Are Moth Balls Harmful to Plants & Shrubs?

Function

• According to Jack DeAngelis, PhD, a retired entomologist for Oregon State University and the writer for the website Living With Bugs, mothballs contain two pesticides, para-dichlorobenzene and naphthalene. These chemicals evaporate into the air around them, killing or deterring any moths nearby. They do not dissolve or melt into the soil, and are most likely harmless to plants.
  
  

Effectiveness

• Although moth balls are harmless to plants, they should still not be used around them. In outdoor areas, mothballs are not very effective, as they will evaporate quickly in the rain, and leave no lasting deterring effects after they're gone.
  
  

Warning

• Using moth balls outside around plants and shrubs is dangerous, and may even be illegal. Mothballs are a licensed pesticide only for moths. Using them to kill gophers, moles and other garden pests is against the law. Also, cats, dogs and even small children could become dangerously ill or even die if they accidentally ingest a mothball, so they should not be used in areas where they can be easily reached.