To the Editor:
We need to stop spraying these so-called safe oils on yards to get rid of ticks. They are killing all the insects, not just ticks. All these landscape companies are advertising that it only kills ticks; they kill a lot more than just ticks. People need to take precautions to keep the ticks off themselves, not spray insect-killing oils all over their yards.
I have not seen anywhere the number of insects, especially flying insects in my yard and the adjacent woods. Just remember sprays that kill ticks are harmful to other insects as well, and it’s happening everywhere. There has been a 75 percent reduction in flying insects throughout the world. I remember when in summer, if you drove down any road on the Island, you would notice insects hitting the windshield of your car. That is food for the birds as well; now you don’t see that like previously. Stop spraying your yard, please. You live in the country where insects also live. You need to accept that fact and learn to live with it.
Chas de Geofroy
Chilmark