Canola Oil Biopesticide

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The oil is processed from the seeds of four species of oilseed rape plants, Brassica napus, Brassica juncea, Brassica rapa and Brassica campestris of the family Cruciferae, the mustard family.

Researchers think the oil fights off insects by changing the external form of the leaf cover or by working as a bug irritant.

This oil may be applied on a broad variety of plants.

Foods for Humans

Citrus, corn (field, and sweet), fruit trees (apples, apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums, and prunes), nut trees (pecans, almonds), sugar beets, soybeans, vegetables (asparagus, beans, beets, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, collards, cucurbits, eggplant, lettuce, lima beans, kale, mustard greens, peas, potatoes, peppers, radishes, spinach, squash, and tomatoes), figs, melon, olives, and small fruits (grapes, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, and cranberry).

Animal Feed

Forage (alfalfa).

Non-Food and Outdoor Residential and Indoor

Bedding plants, ornamental and shade trees, houseplants.

Target Pests

Adelgids, aphids, apple red bugs, asparagus beetles, beetle larvae, blister beetles, cabbage loopers, cabbage worms, cankerworms, caterpillars, Colorado potato beetles, diamondback moth larvae, earwigs, flea beetles, fruittree leafrollers, fungus gnats, grape phylloxera, gypsy moths, harlequin bugs, Japanese beetles, lace bugs, leaf beetle larvae, leafhoppers, leafminers, leafrollers, Lygus bugs, mealybugs, Mexican bean beetles, mites, pear psylla, plant bugs (mature and immature), psyllids, sawfly larvae, scales, spittlebugs, springtails, sowbugs, spotted cucumber beetle, stinkbugs, tent caterpillars, thrips, webworms, and whiteflies.

Dangers to the Geographic Area

Injury or death to animals, birds and other land-based organisms are not expected due to the low toxicity of the oil and its speedy decay in the environment. However, canola cannot be applied to any surface covered with water, as marine organisms can be affected.

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