Pyrethrum Extract

Uses of Pyrethrum

Pyrethrum's unique combination of effectiveness and safety makes it valuable across multiple sectors.

Agriculture

The agricultural sector is a major consumer of pyrethrum, where it is used to control a broad spectrum of pests on various crops without leaving harmful residues. Farmers spray pyrethrin-based insecticides on crops to protect them from mites, ants, aphids, whiteflies, and caterpillars . Because pyrethrum degrades naturally within hours, farmers can harvest and sell their produce the very next day after application—a significant advantage over synthetic pesticides that may leave residues for months . In organic farming, pyrethrum serves as a critical tool for pest management.

Public Health

Pyrethrum plays a vital role in combating mosquito-borne diseases. It is manufactured into spiral-shaped mosquito coils that emit smoke repelling mosquitoes while remaining harmless to humans . This has made pyrethrum an important weapon in the global fight against malaria, which sickens over a million people annually and kills more than 400,000, many in sub-Saharan Africa . Pyrethrum-based products are also used in residential misting systems and large-scale vector control programs.

Home and Garden

Consumers encounter pyrethrum in numerous household products. It is the active ingredient in many household insecticide sprays targeting flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and ants -7. Pet owners use pyrethrum-based shampoos and sprays to control fleas and ticks on dogs (though caution is needed with cats, which lack certain enzymes for rapid pyrethroid breakdown) -7. The flower's insect-repelling properties are so potent that simply growing pyrethrum plants near homes may help repel sand flies that spread leishmaniasis .

Industrial and Livestock Applications

Herders in Kenya and other regions rub pyrethrin ointments on their cattle to repel flies and ticks . In food processing facilities, microencapsulated pyrethrum formulations help control pests without contaminating products. Studies are also investigating pyrethrum's effectiveness against desert locusts, with field trials showing a pyrethrin-based spray killed more than 96% of locusts within 24 hours .