Things to know about biopesticides

Over the last decade or so, homeowners nationwide have taken a more hands-on approach to lawncare. Whether they're getting down and dirty themselves or sharing their thoughts with their landscaping professionals, homeowners have taken a heightened interest in their yards.

Abig reason for the increase in interest is the real estate boom. Whereas yards used to be places where the kids could play and drift off into worlds of their own, nowadays a well-kept yard is likely to be the first thing a prospective buyer notices about a property and something that could allow homeowners to tack on several thousand dollars to their asking price when it comes time to sell.

Whether a homeowner has a green thumb or a yard-friendly checkbook, it's important to consider the environment when keeping lawns in tip-top shape. While traditional pesticides are the first thing to come to mind, as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) points out, there are alternatives, such as biopesticides, that can leave your lawn looking as good as ever and help the environment at the same time.

What Is a Biopesticide?

Biopesticides are pesticides derived from natural materials. Such materials can include certain minerals, animals, plants or even bacteria.

Biopesticides can be classified in three categories:

+ Microbial pesticide - These pesticides have a microorganism, such as a fungus or virus, as their active ingredient. These can be used to control a variety of pests, but each active ingredient is typically quite specific for the target pest. Some fungi, for instance, are only effective against certain insects, while other fungi might contain certain weeds.

+ Plant pesticide - When genetic material is added to a plant, that plant produces substances that act as pesticides. This is essentially genetic engineering. Ascientist can take a bacteria strain from an existing pesticide and then add that strain to that plant's own genetic material. Should this work, the plant essentially becomes self-sufficient in fighting a particular pest, as it will begin producing the pesticide all on its own.

+ Biochemical pesticide - While traditional pesticides are synthetic, biochemical pesticides are naturally produced substances that control pests. These can include scented plant extracts that attract insects to traps or substances that interfere with an insect's mating ability.

Why Use Biopesticides?

For over a decade, the EPA has encouraged the development and use of biopesticides. There are many reasons for this, many of which are derived from the less risky nature of biopesticides.

One of the biggest advantages to biopesticides is their pestspecific nature. Most biopesticides are only effective against specific pests. That limited spectrum means they're not harming animals such as birds, other insects or mammals. Traditional pesticides tend to be less exclusive, and as a result, can be far more harmful to surrounding life forms.

Another advantage is the relatively short decomposure period of biopesticides. Because they decompose more quickly than conventional pesticides, there is less opportunity for exposure. Adding to that is the fact that biopesticides tend to be effective in small quantities, a property many conventional pesticides cannot claim. Couple that with their ability to decompose quickly, and the risk of additional pollution diminishes greatly.

While biopesticides are advantageous, weekend lawn warriors should know their effective and proper application requires substantial knowledge about lawn pests. To learn more, visit the EPA Web site at www.epa.gov.