A. What is Secco Neem Insecticide?

Derived from the Indian neem (Azadirachta indica) tree, neem oil contains chemicals and natural compounds, such as sallanin and azadirachtin, that help kill and repel mosquitoes. These compounds control mosquitoes in both infancy and adulthood. Azadirachtin, in particular, kills mosquitoes by disrupting hormone production. The antibacterial properties of neem oil also make it effective for controlling various pests. They are biodegradable, non-toxic and harmless to humans or animals. Neem oil is safe to use on lawns, flowers and even fruit trees. Always water the plants before using neem oil to avoid burning leaves.

B. How Secco Neem oil works as a pesticide?

As an insect growth regulator:

It is a very interesting property of neem products and unique in nature, since it works on juvenile hormone. The insect larva feeds when it grows and it sheds the old skin and again starts growing. This particular shedding of old skin is the phenomenon of ecdysis or moulting is governed by an enzyme ecdysone. When the neem components, especially Azadirachtin enter into the body of larvae, the activity of ecdysone is suppressed and the larva fails to moult, remains in the larval stage and ultimately dies. If the concentration of Azadirachtin is not sufficient, the larva manages to enter the pupal stage but dies at this stage and if the concentration is still less the adult emerging from the pupa is 100 % malformed, absolutely sterile without any capacity for reproduction.

As a feeding deterrent:

The most important property of neem is feeding deterrence. When an insect larva sits on the leaf, the larva is hungry and it wants to feed on the leaf. This particular trigger of feeding is given through the maxillary glands give a trigger, peristalsis in the alimentary canal is speeded up, the larva feels hungry and its starts feeding on the surface of the leaf. When the leaf is treated with neem product, because of the presence of Azadirachtin, Salanin and Melandriol there is an anti – peristaltic wave in the alimentary canal and this produces something similar to vomiting sensation in the insect. Because of this sensation the insect does not feed on the neem treated surface. Its ability to swallow is also blocked.

As an ovipositional Deterrent :

Another way in which neem reduces pests is not by allowing the female to deposits eggs. This property is known as Ovipositional deterrence, and comes in very handy when the seeds in storage are coated with neem Kernel powder and neem oil. The seeds or grains obtained from the market are already infested with some insects. Even these grains could be treated withneem seed kernel extract or neem oil; after this treatment the insects will not feed on them. There will be no further damage to the already damaged grains and at the same time when the female comes to the egg laying period of its life cycle, egg laying is prevented.

Other pesticidal activity includes :

(1) The formation of chitin (exoskeleton) is also inhibited. (2) Mating as well as sexual communication is disrupted. (3) Larvae and adults of insects are repelled. (4) Adults are sterilized. (5) Larvae and adults are poisoned.

Mode of applications of Neem pesticide:

The mode of applications, the dosages and the points to be noted during application are explained in detail in the product section of this website. However the EC formulations are mostly applied as aerial sprays. It is also applied as soil drench to some plant species which translocates it through the plant tissue. Neem can be effectively used in Hydroponics, Aeroponics, greenhouses, shade houses, ornamentals, interior-scapes, horticulture, landscapes, nurseries, turf farms, shrubs, flowering shrubs, fruits and nut trees.

Neem as a bio-fungicide :

As a fungicide, neem oil is mainly used as a preventative and when disease is just starting to show. It coats the leaf surface which in turn prevents the germination of the fungal spores. Neem oil is effective against rots, mildews, rusts, scab, leaf spot and blights.

Neem as soil conditioner and organic manure

Neem oil has adequate quantity of NPK in organic form for plant growth. Being totally botanical product it contains 100% natural NPK content and other essential micro nutrients. It is rich in both sulphur compounds and bitter limonoids.

Neem as a fertilizer efficiency improving product

Neem is decomposed only slowly, leading to a slower release of nutrients contained in it. The slow release of nutrients is attributed to the presence to the various extractable principles in oil and these extractives are used as rewarding adjuvant for nitrogenous fertilizers such as urea. It is estimated that out of the total quantity of urea applied to crops, about 50- 70% is lost in various forms, thereby reducing the availability of nitrogen to crops. There is an age old practice of blending neem oil with urea. When neem oil is blended with urea, it forms a fine coating and protects the loss of Nitrogen by denitrification ensuring regulated continuous availability of nitrogen for a longer period, as per the requirement of crops. Neem seed oil also stimulates the phosphorus uptake slightly but had no effect on potassium uptake.

Neem and environment

The natural insecticides, fungicides and bio-pesticides made out of neem have many advantages. Research studies indicate that they are not harmful to humans or animals. The pests will not develop resistance over generations while the beneficial insects like butterflies, ladybugs, etc are spared. The soil is enriched, and neem extracts leave no residue in the environment.

C. 24 BENEFITS OF NEEM OIL

1. IT’S SAFE TO USE AROUND PETS AND WILDLIFE.

Synthetic pesticides that work on contact often build up in the surrounding environment, leaving toxic residue behind that can harm and even kill pets and other animals in the area.
Secco Neem oil, on the other hand, is biodegradable and non-toxic. It’s safe for birds, pets, fish, livestock or other area wildlife when used.

2. IT’S ORGANIC AND BIODEGRADABLE.

Secco neem oil is a natural derivative of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica). This makes it organic and biodegradable.

3. IT DOESN’T CREATE “DEATH ZONES” AS OTHER INSECTICIDES.

Neem oil insecticide does not create a dead zone around treated plants, trees or shrubs like other synthetic insecticides can. It only targets leaf-sucking and chewing insects.
Synthetic pesticides creep away from the sprayed areas to create “death zones” that can kill beneficial insects as well as other animals.

4. YOU CAN USE IT TO CONTROL INSECTS AT ALL STAGES.

Neem oil kills insects at all stages of development — adult, larvae and egg. The active chemical in neem oil, azadirachtin, gets rid of insects in a few different ways:
As an antifeedant
As a hormone disruptor
By smothering, Azadirachtin will force the insect or pest to stop eating the leaves.
When insects come into contact with neem oil, it also prevents the bug from transforming into its next stage of development by disrupting regulatory hormones.

5. IT EFFECTIVELY CONTROLS HUNDREDS OF INSECTS.

Neem oil is an effective pesticide that gets rid of over 200 species of insects, not just a few. Some of the most common include:
Aphids - Mites - Scale - Leaf hoppers - White flies - Caterpillars - Mites - Mealybugs - ThripsR

6. NEEM OIL INSECTICIDES ARE EFFECTIVE AT CONTROLLING NEMATODES.

Nematodes are difficult to control and can be very destructive to plants. Certain extracts from neem kernels have shown to provide good control over root-knot nematodes — one of the most destructive kinds. Neem oil works by preventing larvae from hatching.

7. BENEFICIAL EARTHWORMS WON’T BE HARMED.

While traditional chemical pesticides can harm earthworms, neem oil has the opposite effect by encouraging earthworm activity.
Why is this important? Earthworms are beneficial to garden soil. As they tunnel though the dirt, they create pathways that allow air and rain water to reach plant roots. These little guys also leave behind excrement, known as casts, that contain nutrients for the soil, including potassium, nitrogen and phosphorous. When earthworms die, their decaying bodies also help fertilize the soil.

8. IT CAN BE USED AS A DORMANT-SEASON APPLICATION OR A FOLIAR SPRAY.

Since neem oil can kill insects at varying stages, you can use it as a dormant-season application to kill overwinter pests and eggs or as a foliar spray to repel and kill insects.
Use neem oil as a dormant oil spray to control a number of insects, including:
Tent caterpillars, leaf rollers and other caterpillar eggs that remain on plant leaves during winterAphids that cause leaf curling the following spring
Mites that overwinter on plant leaves
Scale insects
You can also use neem oil as foliar spray during the growing season to control common pests, such as:
Aphids - Spider mites - Whiteflies - Leafhoppers

9. YOU CAN CONTROL LAWN GRUBS WITH NEEM OIL.

Lawn grubs are the larval stage of Japanese beetles, and they can be very destructive to your lawn. They tunnel under turf and nibble on grass roots. You’ll notice large brown or bare spots in areas of high grub activity.
Neem oil also works to control Japanese beetles by preventing them from laying eggs that become destructive larvae. It also inhibits grub growth and repels them from the grass roots.
For best results, spray the lawn with neem oil at night and reapply after rainfall.

10. YOU CAN SAFELY USE IT ON YOUR INDOOR PLANTS.

One of the worst feelings is seeing your indoor plants overrun with aphids.
Neem oil is safe to use indoors to prevent pests and disease. Just spray the leaves to kill pests without having the worry of harming your kids or household pets.

11. IT’S SAFE FOR GREENHOUSE USE.

The conditions in a greenhouse provide the perfect environment for mites, aphids, scale insects and whiteflies. Don’t give these pests a chance! Use Secco neem oil products to prevent these insects from destroying your plants.

12. NEEM OIL IS A GREAT FUNGICIDE.

You can use neem oil to prevent or even kill fungus on your plants. Use neem oil for powdery mildew and other common fungal diseases, including:
Black spot - Scab - Rust - Leaf spot - Anthracnose - Tip blight
To prevent fungi, spray susceptible plants every seven to 14 days until the fungus is no longer a threat. To kill fungi, spray plants once a week until the fungi clears up, and then spray every two weeks to keep it from coming back.

13. IT ALSO WORKS AS A BACTERICIDE.

Neem oil can kill fire blight, a bacterial disease that causes the leaves of plants to wilt and appear as though they have been burned.
To prevent fire blight, you must spray trees while dormant. The bacterium that causes fire blight cankers overwinter on branches, twigs and trunks of trees.

14. NEEM OIL CAN PROTECT YOUR FRUIT TREES, BERRY BUSHES.

Whether you have an orchard or just a few fruit trees in your backyard, you can control the pests that ruin your crop with neem oil. Apple trees are often plagued with worms, the two most common being the coddling moth and the meal worm. These pests enter the apples and make them unfit to eat.
To keep your fruit trees and berry bushes insect free, spray your plants and trees early — before blossoming, then again when the petals drop, and every two weeks after to control these pests.
Common fruit-tree insect that neem oil will protect against include:
Wooly apply aphids - Rose leafhoppers - Tarnished plant bug - Leafhoppers
Berries are often plagued by powdery mildew and other fungal diseases that can be treated with neem oil, including:
Fire blight - Verticillium wilt - Orange rust

15. PROTECT YOUR VEGGIES FROM PESTS AND FUNGUS.

Neem oil has a dual purpose in the vegetable garden as both a pesticide and a fungicide. It works on arthropod pests that often eat your vegetables, including tomato hornworms, corn earworm, aphids and whiteflies.
In addition, neem oil also controls common fungi that grow on vegetable plants, including:
Mildews - Rusts - Leaf spots - Wilts - Stem rots
If you want to use neem oil on vegetable plants, spray them in the evening and again in the morning. Spraying at these times helps ensure you are not causing any harm to beneficial insects, such as bees, that help pollinate vegetable plants

16. NEEM OIL CAN PROTECT YOUR NUT TREES AND OTHER ORNAMENTAL TREES.

Fall webworms, similar to tent caterpillars, are common pests of numerous nut trees, such as walnut and pecan trees. These pests can ruin the leaves, fruits and nuts of host trees. Fall webworms build silky nests in the crotches of tree branches.
In order to eliminate worms and caterpillars on trees, the neem oil must come in contact with the pest when you spray it.

17. NEEM OIL KEEPS THE MOSQUITOS AWAY.

It’s nice to know that what you’re spraying on your plants to protect them from pests, viruses and fungus can also keep your gardening time mosquito free. While neem oil insecticides shouldn’t be applied to your skin because of inert ingredients, you can apply straight neem oil if you wanted to.

18. IT CAN PROTECT YOUR HERBS.

The same pests and fungi that plague your vegetable garden can also attack your herbs. These pests include:
Aphids - Leaf miners - Spider mites - Gray mold - Rusts - Whiteflies
You can spray neem oil on herbs, just as you do other plants. Some herbs may be tenderer than others, especially those with fuzzy or hairy leaves, so spray a small area first to make sure they can tolerate the neem oil.

19. IT COMES IN A VARIETY OF FORMULAS.

Neem oil comes in a variety of formulas and concentrations, so you can find the one best suited for your needs. Neem oil is sometimes mixed with insecticidal soap to help boost the neem oil’s pest-killing power.
You can also find neem products in other forms, including:
Wettable powders - Granules - Dust - Emulsifiable concentrates

20. INSECTS DON’T BECOME RESISTANT TO NEEM OIL.

Insects do not become immune to neem oil pesticides, as they can with other types of pesticides. This means that neem oil remains effective, even after repeated applications.

21. IT DOESN’T POLLUTE WATER.

Because neem oil is biodegradable and non-toxic, it will not pollute ground water or cause toxic runoff into streams and nearby bodies of water. You can use it with total peace of mind.

22. EASY TO APPLY AND CAN BE USED UP UNTIL THE DAY OF HARVEST.

No matter what concentration of neem oil you use, all you need to do is mix it with water and spray it directly on plant leaves. Follow the label’s directions to make sure you are mixing the right proportions of oil and water.
Many pesticides can’t be used during certain stages of plant growth; however, neem oil can be used throughout the planting season up until the day you harvest so your plants are never without protection.

23. NEEM OIL USED APPROPRIATELY WON’T HARM BEES, BUTTERFLIES AND LADYBUGS.

Pollinators are becoming rare. Chemical pesticides inhibit the bees’ ability to gather food, which ultimately leads to their death. However, neem oil when used in smaller quantities won’t harm medium to large hives or the honey bees so you can keep your pollinators and plants alive.
Since neem oil only targets bugs who chew on leaves, neem oil insecticides are safe to use around butterflies, ladybugs, and most other beneficial insects.

24. Urea coating agent

The benefits of urem-coated urea fertilizer are summarized as follows:
- Using urem coated with neem oil improves productivity by 5-10%.
- High profit rate.
- Improve the efficiency of using protein and bring tremendous benefits to the environment.