Controlling Pests
Indoor Pests
Ants
Locate the place of entry, squeeze a lemon
onto it and leave the peel. Ants will also retreat from lines
of talcum powder, chalk, damp coffee grounds, bone meal, charcoal
dust and cayenne pepper.
Fruit Flies
Pour a small amount of beer into a wide-mouth
jar. Cut the corner out of a plastic bag and attach the notched
bag to the mouth of the jar with a rubber band. Flies will enter
and be trapped. Change the beer when necessary.
Moths
Keep vulnerable clothes dry and well aired.
Place cedar blocks or chips in storage areas. Camphor can be
used, as it is the major, non-toxic ingredient of moth balls.
To trap moths, mix 1 part molasses with 2 parts vinegar and
place it in a yellow container.
Cockroaches
Plug all small cracks along baseboards, walls
and cupboards; and around pipes, sinks and bathtub fixtures.
A light dust of borax around the fridge, stove and ductwork
is effective in controlling cockroaches. For a trap, lightly
grease the inner neck of a milk bottle and put a little stale
beer or a raw potato in it.
Flies
Attach screens to doors and windows where
flies usually enter your home. Close windows before the sun
hits them. Use regular sticky flypaper to catch unwelcome flying
guests. You can make your own with honey and yellow paper.
Stored Food Pests
Keep mites and moths out of your staples by
drying the food in a warm oven (70ºF, 20ºC) for one
hour or by freezing for 2-3 days. Always store foods in air-tight
containers. Weevils' favorite foods are beans and grain. To
keep them away, hang small cloth sacks of black pepper in your
food bins or around your food storage areas.
Garden Pests
Controlling Garden Pests
Find out which non-chemical fertilizers aid
in controlling insects, and how to fortify your plants with proper
soil care. Pesticides carry the suffix "cides," which
mean "killer". Natural pesticides are cheaper and safer
for your family and are usually "pest-specific".
Learn to promote the population of beneficial
pests such as lady bird beetles, bees, fly larvae, lace-wing larvae
(aphid lions), praying mantis, dragon flies, predacious mites
and thrips, spiders, toads, garter snakes and birds. Investigate
"companion planting," which can provide a natural barrier
to bugs.
All of these recipes can be used for indoor
or outdoor plants.
Diatomaceous Earth
Made from the skeletons of tiny organisms, this dust controls
pests by causing dehydration and death. Can be used indoors
and out. Please follow manufacturer's instructions carefully.
Garlic
Mix 4 qts. water, 2 Tbsp. pressed garlic (do not use garlic
powder, as it will burn the plants), 3 Tbsp. of diatomaceous
earth (see above), and 1 tsp. rubbing alcohol. Can be frozen
for later use.
Hot Peppers
Blend 2 or 3 very hot peppers, ½ onion and 1 clove garlic
in water. Boil, steep for two days, and strain. This spray will
not damage indoor or outdoor plants and can be frozen for future
use.
Soap
Use only pure soap, as detergents will damage
your plants. (Liquid soaps: 2 Tbsp. per qt. of water. Dry soaps:
4 Tbsp. per qt. of water.)
Be sure to rinse the plants with fresh water after
pests have been controlled.
There are some products that have few or no non-toxic
alternatives. To protect the environment:
- Use the entire product according to the directions.
- Sell items at garage sales if in good condition
and labeled.
- Give unused portion to others who can use them.
- Dispose of the remaining product properly (see
Disposing of Household Hazardous
Waste).
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