present fibrous deterrents can also be applied to selected parts of plants so that pests are discouraged from reaching the part of the plant that they typically infest for example the present fibrous deterrents can be applied to the growing tips of trees such as mahogany and pine seedlings to developing cotton bolls to prevent bollworm complex to developing fruits and vegetables such as beans corn artichokes plume moth and the like in another aspect the present fibrous deterrents are used to simulate oviposition substrate for example the present fibers simulate corn silk and female moths lay eggs on the fiber instead of the corn silk in this aspect the present fibrous deterrents are useful against the corn earworm and can be used for example on sweet corn and seed corn the present invention contemplates treatment or prevention of infestation by any pest hence the present fibrous pesticides and deterrents can be used with any insect or pest known to be detrimental to humans animals structures crops ornamental plants grasses and other cultivated plants such insects and pests include those discussed in this application as well as those known to one of skill in the art thus all kinds of pests can be blocked or deterred including insects molluscs e g slugs and snails birds rodents small mammals large mammals herbivores and the like.