Learn to live with pests, says Waitrose as it bans bug spray

THOUSANDS of British gardeners reach for the bug spray when confronted with a slug or caterpillar attack.

But they should learn to peacefully coexist with the pests, Waitrose has said, as it announced plans to remove the chemicals from its shelves by the end of the year.

The supermarket will stop selling products containing chemicals including acetamiprid, a type of neonicotinoid, and “potentially harmful” products used to kill ants and slugs.

Instead it is offering natural alternatives such as barrier methods that stop slugs reaching vulnerable plants, and suggests that gardeners “just chill” when presented with an infestation.

‘As a result, both humans and wildlife will be less exposed to potentially harmful chemicals’

A spokesman said: “It’s easy to panic when you first notice things like caterpillars eating holes in your plants but you don’t need to go for the bug spray and it can often do more harm than good. What we view as ‘pests’ are actually an essential part of the food chain and without them, the whole chain will be in jeopardy as if you remove the pest, you remove a vital source of food. So the best thing sometimes to do is nothing at all.”

Co-op supermarkets also removed “high-risk synthetic pesticides” this year, including glyphosate and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.

Nick Mole, policy officer at the Pesticide Action Network, said: “We are delighted that Waitrose has committed to end its sale of high-risk synthetic pesticide products. As a result, both humans and wildlife will be less exposed to potentially harmful chemicals.

“We hope that this move will encourage other retailers to take pesticides off their shelves.”