Bed Bug Pesticide

What are your options? There is the mainstream once a month spot treatment that is recommended by Vets. And those work to some degree but to what end? They are poisonous chemicals that you are putting on your pet and every time you touch your pet you are having contact with those poisonous chemicals yourself. Have you ever wondered why the instructions say not to get it on your skin? If it is not safe for your skin, is that something you want to put on your pet who lives and in some cases sleeps with you? Both over-the-counter and veterinarian-prescribed flea-killing topical treatments are pesticides that enter your pet's internal organs (livers, kidneys), move into their intestinal tracts, and are eventually eliminated in their feces and urine. Not only that, but the humans and other household animals who closely interact with pets who have been treated with these chemicals, can be affected by the toxins. All the "active" ingredients in these spot-on preparations - imidacloprid, fipronil, permethrin, methoprene, and pyriproxyfen - have been linked to serious health effects in laboratory animals.

There are safe natural flea and tick options provided my Mother Earth. It makes sense to me that we are part of the Earth so it makes sense that the Earth would provide everything we need for health and well being. I have built a business on this premise and I continue to find alternative and sometimes far superior methods to conventional chemical and drug therapies.

Diatomaceous Earth

You may have heard of this but not known exactly what it is or how to use it on your pets. Diatomaceous Earth is one of natures greatest gifts to us. Sprinkled onto your pets and brushed in it will eliminate all fleas, and ticks. It works by microscopically scratching the outer layer of the insect which causing it to dehydrate and die. Usually within 24-48 hours. It odorless and safe and can also be sprinkled into bedding and carpet.

Essential Oils

Plants produce essential oils as their own survival technique to repel bugs. This makes essential oils great insect repellents for animals (and humans, too). Essential oils are all natural and will kill most fleas within a few seconds. They will leave your pets' coat healthy and vibrant while working at a cellular level to boost the immune system. For centuries, they have been used in a variety of ways to kill and repel fleas, ticks and other biting insects. Some of the more common oils that act as flea and insect repellents are: lavender, citronella, cedar, peppermint, eucalyptus, geranium and lemongrass. Used by indigenous peoples for insect repellants, essential oils provide safe, long lasting protection against fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, flies and gnats. Diluted essential oils can be sprayed or wiped onto you and your pet with no worries about detrimental health effects.

Dietary Tips

Adding thiamin (vitamin B1) and or brewer's yeast to your pets daily food can be quite effective at repelling insects. This will give off an odor that can keep insects away but you won't smell anything. The biggest key to flea and tick prevention - and to your dog (or cat) having a strong immune system - is proper species appropriate nutrition. A healthy diet of fresh foods (NOT processed kibble or canned foods) will do wonders to keep pests away.

Bathing and Grooming

Use only natural shampoos that contain essential oils. Work the shampoo into a thick lather and leave on your pet for at least 15 minutes to kill all the fleas. Regular grooming with a flea comb will remove fleas easily and there are special tick combs for safe tick removal.

You can easily rid your pet of fleas and ticks fast with natural alternatives. You can find the very best products for natural flea and tick control by visiting Alternative Animal.

Roxanna Whittington is the creator of Wormfree Naturally and the owner of Alternative Animal, your online resource for back to natural pet care products and information. What you don't know may be harming your animals. Download your free report "Possible Side Effects of Chemical Wormers" at http://www.alternativeanimal.com

In order to avoid flea contaminates, take care of pets and animals during the start of flea period and become meticulous with regards to vacuum cleaning as well as all round cleaning up. By doing this, fleas and other insects will likely not have enough opportunity to turn into developed creature on their own dogs or cats, inside their animal's bed linens or perhaps in their very own carpets and rugs. Typically the particular date to commence treatment method will be different year upon year, based on environment as well as moisture content.

Generally in most regions of the United States, flea period usually lasts from the month of March or perhaps April until the month of November or maybe December. All of the states bordering the Pacific Ocean along with the majority of the southern area of states within the U.S. do not have periodic time away out of fleas and other insects. Flea months out there are prevalent for the next twelve months. Fleas and other insects are living just about everywhere on the planet. Flea months are marginally diverse place to place, nevertheless areas having warmer, damp environments experience fleas all year long.

Cozy, moist weather conditions are excellent climatic conditions meant for bugs. In the course of the later part of springtime as well as throughout warmer summer months, most locations encounter episodes of fleas. On the other hand, fleas and other insects usually do not are concerned about the actual calendar. As a consequence of climate-controlled residences, fleas and other insects very easily reproduce within mostly yearlong in the event that property owners usually do not get rid of fleas, flea ova as well as flea larvae.

Click here for more information about flea season or know about how big is a dog tick.

Pests can have ruinous impact on the health of your family and if it's not controlled at the right time, they can multiply, that is breed very quickly and can cause the maximum damage possible.

Hence, an effective pest control system is the only way to get rid of these irritating creatures. There are various quick remedies which is handy which you can get commercially in the market, it might be in powdered form or gel or in sprays. It is mostly available in the spray form which can be used where the pests are. Or if it is an out of control condition, you can always rely on a reputed pest control company. They can help you out in your problem, rendering a good service within a short span of time and without any hassles.

Pest Control Company's are increasingly becoming popular recently because of the rapid breeding of the pests in homes, offices and in many places which can ruin the health of people and also cause damage to the place they live. For example, they can dirty the place, rats can do anything and everything, it can bite materials like clothes, leather any many more. So it is best advisable to go for a good pest control company which has all the most modern techniques and innovations in the field of pest control, to solve your trouble.

Pest control department generally specializes in giving personalized service to people, depending on their requirements, type of pest, damage caused, and structural condition of the house or office. They have a team of professionals who can come to your place and assess the situation and advise methods by which they can exterminate these pests without wasting much of your valuable time and money. They also consider the health risks that can be caused especially to children during the course of pest control services. Most of the pest control company use natural methods and pesticides which are analyzed and certified and hence they are safe for usage, which cannot have any hazardous effects to the environment.

Once the service is done, make sure you have a periodic examination of the already affected areas and all the possible areas where you expect pests to set in, and maintain it well, secondly, follow proper sanitation practices all time, even after all these kind of precautions if you still face the problem of re occurrence of pests, get a pest control service, but this time go for a good company who can find out the reason of the pests re occurrence and can give a solution for it.

Peterson is an expert author for bed bugs. He has written many articles about wasps exterminator, Moles, Silverfish, bedbugs. For more information visit our site bed bug extermination. Contact him at avonpestcontrol@gmail.com

Fire retardants, present in almost all bedding, except certain organic materials that are naturally retardant, are known to give off chemical fumes that can be harmful to your health. Stain resistant solvents are used to keep food spills or bodily fluids from staining your expensive mattress, sheets or comforters. A great idea until you realize that fumes from those same solvents may be absorbed into your skin or breathed in as you rest through the night. Pesticides can be present in bedding to help keep bugs out of your bed. Again a good idea you may think, except when you realize that you are lying there breathing in their fumes all night even if only in microscopic amounts.

And then there are the materials from which the bed is made. There is polyurethane foam as well polyester fiber in sheets and pillowcases which are again made from petrochemicals. It is true that some polyesters are natural but most that are used in bedding materials are synthetic and people with sensitive skin should be wary of bedding materials containing polyester.

The chemicals in bedding most often cited as potential sources of concern are pesticides, herbicides, fire retardants, stain-resistant solvents, the various substances in synthetic fibers, and formaldehyde. Quoting Doctor Rosalind Anderson of Anderson Laboratories Inc., after studying some of the best-selling mattresses, who knew that most mattresses are chemical "wastebaskets" full of potentially health damaging material, For instance most mattresses contain polyurethane foam and the chemicals from which polyurethane is made are known carcinogens.

Over the years we have been told that materials manufactured from petrochemicals are safe but, are they really. It seems to me that staying with natural and organic materials is a safer alternative. Natural and organic wool, organic cotton and latex foam provide all the comfort you could want without the risks of chemicals seeping out of your bedding and into your body, either through your skin or in the air you breathe, as you rest.

To make you bed safer, keep your current bed and use barriers such as mattress covers made of high quality organic cloth to separate you from the harmful chemical filled mattress or replace your bedding altogether with a natural organic sheets, pillowcases comforters or duvets and even an organic mattress.

Do you want to know how safe your bed is? Go to http://www.care2.com/greenliving/quiz-healthy-bed.html# and take the quiz. To purchase Organic bedding, organic sheets or organic duvets go to http://www.organicbeddingplus.com and get a better and healthier night's sleep.

"Living in the south", I am not sure if it's the weather this year, or the insects are just getting used to the normal chemicals we usually use to treat our home and yards. We prefer using natural products whenever possible, but trying to find a natural pesticide that actually works is very difficult.

There is however, some great alternatives that are all natural and 100% safe, not only to pets, but to humans. Even new born puppies and kittens, and nursing mothers. These products which are made from USDA grade oils, are clear and non-staining oils that can be applied to furniture, bedding, skin, and carpets. They also do not contain any harmful aerosol propellants.

When applying sprays for fleas and bed bugs pay close attention to dark areas, under beds, closets, in between cushions, under mattresses, beds and furniture. The female flea will seek out dark locations to lay their eggs.

For Pets:
Most of these natural products can be applied by simply spraying on pets coat liberally and rubbing in, being careful not to spray into pets eyes. The oils that are in these products actually suffocate the insects.

"Killing them instantly." These natural products come in a variety of different ingredients, make sure to check that there are no propellants added in the ingredients.

Spray all areas your pets frequently lay, or are around most of the time. Paying special attention to their bedding and carpet or rug areas.

"Important" If you are using toxic prescription spot treatments like the kind you apply to the back of the neck, then you need to read this. Our dog has cancer and seizures that were caused from using these types of flea preventatives. We were not informed upon purchase that this could happen in Collies, Collie mixed breeds, German Shepard's or Shepard mixed breeds.

Unfortunately, most pet owners are not aware that the products they are using to treat their pets for fleas and ticks come with health hazards. These hazards are not limited to their pets but also to humans who come in contact with them. If you are using a collar treated with a pesticide, then you or your children touch that collar now your skin is absorbing that very same pesticide. This being the case especially with children who do not wash their hands after playing with their pet.

For Bed Bugs:
For the most part people tend to treat for bed bugs the wrong way. You should first spray all bedding with the product of your choice killing the insects. Then carefully, fold the all the bedding material into a bundle and immediately wash in hot soapy water. Be sure to spray the mattresses and box springs top and bottom, also under bed and carpets thoroughly. If your mattress has a removable cover be sure to follow the same steps above.

There are many alternative "All Natural" products out there claiming to work.

All natural "Natures Defender" is that alternative. 100% Safe, easy to use, and biodegradeable. Simply spray where insects are present and death is instant.

Kills fleas, roaches, ants, bed bugs, ticks, grub worms, mites, no-see-ums, chiggers, mosquitoes, termites, earwigs, slugs, root maggots, army worms, crickets and other non-beneficial insects.

Safe to use around the farm on newborns, dairy, equine and other farm animals.

Originally designed for our troops in Iraq, the army specifically sought a natural product to combat desert sand flea infestation. This specially formulated spray was determined by Iowa State University Scientists to be the overall first choice for the treatment of these types of infestations. Natures Defender works no matter what the climate conditions are in your area.

For More Information

Visit: www.cedaroils.com

There are two main side effects that trouble people who get bitten. The first symptom is the unpleasant itching caused by the bites. People suffer from itching at the site of the bites to varying degrees. Some people hardly notice they have been bitten. Other people are not so lucky and develop very itchy raised red welts on their skin

The unlucky people who are more sensitive to the bites are at risk of developing skin infections. If they can't resist scratching the point of irritation, they can damage the skin and make it possible for infections to invade the body.

The other common side effect of the bites is not a physical problem caused by the actual bites. It is a psychological reaction to the presence of the blood sucking insects. Sufferers commonly develop symptoms such as sleeping disorders, depression, anxiety, and stress. These feelings are often rooted in the fact that a bed bug infestation is so difficult to eradicate that people feel helpless and vulnerable.

Sometimes people become literally too distressed to be able to sleep as a result of discovering that their home is infested by creepy crawlies. The inability to sleep can stem from a variety of emotions including fear of being bitten again while sleeping. Sometimes the emotional side effects start with being kept awake by painful itching bites. This lack of sleep then triggers depression and feelings of stress.

The threat of invasion by masses of bloodsucking insects invokes the fear that you can get dangerous diseases from them. These creatures go from person to person piercing skin and sucking blood. If their previous host was infected with Hepatitis, HIV or Aids, can a bed bug infect you with a deadly disease? Fear of a link between insect bites and serious disease is not just the product of an overactive imagination. Everyone knows mosquitoes spread malaria. And fleas transmit plague to humans. It doesn't require a great leap of imagination to see vampire bugs decimating the human race.

Scientific investigations show that there is no known evidence of bed bugs transmitting diseases to human beings through their bites. Researchers have discovered that the creatures carry organisms that can cause diseases in humans. However (according to a publication by the University of Kentucky) it "is considered unlikely" that these pathogens would be passed on through a bite from one of the insects.

As things stand currently, there is no reason for anyone to panic. People are probably more likely to suffer serious injury through misuse of pesticides than as a direct result of being fed on by bed bugs. Personally, though, I would like to have a firmer reassurance from the scientists than that they think serious bed bug bites side effects are "unlikely".

One thing is abundantly clear: we all need to protect ourselves against bedbug bites side effects and do our best to get rid of bed bugs now and eradicate them once and for all. We cannot afford to take chances with our health and the health of our loved ones.

Bed bugs, scientifically known as cimex lectularius, are small parasitic insects that are usually brown or black in color, in the size of an apple-seed. They usually only come out at night and they primarily feed on the blood of humans when they are asleep.

Where Do Bed Bugs Live and Hide?

Typically, as the name suggests, bed bugs live in mattresses, box springs or sometimes under the linens. During the day, they hide in cracks and crevices of beds, walls, headboards, bed frames and wooden floorboards. However, they can also be found in books, carpets and even phones - basically anywhere that provides them with easy access to you while sleeping.

How Do Bed Bugs Spread and How Did They Infest My Home?

In the recent years, surge in the spread of bedbugs has been attributed to the increase in international travel as well as a decrease in the use of potent pesticides such as DDT (that helped mostly eradicated these pests from developed nations before it was banned in the 1970s to 1980s for environmental and health concerns.)

Bed bugs are efficient hitchhikers and often spread by hitching rides on people's clothing, luggage, beds and other furniture.

They also spread through mattresses. Reconditioned mattresses, which are refurbished old mattresses, often spread bedbugs into stores and homes, resulting in an infestation. In addition, bedbugs can spread when old and new mattresses are transported together. Bedbugs are able to spread through rooms and even apartments.

How Do I Know If My House and Bed Is Infested With Bed Bugs? Signs and Symptoms

Bedbugs are small, cryptic and agile and because of their minute size, they are rarely seen in action by humans. The first signs of a bedbug infestation are usually from the bites on your body by the bugs. Bedbug bites are generally painless, although they can be itchy and cause a bed bug rash. The bites tend to start as swollen wheals, then gradually disappearing after a few days.

Besides the bites, there are other signs and symptoms that may indicated an infestation:

• Small bloodstains from crushed bedbugs on bed sheets or other bed linen
• Detection of dark spots of the bug's excrement on bed or walls
• An offensive musty odor in the room or house when infestations are severe

Tips to Prevent and Keep Bed Bugs Out From My House and Bed?

Prevention is better than cure. It is less messy to take precautions against bedbugs than to get rid of them after an infestation.

You may take the following steps to prevent them from spreading in your homes and bedrooms:

• Use a mattress cover - a plastic or tightly woven one, to prevent bedbugs from crawling in and out
• Seal and repair any cracks on your home's exterior to prevent any insects from entering
• Clean your house regularly - reduce any unnecessary clutter and vacuum your mattresses
• If possible, do not buy or pick up any secondhand furniture

Get additional answers on identifying bed bug symptoms and how to kill bed bugs by visiting BedBugsRemovalGuide.com - internet's leading informational website that provides advice, tips, articles on all aspects about bedbugs.

Herb Garden - Indoor

One can nurture fresh herbs, cherry tomatoes, chives and chill peppers on the counter top of their kitchen if they can create a mini green house indoors. There would be nothing more exciting than to prepare a pasta dish or a chili con care with the help of the ingredients grown by them.

One can create a green house indoors with the help of plastic sheeting, wooden frame and seed beds. There are also a lot of kits and green houses that are readily available in the market. One can choose the right option for them based on their needs and crop plants even in a very small space.

Aeroponics and Hydroponics

If you have made your mind to create a mini green house indoors, care has to be taken so as not spill the potting soil all over your place. The best way to avoid this is to opt for the aeroponics or hydroponics green houses. Hydroponics refers to a process of cropping plants without soil and aeroponics is a process where no specific growing medium is used.

The main means of providing nutrients to plants in the hydroponics process is by water. Some of the gardeners have the roots of the plant directly submerged into a water solution that is mixed with a lot of minerals. And some others opt for an aggregate means like coconut fiber, brick shards, gravel, mineral wool.

In the aeroponics process, there is no submergence of the roots in any liquid. They are rather suspended in air and are continuously sprinkled with a solution which is mix of nutrients and water. The technique of aeroponics was developed originally by NASA. They were specifically interested in cropping plants in their zero gravity environments. However this was soon incorporated in the greenhouses created indoors of a house. They create lesser mess when compared to the hydroponics system but are relatively more expensive. An aeroponics garden for home use would typically be priced at about 0. Where as, the smallest of the hydroponics system is sold for price which is a fraction of the price for an aeroponics system.

Pests in a Hydroponics Greenhouse

The biggest advantage of cropping plants in the hydroponics way is that it attracts lesser pests as there is no usage of soil. However there are no plants that are completely immune to blights and bugs. It is advised that you do not use any pesticides that have harsh chemicals as they can get into the solution and in turn poison the plants.

One can use solutions made organically for controlling the pests. These include extracts from orange peel. They can be sprayed on the plants to get rid of pests. These herbal extracts will kill a wide range of pests and friendly bugs which prey on pests while leaving the plants untouched.

Want to Know More?

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Reading the small print and finding the little details can give you some idea about the different products like sprays easily. The simple rules that you should keep in mind is that the product should be recently produced not something from the World War 2 period. Similarly the product should not contain any harmful things in any concentrations that might give you problem rather than resolving one.

While the sprays can solve this problem for most there are few people who should try some other methods in this matter. The people suffering with the breathing problems should use such items with care. The reason is that using these sprays can trigger the attacks too, and can result in worsening the health than saving them from the bites.

The young parents and people with small pets should definitely keep in mind that these sprays can be harmful for them too. If your kids have some allergies then using these sprays when they are not around can be the solution. However the fine residue of the spray will be all over the place so care should be done in using these products with them.

Doing little search about the products online can give you all the help in deciding the product you wish to use. There are often different reviews in various sites dealing with the bed bugs that can be quite helpful in this matter too.

The application of these sprays should be done on the areas that are hot spots of bedbugs at first rather than all over the place. The most bugs stay in the bed spread, bed, furniture, hinges holes and similar little places around the bed so special attention should be applied in here.

For more information about Bed Bug and Bed Bug Spray visit my website.

Simmons Beauty Rest
Not only one of the top mattress companies but also the top pillow company in the industry as well. This industry has been blown away from this pillow that cost around depending on the size of pillow you get. This pillow was designed to be firm to give you the support you need as well as help you breathe at night. The latex material also allows you to not sweat. This pillow is great from allergies and reducing dust bugs. The Simmons brand is known to be extremely tolerant to abuse thanks to the cellulose structure of the latex construction of their product. This is a great latex foam bed pillow and should be number one for you to check out.

Sealy
This brand of latex foam pillow is designed more for the person that wants the softest marshmallow like pillow they can find. The support is not as great as the Simmons pillow but is meant to be as soft as it can be. This is achieved from the kind of latex they use called Talalay latex which can be constructed and molded to any density that the company would like. This allows for a wide range of soft, medium and firm pillows available. These pillows have a 5 year warranty and are great if you need the softest pillow you can find. They will cost you around -.

Natura

These latex foam pillows are great for having the best of both worlds. They almost took the Simmons brand latex pillow and combined it with the Sealy latex pillow. This pillow is extremely soft but at the same time provides you with great support to get you through the night. This helps relax your muscles and get you to sleep faster. The material is the all-natural Talalay latex that has great temperature control and regulation. This allows again for all the benefits of latex like being moisture free, allergen free, antimicrobial, hypoallergenic, and dust mite resistant. One of the things that this company prides itself on is the fact that it is an organic pillow that does not use any chemicals, bleaches, dyes or pesticides to treat the pillow. The only down fall is the price. Since you get the best of both worlds you are going to pay for that. This pillow will run you about 0-0 depending on, if you order online or can find a sale.

Latex foam bed pillows are a great investment to help you sleep. You will not regret investing in one of these types of pillows. A latex foam bed pillow can really make the difference between a good night sleep and a great night sleep.

However, professional pest control services often cost quite high. If you are in a tight budget, availing them would surely add more to your home maintenance expenses. But then, if you won't do anything about the infestation, your home and your items would surely suffer from the pests' presence.

Good thing that it is possible for you to get rid of them by yourself. With personally implementing the techniques how to get rid of bed bugs, you can cut your budget for home cleaning and maintenance. That will allow you to spend the money on other vital home expenses. And generally, that is a big help especially with today's global economic crisis.

But of course, you need to know how all those processes work first. More than that, you need to understand the steps of each of them. Their requirements, including the tools and other materials needed must also be known and gathered.

Sure, getting it all set will require some work. Not to mention, it will eat some time. However, personally implementing those techniques are worth it especially with the amount that they can have you saved. Besides, the work and the time that they require are not too much that you will still have time for other things. But what are those techniques that you can implement yourself?

For one, there is the application of pesticides. All you've got to get is a solution and you'll be ready to eliminate the pests. However, you have to remember to go for the organic solutions. The conventional pesticides are made of chemicals, however there are now products made of biodegradable ingredients that could be as effective as the chemical-based ones. To get rid of bed bugs with those organic solutions will not only make you save money but will also protect your family from the negative effects of chemicals

Another technique that you can personally get done is steaming. With just a steaming machine, you can already kill bed bugs from your bed, couch and carpet. You have to make sure though that you will have those items completely dried after the process to prevent molds and mildew growth.

The third process of how to get rid of bed bugs that you can implement is vacuuming. You will just need a vacuum for this technique. It's almost just like regular vacuuming so you surely won't have a hard time getting it done. But then, see to it that the unit that you will use is with a bag. It will prevent the pests from getting loose.

Knowing the three given processes, you won't need to hire a professional pest controller to kill bed bugs. And with them, surely you can save money. Nevertheless, you have to know well the process first before you can get any of them to effectively work and experience the financial benefits.

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Cucumbers are one example of natural pest control. It's using natural and generally non-toxic ingredients to repel or get rid of pests including ants, wasps, mites, moths, flies and other insects.

People are slicing up cucumbers instead of spraying Bug-Be-Gone because they don't want toxic chemicals in their homes or in their garden sheds. There is growing evidence that synthetic pesticides pose a health risk to humans and animals.

Here at Planet Natural, we have a whole slew of natural pest controls, including Orange Guard (.95) which uses d-limonene, or orange peel extract, to control insect pests; Safer BioNeem (.95), which uses the active ingredient of neem oil - azadirachtin - to kill insects before they become biting or reproducing adults; as well as a variety of traps including the Disposable Yellow Jacket Trap (.95) and Apple Maggot Trap (.95).

For those willing to invest some time and effort at crafting their own remedies, we've gone on to list a variety of remedies to help you battle pests on the home front and in your garden.

Barriers act like barbed wire to keep crawling pests, such as ants, out. These include garlic - grind it up with water and apply - cayenne pepper, cinnamon, powdered charcoal, bone meal, talcum powder or chalk. Keep in mind that different pests have different aversions, so you'll have to see what substance works best with the ones trying to sneak into your home.

Another way to think of barriers is to grow certain plants around the periphery of your home. They not only look nice, but will also deter pests. Plants known to repel ants and aphids include: spearmint, peppermint and pennyroyal.

You can use the same trick for fly control. Just substitute the above plants with mint and basil which repel flies, but smell good to humans.

Boiling water is excellent for ant control or if you see where they are creeping into your house, squeeze some lemon into the hole or crack.

Barriers also work for snails. They dislike sand, lime, copper or ashes, so use these borders to keep snails away.

Baking soda and powdered sugar mixed in equal parts is a good roach killer. Just spread around the area where you see roaches and soon you won't see them anymore. (Boric Acid, while slightly more toxic, is naturally occurring and is another way to get rid of them.)

Here's a really sneaky way to get rid of fire ants. (All's fair in love and the war against insect pests.) The only way to get rid of an infestation is to assassinate the queen. Wait until a dry spell is about to end. Sprinkle instant grits on the fire ant hill. The workers will carry the grits to the queen for her royal meal. She'll eat the grits and when it rains, she'll drink. And that's what will kill her. The grits will expand in her stomach and she'll "bloat" to death. Once she's out of the way, the leaderless ants will die off. (This suggestion came courtesy of the Tightwad Gazette II book.)

Cloves smell better than moth balls and are a natural deterrent against winged pests. You can also create a water trap by filling a small basin with water and leaving a night light suspended over it. Moths will be attracted to the light and will end up crashing and burning and falling into the water. Add a little dish soap to break the surface tension of the water.

Corn Gluten Meal may not sound very appetizing, but it's a natural, preemptive strike against weeds. Apply it early in the spring before weeds sprout. Corn gluten meal is a byproduct of the corn milling process and is a natural fertilizer.

Diatomaceous earth is made up of the fossilized remains of diatoms, single-cell organisms. The glass-like nature of diatomaceous earth makes it one of the oldest forms of insecticide. The sharp surfaces cut through the insect cuticle and the insect dies of dehydration. Diatomaceous earth kills earwigs, ants and box elder bugs. Since it's non-discriminate when it kills, be sure to only apply it just to the ground surface where you think insects are overstaying their welcome.

Grind rosemary leaves into a fine dust and sprinkle it onto your pet or its bedding to ward off fleas.

Ivory liquid dishwashing detergent can act as a natural insecticide. Dilute with water until it is a 1 or 2 percent solution and then spray on plants.

Need neem oil? Neem oil - made from guess what? - neem seeds, prevents fungus growth, and repels and kills insects, including mites. While it fights many scourges, it's nontoxic to birds, mammals and most beneficial insects. One word of caution - it can sometime affect bees so use it as a spot treatment to minimize contact. Neem oil is usually sold in a concentrated form, to which you add water.

Fruit flies are wine connoisseurs. Okay, maybe they are not wine snobs, but they have been known to quaff a few drops here or there. They particularly like Chardonnay or so we hear. Use that knowledge to your advantage: fill up a saucer of some cheap white wine and add a little detergent to it. Leave it around for the flies to sip and die on. This solution brings knew meaning to the expression "rot gut."

A natural fly catcher related to wine is to put something sickly sweet like mango peels in the bottom of narrow-necked wine bottles. The flies can fly in, but can't fly out.

You can even make your own fly paper. Boil water, sugar and corn syrup together. Spread the extra-sticky mixture on brown paper grocery bags and voila you have your own fly paper which will trap flies.

For mosquito control the aged old custom of burning citronella candles will help repel the pesky critters.

To get rid of slugs and snails, invert a flower pot near a shady plant. Use a stick to prop up the flower pot or place on irregular ground - whatever will give enough of an entrance way for slugs and snails. They will crawl under the rim to avoid the heat. Check the flower pot at the end of the day and remove the slugs and snails.

Vinegar is a great herbicide. Fill a spray bottle with vinegar - white is best since it won't stain, you certainly don't want to use expensive, aged Balsamic vinegar on weeds - and spray the vinegar on your unwelcome flora on your porch, patio or back yard. It's one of the few things that will work against noxious weeds such as Canadian Thistle. All vinegars are diluted, so try and buy the highest concentration you can at the supermarket.

Using organic lawn fertilizers will not only keep it green, it will make it healthy and more equipped to defend itself against weeds and pests. Organic fertilizers, such as bat guano, grass clippings, alfalfa meal, fish emulsion and worm castings, work well.

While natural pest control products are a step up from most commercial insecticides, you should still be restrained about using them. Don't just leap at something that cures the symptom - look for the underlying or root cause and seek a solution for that problem. Overuse can end up creating new problems - getting rid of one pest in exchange for another.

That said, natural pest control can be a great non-toxic solution to keeping your garden and home pest free.

This article was written by Eric Vinje of Planet Natural.

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