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It's the season for insect invasions in the home, get ready to get rid of them with natural remedies. Photo: DavidDennisPhotos, Flickr
Gentle ways to repel or get rid of bothersome insects.
Even though movie studios have tried make us fall in love with ants and other insects, most of us aren't thrilled to find ants and spiders crawling around in our cupboards -- no matter how cute they are. Unfortunately, canned, chemical sprays may be deadly in more ways than one (recent studies linked them to Parkinson's disease). Plus, the odor of traditional bug repellents is less than savory. Luckily, there are tried-and-true natural bug repellents and killers that will get the job done without harsh chemicals.
We got some tips for repelling bugs naturally from our favorite bug man, Richard Fagerlund, an entomologist and author of numerous books, including The Bugman on Bugs: Understanding Household Pests and the Environment and his latest on his website about the misuse of pesticides, Deliberate Acts of Madness. To find out about some of his best bug tips, read on:
Ants
Fagerlund says that most ants can be controlled with homemade bait made from peanut butter (two tablespoons), jelly (two tablespoons) and boric acid (one teaspoon). Put the bait in a small disposable container. To eliminate ant mounds outside, try this trick: Dampen the mounds with water, then pour on baking soda and a bit of white vinegar -- the mixture will bubble and kill off the ants.
Mosquitoes
Planting basil outside is known to repel flies and mosquitoes, but Fagerlund says that he is excited about a new natural repellent with the main ingredient of catnip from Preventive Pest Control, a bug control service with locations nationwide. "But, don't try to use catnip alone to repel mosquitoes," Fagerlund explains. The new recipe will be available for consumer purchase on Preventive Pest Control's website, says Greg Hunt, owner, who is feverishly working to have the product available this season.
Spiders
Spiders can easily be killed with a mixture of water (40 percent), alcohol (40 percent) and dish soap (20 percent). Put the mixture in an inexpensive sprayer and spray on the spider, advises Fagerlund.
Flies
To repel flies, fill a one gallon clear plastic zip top bag less than halfway with water, then hang it near the top of your door, on your railings or from your eaves (you can do this by using duct tape, or, by gathering together and tying the top of the bag with rope, rubber bands or tape and then hooking it gently onto a nail without making a hole in the bag). "Flies have compound vision so when they see the water, they will think there are hundreds of flies nearby and they won't be interested in coming around anymore," Fagerlund says of this proven method.
Cockroaches
To control cockroaches, Fagerlund recommends Niban Bait, made from boric acid (it is available only online at Professional Pest Control Products).
Want more natural bug repellent advice? For a list of other natural ways to knock off bugs, take a look at The Dollar Stretcher website, where readers wrote in with their best ideas. Fagerlund says he is also a fan of Green Advantage Organics, a new source of organic bug killers that he says work well. If you are an insect-lover, at least you know that you got rid of them the green way.
Even though movie studios have tried make us fall in love with ants and other insects, most of us aren't thrilled to find ants and spiders crawling around in our cupboards -- no matter how cute they are. Unfortunately, canned, chemical sprays may be deadly in more ways than one (recent studies linked them to Parkinson's disease). Plus, the odor of traditional bug repellents is less than savory. Luckily, there are tried-and-true natural bug repellents and killers that will get the job done without harsh chemicals.
We got some tips for repelling bugs naturally from our favorite bug man, Richard Fagerlund, an entomologist and author of numerous books, including The Bugman on Bugs: Understanding Household Pests and the Environment and his latest on his website about the misuse of pesticides, Deliberate Acts of Madness. To find out about some of his best bug tips, read on:
Ants
Fagerlund says that most ants can be controlled with homemade bait made from peanut butter (two tablespoons), jelly (two tablespoons) and boric acid (one teaspoon). Put the bait in a small disposable container. To eliminate ant mounds outside, try this trick: Dampen the mounds with water, then pour on baking soda and a bit of white vinegar -- the mixture will bubble and kill off the ants.
Mosquitoes
Planting basil outside is known to repel flies and mosquitoes, but Fagerlund says that he is excited about a new natural repellent with the main ingredient of catnip from Preventive Pest Control, a bug control service with locations nationwide. "But, don't try to use catnip alone to repel mosquitoes," Fagerlund explains. The new recipe will be available for consumer purchase on Preventive Pest Control's website, says Greg Hunt, owner, who is feverishly working to have the product available this season.
Spiders
Spiders can easily be killed with a mixture of water (40 percent), alcohol (40 percent) and dish soap (20 percent). Put the mixture in an inexpensive sprayer and spray on the spider, advises Fagerlund.
Flies
To repel flies, fill a one gallon clear plastic zip top bag less than halfway with water, then hang it near the top of your door, on your railings or from your eaves (you can do this by using duct tape, or, by gathering together and tying the top of the bag with rope, rubber bands or tape and then hooking it gently onto a nail without making a hole in the bag). "Flies have compound vision so when they see the water, they will think there are hundreds of flies nearby and they won't be interested in coming around anymore," Fagerlund says of this proven method.
Cockroaches
To control cockroaches, Fagerlund recommends Niban Bait, made from boric acid (it is available only online at Professional Pest Control Products).
Want more natural bug repellent advice? For a list of other natural ways to knock off bugs, take a look at The Dollar Stretcher website, where readers wrote in with their best ideas. Fagerlund says he is also a fan of Green Advantage Organics, a new source of organic bug killers that he says work well. If you are an insect-lover, at least you know that you got rid of them the green way.
Reader comments (Page 1 of 3)
How stupid to tell anybody how to kill spiders, when you really should be glad to have them because they kill other insects like moskitos!
ReplyThe water in the bag does NOT work for flies..I've seen it used many many times...and flies still attack all around it.
ReplyI agree, "water bags" do not when it comes to flies.
No doubt. Blowing air works better.
The water bag is working for me, and it is keeping bees away from the door that they usually congregate at !
The water in the bag w/4 pennies DOES WORK !!! I have one at my front door which is always open w/no screen & haven't had flies in the house since hanging it up.
Water in the bag has always worked for me. Maybe you are not using the right water !
I have used the bag of water for flies for two years now and I find it does work wonderfully. I have a garden near the house and that will draw flies but we have only had one of two a season since I put up my two bags. But I also drop a pennie in the bag. It does do something to the flies because I used to find them on the door just waiting for it to open but no longer. And now I don't have to buy those bags you hang up outside that draws the flies and drowns them. After a couple days they started stinking. YUK With these simple water bags I don't even worry about leaving cake or anything else out for a while on the kitchen table. I just don't have a problem anymore with flies.
TRYED ALL THE HOMEMADE STUFF DOES NOT WORK!!!!! SO JUST BUY INSECT KILLER AND HAVE IT OVER WITH....................................
ReplyWhile I focus on Human and Animal Rights which are connected in many ways (mostly Veganism, factory farms, look up some videos they are sick and all unncessary), I think we should deter (be clean, take away attactants, coexist as the article starts off) rather than be so quick to kill everything (animals or little insects) that annoys us, show respect, its not just our planet, which we are distroying. Its obvious that they run and are concious, but the central nervious system and ability to suffer are worth consideration issue? It takes little effort to leave others alone. Besides sprays are made to kill, so slowly harm us too.
ReplyAre you serious? KILL THEM ALL !!!!!!
Casey you are a tree hugging NUT.....Go out back at my house at night and see if you can become one with our mosquito''s.."NOT"
Be clean then, if something such as a tick attacks me then sure do whats necessary. When outside I wear clothes or protective barrier to deter mosquitos, no dumb dumb I dont let them suck me dry either psychos.
I agree with Casey. Do your best to deter any household "pests". They have as much right to live as we do. Fix your screens and use repellent on your clothes when outdoors in buggy areas. Don't squash or poison something just because it exists.
If it does become necessary to rid your home of some infestation, look for non-toxic, then the least toxic solutions you can find.
I have noticed that after our town sprays the sidewalks with herbicide (why bother?!) , there isn't so much as a moth to be seen for weeks. Can't be healthy and is completely unnecessary.
I would gladly deter all insects for all the reasons you list. I am going to try to fly water bag thingy tomorrow because it is a flytastic year this year. Yuck.
Thats the most rediculous, dumb, stupid,craziest, paganistic,retarded,halfwit, and any other thing you can think of, statement I have heard sense Clinton left office !!
Wow . My Uncle Walt just died and had Parkinson's. He lived in the country and use to spray his whole property with Cloridain for years . And I've known for a long time it was bad to inhale or get in your eyes. But I thought it would attack your Liver .
ReplyChloidane was some serious stuff...............I had powder post beetles chewing up my house on the lake..I sprayed them with chloidane and in 2 days they were dead....It was a deadly chemical to humans and insects though..................
We'll be trying some of these, also heard that to get rid of slugs just place a shallow bowl of beer and they will gather to drink it and they'll drown in it. Haven't tried it but others wrote it works good.
ReplyIf pet ears have problems use a natural remedy for ear infections in dogs , cats, birds, horses, whatever.
For natural treatment for pet ear care which reduces pain and kills ear yeast infections in pets ears
or ear mites if present.
Great ear drops for dogs and other pets.
and if the beer doesn't work on the slugs, try drinking the beer instead; in fact, if you drink a few, you won't care about the slugs, whatsoever; problem solved