Control Ants Without Poison

How to control Ants Without Poison
Copyright: 2005 Marilyn Pokorney

Ants are pests in the house. In the home common ants aren't harmful but they are a nuisance. There are many natural repellants which can be used to discourage ants from kitchen counters, pantries, and other areas where food lures them in.

As a first step, try to prevent the ants from entering the house. Use less chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the lawn and gardens. These cause an imbalance in the biological makeup of the soil. Stressed soil and plants attract ants. Many species of ants like to drink honeydew from aphids. If good control of aphids in plants and gardens near houses is exercised, ants will be less numerous.

Ants seem to dislike spearmint, tansy, and pennyroyal. Plant these near the house to keep ants away. Sweet fern is particularly disliked by red ants. A simple recipe to repel ants can be made by adding to an eight ounce bottle of mild liquid soap one ounce each of citronella, pennyroyal, peppermint, cinnamon, rose and tea oil. Mix together and add three tablespoons to two cups of water. Spray where ants are entering the house.

This formula can also be used to wash down counters in the kitchen but only use one-half tablespoon to two cups of water. Spray trash and recycling bins if ants are a problem there. For anthills near the house pour boiling water into the nest. Once ants have entered the house, other measures have to be taken.

Pennyroyal, tansy, and mint leaves scattered on surfaces where ants are found can be used as a deterrent. Bay leaves broken in small pieces is also helpful. Some people have found a mixture of the following ingredients helpful in repelling ants. One cup water, one-fourth cup plus one tablespoon hot sauce, one-fourth cup liquid soap, and one teaspoon spearmint of peppermint flavoring. Put in a spray bottle and spray where ants enter the house.

Washing down counters with an equal solution of vinegar andwater is repulsive to ants. Powdered cloves or red pepper sprinkled on surface where ants are found serves as an excellent repellant. Ants are extremely fastidious and will not return to where these hot spices can get on their feet and antennae.

If it not too inconvenient, sticky fly paper placed in strategic areas will capture crawling ants. Perhaps one of the most unusual substances used that discourages ants from pantry shelves are broken egg shells. Lastly, clean up all food after eating for it is the crumbs that attract the ants.

For more ways to control ants visit: http://www.apluswriting.net/garden/antcontrol.htm

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the environment. Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading. Website: http://www.apluswriting.net/

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How To Get Rid Of Spiders

How To Get Rid of Spiders

The best way to get rid of spiders is to prevent them from coming into your home. Trim all shrubs and hedges away from touching your house. If you have a brick home, treat all weep holes. Treat around all doors, windows, eves, cracks and crevices. Caulk all cracks and crevices, doors and windows. Purchase one of those duster type things and sweep away all webs.

One of the reasons you might have spiders is because spiders eat insects. Treat your home for other insects regularly and you should have less spiders. However, ladybug beetles also eat other insects. You could get some ladybugs but they can also become a nuisance.

If you have lots of cardboard boxes around just get rid of them. Spiders love to hang around cardboard boxes. One ofthe reasons you may have spiders in the summertime is that spiders don't like heat. Which is why they come into your home during the summer months for the coolness. They also like to hang around bathrooms and kitchens because there is a water source nearby. I have heard that cats are wonderful for pest control.

Personally, I don't believe in the plug-in ultrasonic devices. Some people say they work, some don't. If the government could prove they didn't work they probably would be pulled off the market. You know the government!

If you are seeing web-spinning spiders don't be alarmed.They are beneficial to help you rid your home of insects and they are basically harmless. Beware of wood piles, boxes and sheds and especially dark areas full of clutter.

They harbor brown recluse and black widow spiders. You don't want these. If cleaning these areas always wear gloves. Insect glue boards work great. Place these glue boards in areas that spiders may be found inside the home. Place them behind toilets, under sinks in bathrooms and kitchens. Behind refrigerators, washer and drier, hot water heaterand also in attics. You may also place them inside your garage on each side of the garage door.

One other thing. Once spiders are in your home, a good vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment will work wonders. This should help you get rid of most of the spiders in and around your home. You will probably never rid you house of all spiders but at least you should be able to keep the population down somewhat.

Some Facts About Spiders

Spiderlings or ( young spiders ) can go long distances floating on a breeze using a strand of silk.

The female black widow seldom devours the male after mating.

Spiders seldom bite people. They only do so by defendingthemselves.

There are about 40,000 species of spiders in the world and only about 4000 in the US.

Some spiders are so small they could balance on the tip of a pencil and some are about fourteen inches in diameter.

Almost all spiders are venomous but only a few are really medically important. The larger the size does not mean the spider has a larger venom capibility.

Spider silk is the strongest natural fiber known.

by Tim Taylor, Copyright 2005

The Author of this article has been in the pest control business for over 12 years and treated many homes for spiders, insects and other pests. To find out more about spiders, cockroaches and other pests and insects and download a free insect identification guide, visit his website and take a free email course at http://www.infobreaks.com

Ants and Trees

Being a pest control technician, I serve a lot of property managers and building owners with their pest control needs on a regular basis.

I keep telling them! Sometimes you can talk until you are blue in the face, but it never gets through. I think it is a money thing. It is just simply easier to pay out for pest control service once in a while than it is to properly manage your buildings' landscaping. That costs a lot more.

I was in a 3rd floor apartment today for ant problems. The tenant was seeing ants in her bedroom and all over her night tables. A spill of some drink and some food crumbs were enough to bring the little devils in. Clean up of the area was first.

We set up some ant bait stations for her to take care of the present problem. During the inspection I had looked out the window to see a tree with it's branches growing right up against the window and the side of the building. This is very common. I had also mentioned landscaping recommendations to keep bushes and trees from growing up against the sides of the building many times before.

We had inspected the outside. Sure enough the ants were foraging up and down the tree, and climbing onto the building. The ant colony was at the base of the tree and we treated the area with ant baits around the base of the tree. Also, I applied a band of tanglefoot around the tree so that the ants could no longer access the tree above the band.

The ant problem inside the ladies apartment could have been avoided by keeping vegetation at least 18 to 24 inches from the structure. No problem though, that is why I am in business. Just irks me sometimes.