Faq's
Q. Why use cedar oil for pest control?
A. We consider cedar oil from trees that are indigenous to East Central Texas to be the most potent essential oil available for insect control use. All of the cedar oil products featured on this site contain cedar oil extracted exclusively from this Texas region.
Q. Why use an all natural pest control product?
- Anecdotal evidence is mounting to suggest many parasitic and/or other nuisance insects such as fleas, ticks, mites and bed bugs may be developing natural immunity to synthetic pesticides. Many such chemically induced products have likely become less attractive for use to reduce unwanted insect activity. Historically there is no known mechanism by which insects can develop resistance to cedar oil.
- Growing numbers of publicized reports are indicating evidence may exist to suggest that long term exposure to harsh chemicals found in today's synthetic pesticides could have significant negative impact on many health issues of adults, children, animals, plant life and the well being of our entire environment.
- Cedar oil offers an effective alternative to the chemical problem. It is recognized as a minimum risk pest control solution by EPA standards and is exempt from federal registration requirements for pesticide products. Cedar oil consistently delivers quality performance when applied for indoor pest control use. Cedar affects adult and juvenile insects and dehydrates eggs and larvae on contact.
Q. How does cedar oil reduce, neutralize and repel unwanted pest activity?
A. Insect resistant properties are naturally inherent to cedar oil. Throughout recorded history cedar has been recognized to neutralize and repel insect activity. The cedar oil solutions featured on this website are refined and formulated to be easy to use alternatives to synthetic chemicals for pest control. This combined ingredients of each of the indoor and outdoor products are always generally recognized as safe (GRAS) according to EPA guidelines.
Q. How does cedar oil work against non-beneficial insects?
- The indoor products combine cedar oil and hydrated silica. The abrasive silica erodes the exoskeleton and cuticle of adult and juvenile insects and penetrates the insect internally. Insects generally won't survive the bonded silica and cedar oil combination. Anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that many insects in fact do not survive long under these conditions.
- The outdoor products rely on cedar oil that is combined with Ethyl Lactate/Lactic Acid resulting in a water soluble product. Cedar oil is known to repel many insects effectively. The water soluble feature just makes the oil extremely easy to use as an outdoor spray.
- Promotes dehydration. It leaches moisture from many insects bodies. The solution deprives insects of water.
- Triggers interference with breathing. Invokes irritation to the respiratory system of many insects.
- Affects an insects metabolism, control of movement and overall disorientation. This often occurs when insects cross paths with cedar oil. Feeding and reproduction activities are also compromised leaving the insect less adept at overall survival.
- Promotes life cycle disruption. It hastens dehydration and helps dissolve insect eggs, larvae, pupae on contact. This compromises the reproductive cycle and reduces the birth rate of future generations.
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Q. I want to treat my entire home as part of an insect control maintenance program. What products do you recommend for doing so?
A. Dr. Ben's label products and the DG Cedar Oil Bug Out label are primarily intended for indoor and/or personal pest control uses. Dr. Bens are also best suited for directly treating pets against fleas, ticks, mites, etc. Nature's Defender Garden and Agricultural or Nature's Defender Lawn and Kennel labels are primarily intended for outdoor area pest control and include yards and/or outdoor animal environments.
Q. Why have different products for indoor use and personal/pet use vs. outdoor use and what is the difference between the formulas?
A. Dr. Ben's formula is particularly beneficial for indoors as it will not stain or attract dirt when used on virtually any surface. The solution is very powerful at neutralizing and repelling insects, however, Dr. Ben's is not well suited to mix with water nor is it friendly when used directly on plant life. (Do not dilute Dr. Ben's with water. It is designed for ready use) Dr. Ben's effective use outdoors should be limited to addressing spot insect problem treatments away from vegitation. On the other hand, Nature's Defender products are formulated to be both plant friendly and to work very well with water. Periodic rains will actually improve the insect repelling qualities of Nature's Defender. The formula is generally plant friendly, however applications of Nature's Defender during excessive heat or direct sunlight may cause phytotoxic burn to plant life. It is best to spray in the morning or evening hours to avoid this. Nature's Defender is available in both concentrate and ready to use formulations.