Dealing with ants, cockroaches and other creeping, crawling and flying household pests can be an unpleasant - and toxic - ordeal....
Case Studies
Traditional extermination products rely on chemicals that can pose health concerns for children, pets or other family members. Luckily, the number of chemical-free options for keeping your home free of pests has grown as more people become aware of potential health risks. Here are a few options to consider.
By far the cheapest, most effective means of pest control is keeping them out of your house in the first place. Ants are the most common household pest and can be deterred with regular sweeping, vacuuming and wiping down countertops. Wipe sticky residue off jars of peanut butter, honey and other food products before putting them away.
Rather than deadly chemicals, new traps lure bugs with body chemistry. For instance, traps mimicking a female bug's pheromones or body chemistry can lure males to a sticky glue board trap.
If it's time to call in a professional, find an Earth-friendly exterminating service. These companies use an approach known as integrated pest management, which combines knowledge of pests' specific biology with environmentally sensitive elimination tactics. A green exterminator will meet with you to discuss your household and personal preferences and design a plan that reflects priorities, such as child and pet safety.
While the sound of a bug zapper eliminating winged intruders may be satisfying, these devices certainly receive mixed reviews. They are very effective at attracting flying insects of all types, however they are likely to attract insects that wouldn't otherwise bother you. This is because the zappers' light attracts mosquitoes, as well as other insects that probably wouldn't come to your garden in the first place without the zapper's beacon light. These devices work best to tackle fly problems in controlled areas like basements, garages or building hallways.
Ants: Mix a tablespoon of grape jam with ¼ teaspoon of boric acid and ½ teaspoon of wet cat food. Leave several small balls of this concoction in the infested area. You can also try garlic, bay leaves, mint leaves or cloves.
Cockroaches: Add a tablespoon of Ivory liquid soap to a litre of water. Fill a spray bottle with this mixture and spray directly onto cockroaches. Or make a mixture of 2 tablespoons of Tabasco and a litre of water, then spray problem areas.
Article provided by Lavender Pest Control