In general, the use of chemically-based pesticide can create an in-balance of predatory insects to pest insects as it is not selective in its target and can compound existing problems by eliminating a particular pest’s predator. Likewise, the use of baits, traps, bags and electronic zappers intended to lure, trap and kill insects also tends to make matters worse by attracting additional pests that would not ordinarily have strayed into the target area. Chemically-based pesticide can also incapacitate or cause death for those who suffer from chemical sensitivities and environmental illness and endanger the well-being of pets and children who may wander into treated areas before out gassing ceases. In the case of many sprays and granules, out gassing continues long after the product has dried. Whereas many sprays kill on contact, moth balls and flakes, in particular, are extremely hazardous as their purpose is to out gas toxic fumes into the air for the life of the product in order to kill target insects upon inhalation.
Mothballs are the most toxic and harmful poisons to people, animals and the environment and contain cancer-causing agents.
Know the good guys as all bugs aren’t created equal. Some of them are quite beneficial actually help you to keep pest insects under control. Here are a few common ones:
Bees – pollinators needed for the survival and fruitful production of numerous crops and flowers and honey; will generally not harm but will sting if provoked
Caterpillars – we’ve seen the development and establishment of at least five different species in our backyard that become butterflies frequent and take up residence in the area; all are large (about 2” long and up to ½” diameter) and are bare or extremely furry in various colors
Lady Bugs, Asian Lady Beetles and Praying Mantis – eat other insects, but don’t hurt humans
Dragon Flies – large menacing-looking flying insects that do not harm, sting or bite humans; eats many other insects
Moths – in the clothes closet they are bad guys, but outside the common white moth is a significant pollinator of crops that produce night-blooming flowers and are mandatory when trying to grow crops such as gourds
Spiders and Centipedes – horrible creatures but they do eat other insects; solve your other pest problems and these guys will look for better hunting grounds
Wasps – eat other insects, but will sting humans if provoked
Note: Some of our pest control solutions and recipes use essential oils. These are extremely concentrated plant essences found in health food and vitamin stores. Although they are natural and are used in aromatherapy applications, it is possible to be allergic to some of them as with anything. That said, it’s wise to test to be sure no one in your home is allergic to any of them before using in wide or personal application. Be sure to use 100% pure essential oil from a health food or nutritional supplement store as this is different than oils found in craft stores to scent potpourri which usually contain chemical additives and/or artificial fragrance.
Read our intro on Natural & Low Toxic Pest & Animal Control.
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GENERAL INSECT REPELLANT
Homemade Spray – in a quart sprayer filled with distilled water add 10-20 drops each of eucalyptus,cedar, tea tree, geranium, citronella, rosemary and thyme essential oils; spray around foundation, doors, windows and other spots where insects are known to gain access to the house; to fumigate the whole house use 5 drops each in an old pot (dedicated now solely for this purpose) filled with water and simmer on stove or use a simmering potpourri pot or a plug-in diffuser
Diatomaceous Earth – sprinkled in areas where crawling insects are known to traverse will create an effective boundary; causes lacerations followed by dehydration and death of soft-bodied insects such as ants, beetles, earwigs, spiders, centipedes, caterpillars and others; all-natural product made from fossilized diatoms, a form of algae that has a silica shell; be sure to use horticultural grade which is slightly different the media used for pool filtering which has been heat-treated to increase crystalline structure for filtering; the correct product will often state that it is suitable as an organic pesticide
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PERSONAL INSECT REPELLANT (replaces OFF and Other Deet Products)
Lemon Balm Leaves – keep a pot of this citronella-scented herb outside the back door and rub the leaves on the exposed parts of your body to repel mosquitoes, gnats, etc.; hard to find,but we have plenty to share; can also be used in flavoring and garnishing iced tea and lemonade
Tea Tree Oil – swab some diluted oil on exposed skin, never at full strength on the face;alternatively, mix several drops in a spray bottle of water and mist yourself;this is also an effective antiseptic and anti-itch remedy; you can also add lavender, rosemary and/or geranium oils to the spray mix
Sandalwood – mosquitoes loathe the scent of sandalwood; apply sandalwood oil to clothing; use a sunscreen that contains sandalwood as a primary ingredient
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ANTS
Controlling ants is a cumulative process as they are offended by citrus and will eventually leave to find more hospitable quarters; success is with frequent and regular use of one or all of these methods; if they have been a severe problem for sometime, it may take a season or two to effectively manage the problem
Lemon-Scented Dish Soap – wash affected area with washcloth heavily doused with soap; wash and dry only – do not rinse
Oranges – pour boiling water over orange peels and allow to steep several hours; strain and use as a wash or spray in areas where ants are active
Sweet Orange Essential Oil – apply several drops to a plug-in diffuser to fumigate a whole room or the entire house
Terro Ant Traps – commercial ant traps that use borax as the active ingredient; the least toxic method of control that is 100% effective within a couple of weeks; odorless
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BEES, WASPS, YELLOW JACKETS
Unless there is a serious problem or a hive has been constructed in a less-than-ideal place, killing these should be a last resort effort as they are beneficial in numerous ways including eating other pest insects and pollinating flora; when in distress and killed, yellow jackets will emit pheromones that will attract other yellow jackets in the area to investigate
Homemade – 2-4TBS lemon-scented dish soap to a gallon of water; heavily sprayed on the bee or wasp will stun and kill it
Orange Juice – placed in a small bowl will draw them away; effective, but does fall into the bait/trap category that may result in more activity than is currently present;because the bees will drown in the juice and emit pheromones, the bowl needs to be placed well away from where you are active
Plant Nectar and Pollen-Producing Flowers – Ironically, planting flowers that are known to attract these creatures actually resolves situations where they are a nuisance to humans; when providing a variety of nectar and pollen producing flowers, the bees will be too concerned, and in some cases intoxicated, with the plants to bother humans and will be totally unconcerned with your presence
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CLOTHES MOTHS
Lavender – hang a bunch of dried lavender in the closet or make sachets with the dried blooms for use in dresser drawers to keep moths away; we have plenty of dried lavender to share
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LADY BUGS & BEETLES, STINK BUGS
Lady bugs and Asian lady beetles are predatory and eat other pests and insects and are beneficial to have around and so should be relocated rather than killed if possible; both stink bugs and lady beetles emit pheromones to attract more of their own kind when killed or crushed; both are attracted by light and warmth and tend to gravitate to southern – southwestern – western rooms and walls on warm sunny days primarily in late winter-spring and late summer-fall
Homemade – 2-4TBS lemon-scented dish soap to a gallon of water; sprayed directly on insects, kills on contact but may cause stink bugs to fume
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MOSQUITOES & GNATS
Basil – mosquitoes don’t like basil so plant lots of it around your outdoor activity areas
Sandalwood – mosquitoes loathe the scent of sandalwood; burn sandalwood incense in your outdoor living space to repel them; special incense sticks that look similar to a sparkler are available and can be stuck right in the ground; can be difficult to find though any sandalwood incense or 10 to 20 drops of essential oil in as pray bottle will be effective as well
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SPIDERS & CENTIPEDES
Keep peppermint, spearmint and other mint-scented things sealed as spiders are attracted to that scent
Diatomaceous Earth – sprinkled in areas that these creatures are known to inhabit will create an effective boundary; will kill them within a day or two by causing lacerations followed by dehydration; slightly different than that used in pool filtering systems which has been heat-treated to increase crystalline structure for filtering; the correct product will often state that it is suitable as an organic pesticide
Osage Oranges – a large orange-shaped, bumpy, light green, inedible fruit that when left to dry in areas where spiders frequent will repel them
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SLUGS & SNAILS
Coffee Grounds – sprinkle used coffee grounds around susceptible plants such as hostas and purple coneflower; causes them a burning sensation and they will avoid the treated area
Sluggo – an effective natural solution made from iron phosphate adds iron nutrients to the soil as well; white pellets tend to mold as decaying in humid summer weather
Thanks,
The lemon dishwasher soap and water worked great on the bees