Ecobreves – CUBA: New Biological Rodent Poison

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HAVANA, Aug 18 2008 (IPS) - Experts from Cuba's Plant Sciences Research Institute have created a new biological product for fighting rodents that attack crops, institute scientist Pedro Pablo Mora told Tierramérica. “This rodenticide has been tested with very good results,” said Mora. The poison was made from leaves of the bush Lantana camara, harvested during flowering during the afternoon hours and dried at room temperature for four days. To the compound were added 10 percent corn flour, 10 percent rice heads, five percent grated and roasted coconut and 10 percent paraffin.

Mora said this natural toxin is in the testing phase and being standardized with existing rodent poisons.

Cuba already has a biological rodenticide, Biorat, from Labiofam SA.