The history of Pyrethrum as an insect repellent can be traced back to an early Chinese Dynasty where it was grown for sale and passed along the silk routes to Europe.

Pyrethrum is derived from the flowers of Chrysanthemum Cinerarifolium and possesses a unique combination of insecticidal properties. It contains not one but at least six distinct related insecticidal ingredients called Pyrethrins. Insects affected by Pyrethrin will try to escape from the threatening area.

The pyrethrins circulating in the air kill any insects that come into contact with them but they are also a very effective repellant (insects find it extremely irritating).

For example, sometimes when people first start using an Ecomist dispenser, they notice an increased amount of cockroaches because they find the pyrethrins so annoying that they come out of their hiding places during the day (we call this the flushing action of pyrethrins).

Once they are out of their hiding places the insects are killed by the pyrethrins. Pyrethrins are a natural insecticide that break down very quickly in daylight - that's why the dispensers constantly release new amounts into the air.

That property also means that your home is not left with active insecticide residue all over the surfaces. With the dispenser running, the area in which it is operating effectively becomes a no-go zone for insects.

• Flies
• Ants
• Mosquitoes
• Sandflies

• Spiders
• Fleas
• Moths
• Silver Fish

• Cockroaches
• Wasps
• Other Insects

Pyrethrum affects insects by prolonged exposure (several minutes) even at very low concentrations. Because of its organic nature, pyrethrum breaks down within about two hours of being dispensed into air.

Therefore to effectively use pyrethrum it is necessary to dispense it continuously into the environment in small doses. This is where the battery operated aerosol dispenser comes in.