Researchers at Drexel University have discovered that the artificial sweetener behind Truvia could be a potent, but safe, pesticide.
They found that erythritol, a type of sugar alcohol found in sweeteners, eliminated the larvae of flies within three days. That is long before they reach adulthood. They also found that flies, when feeding on the sugar substitute, barely produced any eggs, if at all.
Their lab studies on other species are showing promising results. Other labs have also published follow-up work on different insects, suggesting that erythritol may be effective on a wide array of pest insect species.
“Truvia Bug Spray” . . . sounds like a sweet idea to me.