insecticidal Soap

Water Quality and Insecticidal Soap Effectiveness

You might also like