Mealy bugs ahhh!!! Never had what to do??

[Pelepel]

"Neem oil is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree. It acts as an insect growth regulator and a repellent. It has been used in India and Asia on humans and animals for centuries. Essential oils can be dangerous for cats but Neem is an expelled oil, much like olive oil, so it can be used straight on mammals. Tea tree, for instance, is an essential oil made through a distillation process – totally different from an expelled or pressed oil."

Is Neem Oil Safe to Use on Cats?

Using Neem Oil For Dogs

If your pet is drinking it in PURE form (must be diluted in a shampoo or water) can't be good for it. Trust me, I'm an animal lover, and have worked as well had them my entire life. I do LOADS of research before I blindly assume something herbal or drug is safe. Nothing in this world in ever 100%, and pets or people react badly to things that are okay for others. With anything topical, you first apply a tiny amount and watch for any type of reaction on the skin.

Here are the possible dangers: Neem Safety, Neem Side Effects And Neem Toxicity but it appears more safe than most modern remedies.

I understand the annoyance when ignorant people merely throw "whatever" remedy at their pets and it costs them their health, possibly their life without doing research first. But used correctly, it is so much better for your pets (and you!) than those nasty dips, drops, collars, shampoos...so on. The smell is...interesting...but has been very effective on our orchids especially.

[Rowangreen]

Thanks for the links Pelepel.

Sorry, but the first one is total rubish. If being an expressed oil rather than a distilled one made any difference then that would mean water squeezed from a bog would be safe and rainwater wouldn't. Those are the natural equivalents of pressing and distilling...

Second one is clearly advertising hype, and nicely illustrates my point with phrases like "no nasty prescription drug". I guess that would include aspirin (original source willow bark), penicilin (derived from a mold used traditionally by Native Americans), valium (I wonder why that sounds a bit like Valerian...) etc, etc. Truth is they all work because of 'active chemicals', whether grown in a lab or a leaf. The only real difference is that 'nasty prescription drugs' are more likely to be known dosages, uncontaminated, single chemicals rather than a mix, and tested.

3rd link is more like it... I haven't got time to read all the side links. It does sound like it is probably safe, but I'd still be cautious, since it clearly does effect the body as a whole, with reduced fertility and reyes syndrome being possible in humans. Us humans, being omnivores, are much better at processing various plant chemicals than cats, who naturally have a much more restricted diet. They are much more vulnerable than us to long term damage to kidneys etc.

[camille1585]

Veracity of the original statement aside, water is not oil, so you can't compare!

[Rowangreen]

Yes and no. *G*

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Rowangreen

Yes and no. *G*

??

[Pelepel]

Of course. I know there are betters one, just trying to juggle a few things are once atm.

Naturally, anything in a controlled lab and stamped "FDA" approved for us here will have said controlled dosages, sterilizations, and perhaps a "study." Which isn't a bad thing at all. It is good in fact. More often than not, other side effects flare up, helping one problem and creating another in some cases. At times drugs are approved that later are deemed very harmful and are pulled from shelves. We have recalls for baby Tylenol because of bad batches and infants die from it. As with any substance ingested or used topically, there is always risk. Be it a herbal or synthetic. Even food or pet kibble. Same goes for what the vet passes out to cats, dogs, exotics, livestock. Most likely, it is fine. But there are risks long term possibly.

Merely my point is nothing is ever 100% for any living organism. Some people use neem on their cats, others don't. Others use prescriptions. Whatever a person is most comfortable with, all you must do is use your better judgement. I'm not saying neem is a cure all, or trying to sell the stuff. Just an opinion. As there are risks in every day life. I haven't scientifically studied neem for a decade for possible side effects, but I'll tell you driving through Los Angeles traffic daily with the windows down is terrible for you, haha.

Our ancestors had to use natural remedies for thousands of years and as to seeing we are still here, they had to have worked!

In conclusion, I agree with you in the fact there are possible risks. But stated above, everything is risky. Spilling ghost chili sauce on my pants could be risky. Or having my friends throw me on a surfboard during 20 foot sets. Risky. Standing underneath a hundred angry seagulls...a risk I'm not willing to take!

[Arenalbotanicalgarden]

Lets kick this up a notch. My neighbor informed me that a handful of madera negro (Gliricidia sepium) leaves will "female dog slap" mealy bugs, scale and aphids on orchids and crops and also whoop fleas and ticks on canines and bovines.
Warm some water, put in a jar, seal and the next morning it's ready.
Problem is I doubt you could find them in the spice section at Kroger.

[Pelepel]

Originally Posted by Arenalbotanicalgarden

Lets kick this up a notch. My neighbor informed me that a handful of madera negro (Gliricidia sepium) leaves will "female dog slap" mealy bugs, scale and aphids on orchids and crops and also whoop fleas and ticks on canines and bovines.
Warm some water, put in a jar, seal and the next morning it's ready.
Problem is I doubt you could find them in the spice section at Kroger.

"female dog slap" never heard it expressed that way!

Very interesting, however. I've always been inquisitive of natural remedies. I often love to study how the indigenous peoples of the California Coast often used a vast array of plant life that grows around where I live. My fiance is an archaeologist that has been all over, but specializes in California Coastal archaeology and we often hear of very intriguing things in regards to such!

[Rowangreen]

Pelepel, you are right, everything does have a risk!

[Bud]

when I was a newbie...I was positive the more expensive chemicals will really do the trick(I have neem oil almost full=had it for 2 yrs never to be used so if anyone wants it) because if you put oil on the leaves of any plant and expose it to the sun; it will burn ...IDK... but I have the notion that oil also closes the pores of leaves and wont let it do its job...
Bayer and those other stuff eradicates the bugs but it still comes back!
so, I was in search of the best bug killer...thats why as of now: I will keep on doing my soap and cinnamon extract...no matter how many times I spray the plants...at least it will not injure my plant.
as in any bug killer: I suggest repeat application again the next week...and even if theres no more after a month repeat it again...I dont know where the bugs come from: the ceiling vent maybe??!! the door when you open it...IDK...