If you have bedbugs in your house, you might be desperate to get rid of them by any means possible. But be careful — the cure for bedbugs is sometimes more harmful than the little pests themselves. The EPA issued a report last week cautioning homeowners against a recent spate of pesticides that make unrealistic promises about their effectiveness and low prices. In addition, the EPA warns against indoor use of any pesticide labeled for outdoors, as doing so can make you, your pets, and your family sick.
The organization offers a few tips on how to eliminate and prevent bedbugs without using pesticides, including washing and drying clothes at high temperatures, removing clutter, vacuuming frequently, and sealing cracks and crevices. If you simply must use pesticides, be sure to read the label to see if the product is approved for use against bedbugs.
Do you have any horror stories about bedbugs? How did you get rid of them?
Everyone knows Orkin. Especially pests. That red diamond "Orkin" logo is like a harbinger of doom for ants, termites and biting/eating/gnawing insects everywhere.
Orkin recently released a list of helpful tips for a successful BBQ. Not surprisingly, the tips had nothing to do burger grilling time and everything to do with keeping insects--particularly mosquitos--away.
Since it is BBQ season, I am passing along Orkin's tips:
Apply an EPA-approved insect repellent on exposed skin and clothing to deter mosquitoes.
Empty standing water from birdbaths or flowerpots to reduce mosquito habitats.
Thin vegetation around the home to help reduce locations that can hide mosquitoes, and bee and wasp nests.
Fit screens and tighten seals properly on doors and windows to prevent pest entry.
Cover food and drink containers to help limit food sources for bees and wasps.
Call a licensed pest control professional for nest treatment and removal, and mosquito and other summer pest control services.
People who experience severe allergic reactions to stings should consult a physician immediately when stung.
The part about eliminating standing water in the yard is the most important, in my opinion. Mosquitoes only need a tiny amount of water in which to lay their eggs. Hundreds and hundreds of eggs.
As a bonus, check out this Orkin video on backyard BBQ pest prevention.
I'm curious to hear of any home pest prevention "remedies" or all natural means of warding off mosquitoes and the like. Anyone have some tried and true solutions that don't require EPA approval? Organic pest control, maybe?
With warmer weather upon us, homeowners are readying their homes' defenses against the multitude of infiltrating pests. Be it termites or ticks, spiders or squirrels, the home can sometimes feel like a castle under siege.
Here on the shore of Lake Champlain, we're facing the constant aerial assaults from swarms of midges. A cross between a mosquito and black fly (in appearance, anyway), these fast-multiplying nuisances have inundated the homes on the lake, clinging to siding, sneaking through screening and seeking out light and CO2 sources.
Fortunately the little buggers don't bite, but it's a race from door to car everyday and a battle to keep the midges from flying into your eyes, ears and mouth. Somehow they are always waiting for me in my car, and I have to drive with all the windows down to flush them out.
Some research online found me on this helpful midge website that suggests spraying the siding and eaves of the home down to kill the insects, particularly on the leeward side of the house, where the midges alight to escape the wind. I think I'll be staying away from insecticides for the time being.
As the image shows, many of the midges are falling victim to the spiders that spin their webs in the corners of the home's exterior. Many of the webs have collapsed under the collective weight of the tiny trapped insects. I'll tell you this: I won't be killing any spiders I see anytime soon. In this battle the arachnid and I are clearly allies.
This Sunday is Daylight Savings. That's right: Everyone in the States (with the exception of Arizona and Hawaii) gets an "extra hour of daylight."
So what will you do with your extra hour? Here are a few suggestions for ways that you can make the most of Daylight Savings:
- Spend some time in the garden. Yes, it's about that time to get the garden plot ready for the growing months. Better yet, build a compost pile. This will provide natural nutrients for your plants, flowers and veggies and help reduce waste. See how to build a compost pile on your own.
- Hold a yard sale. I love the people in my town who live for the weekend so they can pull out all their old "junk" onto the lawn, affix price tags to each and sip lemonade (or stronger beverages) while watching cars pass by. I love that after this weekend they get an extra hour to do it! Seriously, it's spring cleaning time. Follow these guidelines to hold a successful yard sale.
- Repair cracks in your driveway and walkways. I don't know about everyone else, but the snow is just about all gone up here in Vermont, exposing unsightly (and unsafe) cracks in the driveways and walkways all around town. Take the extra hour to repair these problems. It's easier to do than you think.
- Clean your grill! The extra hour means a longer bar-b-q, but that also means a grimier grill. Don't put up with it. Take a few minutes and properly maintain that crucial instrument of a successful spring and summer.
Nature-Cide's latest line of natural insecticides might not be a triumph of the latest scientific discovery, but it is putting old science to good use. I'm talking about a good ole, all-natural mix of cedar oil and cinnamon to kill those rampaging ants in your home.
Nature-Cide's fumes are toxic to ants upon contact, and since all ants breathe through their bodies, a quick squirt should do it. How do the ants die? According to the literature, the ants "are quickly overwhelmed and become impaired. If no escape is available, they exhaust themselves to death, simple as that." And if escape IS available, they run like mad back to the colony where they tell their fellow workers, "You are NOT going to believe what just happened to me."
Actually, the Nature-Cide also causes the ants to prematurely molt, or shed their exoskeleton, which then causes death. Fascinating, and a little morbid. Personally, I think there are more creative ways to bring about ant death. I'd like to see an insecticide that causes ants to either spontaneously combust or bite their own thorax off. Because insect eradication should be entertaining, too.
How have you dealt with an ant problem in the past?
The new R-Plus Insulation from Terminix is like the kid in high school who did everything well. As most plodded along pulling B's and girls' braids, this Renaissance Man hit home runs for the baseball team, played drums for the popular high school rock band and wrote brilliant plays in rhyming iambic pentameter. So does Terminix's new insulation relegate all others to the realm of mediocrity. What, your insulation only keeps out the cold? Boooooring.
Here's a bulleted list of what R-Plus has going for it:
- Saves the environment. R-Plus is made from 87% recycled materials, like old newspapers.
- Kills termites. The insulation is bonded in a patented process with boric acid, which controls pests like termites, cockroaches, ants and silverfish.
- Qualifies for Federal Tax Credit. You could save up to $1500 by purchasing R-Plus.
- Saves up to 20% in heating and cooling costs. R-Plus is Energy Star-rated. Ever heard of it?
It's quite a resume. Sadly, R-Plus could not be reached for comment. It was volunteering at the local soup kitchen before heading off to a Chemistry study group.
Would you consider R-Plus for your insulation needs? How about for Homecoming King?
The outdoor wedding I attended a couple of weekends ago could have used this product. The Mosquito Mister bills itself as "the fastest way to clear a yard of mosquitoes." Let it run for three minutes in your yard and it will clear a 2,000-square-foot area for as long as six hours, which includes ridding the area of mosquitoes, gnats, no-see-ums (hate those) and flies. Just in time for grilling and Father's Day. Mosquito Mister is available nationwide at several hardware stores. Use the company's store locator to find the dealer near you.
