Tree that kills insects

1994/07/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ekologia

In India they want to produce a natural biopesticide using the fruits of a tree called nim or margosa (Azadirachta indica). The tree, 10-15 meters high, is from Burma and India. It is currently colonizing drylands in Asia and Africa and is generally used as firewood or construction timber.

The tree, however, has fruits rich in oil, which are the ones that now want to be used in the industry. The fruits contain a powerful insecticide called azadirachtina, which kills 200 species of insects. It should be clarified, however, that this insecticide does not affect mammals, birds and bees, or other favorable insects.

The manufacturing industry of this natural insecticide will be developed in southern India, in the city of Tumkur, in the state of Karnataka. Each day you will use 20 tons of fruit.