Photo by V. Miller

Feb. 23, 2005

Natural Pesticides

Natural Pesticides from Your Backyard
Adam Ryoma Tazi, 14, Orlando, Fla.
TLC "Hot Rod" Award, Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, 2004

Project background: Adam had heard about the potential dangers of pesticides, including their connection to various illnesses. He wondered if there were safer alternatives. Last year, he discovered that an extract from unripe mistletoe berries kills mosquito pupae. This year, he wanted to compare the extract to commercial pesticides.

Tactics and results: Adam mixed berry extract solutions of varying concentrations and did the same with a commercial pesticide. He placed 20 mosquito larvae in each solution and observed them for 3 days.

Photo by V. Miller

Adam found that 3-percent malathion killed less than 50 percent of the mosquito larvae, while 3-percent mistletoe extract killed 95 percent of the larvae.

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