Worm castings a natural pesticide?

[Warlord]

I read in an article on making worm boxes that a benefit of using worm castings is that the worms create a natural enzyme that repels certain insects and I hope most microbes. Something has been busy making holes in the leaves of the broccoli and cauliflower plants.:mad: I don't know if it's cabbage loopers or not. I need to know if I can use a tea from my worm castings to act as a natural pesticide. I would also like to know the water mixing ratios for making strong or weak tea. Oh, and would it do any good to also spritz some tea on the leafs of the plants or do I have to wait for it to enter the plant via the soil. Thanks for any info. See you in the garden. Warren

[siruami]

Looking at it in a "scientific" manner we can analyze the following:
Casting contain highly Nitrogen, Phosphoric Acid and Potash, it also contains a little of Iron and Calcium; All this elements work like the perfect balance in food for a plant, but... what for a pest?
To eliminate a pest we need what the pest doesn't like, for instance, Ants hate cucumbers, specially the peels, If you want to get rid of Ants just peel cucumbers and pour them in their nest and they will get the message, the bitter the better.
Specially for some fungus, Worm casting will work, however it need to be applied very close to the dripline of the plant because there is where the most feeding occurs, plant will absorb the elements of the casting into their roots and eventually in their leaves, fruits, etc...
I am not sure it will work for insects, it may work for some, but if you have a heavy problem with insects you may consider praying mantis, lady bugs, or other "Friends of the garden"
Here is a link I found time ago about studies made in Worm Casting:
http://www.bestwormpoop.com/studies

Also, there is a book from Donald W Trotter. Ph. D. (don't remember which one) that gives explanation about the pest control that Worm Casting is capable of. He as an article in the link mentioned in the above paragraph.
Hope that helps.

[Warlord]

Thanks Siruami, the site link was most helpful as well as educational. The humble earthworm produces an enzyme called chitinase (your guess is as good as mine on pronounciation) which in turn will (if ingested) disolve an insects stomach lining. Insects are made of Chitin. Nothing like having them pesky critters disolve from the inside out Ha Ha Ha Ha!:D

[nicole82]

What I found useful was the range of Natural Insecticides (http://www.plantdoctor.com.au/horticulture-plant-growers/insecticide-alternatives/) available from plantdoctor.com.au. Pretty reasonable prices too