Caffeine, A Natural Insecticide?
Caffeine is used in chocolate, soda, coffee and tea. Caffeine is produced by plants. Humans love caffeine products. Chocolate is such a sweet taste to almost everyone that tries it. Not long after tasting chocolate most people begin to love it. Some people even begin to crave the taste of chocolate on a daily basis. The other caffeine products have similar effects on people. Soda products can create addictions for some people. I know several people who have to drink diet cola every morning. They prefer this over orange juice and other healthier morning drinks. Tea is known to be a healthy drink. However, it does contain caffeine and many people drink tea because of this. Caffeine is most definitely found in coffee. Many people have become addicted to coffee because of caffeine.
It is important to understand the potency of caffeine. In humans it causes the blood to flow and alters our body chemically. If caffeine can affect humans, then common sense dictates it will affect creatures smaller than us. For example, everyone knows it is a very bad idea for dogs to eat chocolate. Dogs that have eaten chocolate have become very sick or died. If humans and dogs are affected by caffeine, surely insects can be affected too. Today, caffeine is used as a natural insecticide. Botanical insecticides have been utilized for many years. But caffeine specifically, is a more
recent utilization as natural insecticide.
Studies have proven that caffeinated plants ward off insects in natural environments. It could be the coca beans or the leaves of the caffeinated plants, but insects are clearly repelled by such plants. Scientists today are still trying to understand how to utilize caffeine as a natural insecticide. But clearly recent experiments prove that caffeine is effective as an insecticide. Combining caffeine with other pesticides increases that pesticide almost 10 times. Caffeine is very powerful. A homemade diluted caffeinated spray can effectively be used as insect repellent.
Caffeine is a small white powder. Insects sometimes are affected severely by insecticides and simply sprayed on. So if a gardener for example, wanted to repel certain insects from his favorite plants, he can use a caffeinated spray. Of all natural insecticides, caffeine is the most dangerous to insects. For the most part it will leave the insect paralyzed or cause it die soon. Yes, some of the insects will die within a few hours or few days. This is not true with other natural insecticides. But caffeine is a very strong natural insecticide.
Scientists are still trying to learn how to best use caffeine in pesticides. But more and more people are learning about this discovery. People will now try to create their own insecticide, but they should be really careful handling caffeine. We've already seen how caffeine is addictive and coffee, tea, chocolate and soda. Handling concentrated caffeine in its white powder state could be harmful to humans. It may be best to purchase caffeinated natural insecticides when retailers make them available.
The next time you see insect pests invading your garden or personal space, offer them a cup of coffee or a piece of chocolate. No need to be harsh, try being friendly (I'm joking of course).
