The Gleam Team and The Creepy-crawlies

What's spookier than the thought of how many spiders we swallow in our sleep annually, or the fact that a New York City-sized rat is living in our walls and only coming out under the veil of night? We'll take Dracula or Frankenstein anytime!

Beware the bugs as they begin their bombardment!

Key Points

• This article will cover how bugs and other creepy-crawly critters are plotting their exodus into homes and garages for the winter as well as how to protect against them.

• A section will cover all natural methods and another section will cover the most popular commercial products.

When nature is left to her own rhythm, plants and animals flourish. It seems a rare happening in our time when any given life form grows to unmanageable numbers, but it can happen -unless humankind attempts to swing the balance. Unfortunately, in our efforts to harvest maximum amounts of food, we've come to view all insects as enemies. In order to deny a hungry, biting pest, we've unleashed a full power blast of our technology. We have created chemical poisons to kill and chemical fertilizers to encourage growth. They each appear to achieve their objectives, and in the case of chemical pesticides, they do their job all too well. Most are indiscriminate and kill everything with which they come into contact. Too many of the victims are beneficial in crucial life cycle processes, such as pollination, the breakdown of organic matter, and the natural controls of pests. They all, "good" and "bad", die under the mist of poison.

In a yard or garden where chemical fertilizers are used, there is a shortage of beneficial earthworm activity, therefore, the soil lacks organic matter. Things are green and growing, to be sure, but the balance is upset. When it rains, the chemical runoff poisons groundwater and streams, rivers -and, ultimately - the ocean.

In an organic garden, there are a few pests, but there's also an army of insects, arcades and other arthropods, reptiles, mammals, and birds waiting to pounce. In an organic garden, you'll witness the balance that nature intended. There may be a snake slithering underfoot but it's working to keep rodents to a minimum. You may glimpse insects flying about, but many are on patrol for a meal you'd be pleased for them to eat.

Who can resist stopping for a moment to watch a butterfly dance in flight? They are gentle and delicate creatures, lighting on flowers, unfurling their proboscis, and then drinking the sought nectar. Their colorful wings pump up and down as they feel, and as they help to draw in the sweet juices. Few people would purposefully kill butterflies, and yet, when we spray poison nonselectively, butterflies die. Before you decide to kill the caterpillar that makes his repast by chewing on your passion vine, consider that it could be the larva of a beautiful Gulf fritillary, a prized, bright orange butterfly. When people spray trees for aphids, they kill birds, and when they choose poison to kill cabbage beetles, they may be killing the toad that's been helping mightly around the pest-influxed garden as well.

Natural controls are those things occurring physically in nature that help keep insect numbers in check. Such controls are found in every backyard in all parts of the world. Some examples of natural controls are weather conditions, rainfall levels, the amount of shade in an area, and geographic location. Humans have a different effect on natural controls, but in today's age of jets and cars, many an unwanted and alien insect has found its way to a new home with human help in transportation.

Biological controls involve those living things that keep insect populations in check. Predators seeking insects include toads, frogs, moles, birds, and other predatory insects. Most naturally occurring diseases caused by viruses, fungi, and bacteria, also keep insect populations down. It is in this area of natural checks and balances where man has often upset the balance of beneficial and destructive insects.

A pest management method called bio-control allows the introduction or augmentation of predatory insects, parasites, or diseases to a pest area in order to reduce the population of a specific pest.

In the natural pest control scene, the need to know your enemy is important.

To Know the Enemy

Ants: These pesky rascals plague most homes at some point. These socialites live and work to gather in community. You'll find them underground, in trees and plants, in mounds, in wood and function in highly organized colonies.

To get rid of the ants you see in the ol' over-the-counter way, spray a commercial window cleaner on the ants and their trail. The ammonia in these will do the damage.

You can also combat ants by sending poison back to their nest with them. This is the draw of the ant bait trap you can purchase in stores.

For a more natural solution, pure citrus extract will work. It will kill the ants, break the trail, and clean your counters at the same time.

A Borax - corn syrup mixture can work wonders on ants that enjoy a sweet dinner. Grease ants, which love oily foods, will ignore it. However, there is a recipe for that as well.

If you can, follow the ants back to their nest. Here, you can also use the ant death mixture in dry form. Omit the water, and sprinkle a thin layer of the acid / sugar mixture evenly around the nest opening. Don't make piles that dogs can lap up, as they love sugar. The ants will carry the mixture into the nest and feed The colony with it, killing those that eat it. Repeat the sprinkling as long as you see ants.

Termites:

No other insects bring terror to the hearts of homeowners like termites. These small insects can skeletonize the wood in your home by feeding on it until it is no longer safe.

We will certainly talk about what to look for from the silent destroyers in this article [right over here]. But for now let's talk about a few important steps you can take yourself!

You'll certainly want to pair this section with the article mentioned above, as the first step is to be pre-emptive. A yearly inspection will go a long way toward a sound and termite-free home.

Check any firewood piles close to your house regularly, and if you notice the start of an infestation, nematodes are parasitic worms you can purchase that enjoy termites for meals. Releasing them in a suspect area might deter the wood munchers.

A vinegar and lemon mixture sprayed will provide killer acid. Half a cup of glorious vinegar and the juice of two lemons should do the trick. A regular spritzing may keep the pests at bay, so add that to the rotating list of household to-dos.

Borates have shown to be effective. A regular sprinkling about or a spraying of a Borax-water solution may be a nice barrier around the home and it's perimeter. For a better smelling solution, pure orange oil can take the place of the Borax.

If there is noticed damage already, the key is to investigate how extensive the infestation is. If it is bad enough, it is certainly suggested that a professional be called in to handle the situation. Termites are brutalizers and hard to snuff, so often the best solution is a quick phone call to the pros.

Once you've determined the degree of the problem and see that it may not be to emergency degree, one of the most effective methods of control for dry wood termites is to simply remove and replace the infected boards. Often this is the easiest and cheapest method as the professionals definitely know how much you need them and charge accordingly. When you remove a board, check the ends of the board carefully to see if the termites have tunneled all the way out

of that board, therefore probably into the next. If no exit tunnels are found, your problem may be contained.

Mice & Rats:

"It can't happen to me," you thought..."no way - not a rodent invasion!" A rodent infestation is usually pretty obvious and often overwhelming. The first signs of a rodent most people see are the droppings they leave behind.

Find out if you have a mouse in your house [using the article linked here.]

Our hearts are firey for nature, so it hurts to even consider killing any'thing', but the health and safety of your home is crucial as well, so pests must be dealt with. Where rodents are concerned, there are numerous live traps on the market that allow you to stop the evasive critters while simultaneously saving their lives. Seek those out if you feel as we do about nature.

Our favorite and easiest natural method will take a quick trip to get the supplies and a few minutes to set up the situation. Simply purchase one of the following: peppermint oil, lemon oil, cayenne pepper, black pepper, or cloves (whole, ground, or oil). Soak or dust cotton balls with your chosen spice and place about the areas you've seen signs of rodents. Easy and humane. They hate the smell and will hopefully stay away.

[Here we will insert some cool links to awesome mouse traps and also a couple DIY mouse trap infographics if we can find them.]

Roaches:

Of course there are many many commercial products available that target roaches, the majority of which are in spray form or in bait preparations and are super high in toxic content, although often quite effective. With a bit of knowledge of the "cockroach lifestyle," you can outsmart the famed unstoppable creatiret!

Most cockroaches adore sweet foods. Use that sweet tooth against him to whip up some sweet cockroach bait - A deadly dessert. When the roach hits the buffet, its bodily fluids will turn to water and the gas produced will virtually explode the insect inside. This is a great bait if you have children or pets.

[Use the dead snails leave no trails book for the sweet roach bait ingredients and recipe and design an infographic based on it.]

Below, we've included instructions on how to make an easy sticky trap for which there are multitudinous uses, here are a multitude of ways to use it if you just use your noodle.

Sticky Trap: purchase spray adhesive or smear some bought Tanglefoot on one side of a three or four inch piece of cardboard. (You can pick up Tree Tanglefoot at most garden supply stores). Make several of these in different sizes, and when the roach runs across and gets stuck simply scoop it up and throw it in the trash. These are especially handy in the places roaches like to dwell, such as a long baseboards, under shelves, in cabinets, under refrigerators, etc.

If you find that your cockroaches prefer a less sweet treat, try the sweet first but then switch to this next fatty bait if you continue to see the problem.

This one is considered a double whammy as it is a favorite bait that both ants and roaches love; equal parts boric acid and sugar. This bait can be used in many ways. More on that later.

***Baits containing boric acid can be harmful to pets and humans when consumed. Care should always be taken when using any bait to make sure that children and pets cannot get to it and eat it.

There are many ways around this fear such as designing a small box that the pest can enter but no pet or child can get into. In some cases this can be as simple as super gluing some cardboard together.[ Be sure to check out our article on boric acid its toxicity and more information and uses in the article in this link.

Also, if you have a roach problem jump on over here for some extra advice on how to handle that situation.

We read a long time ago that if WE thought we had problems with roaches - imagine having a 4-inch bad boy roach that literally hisses at you as they have in Madagascar....let's count our blessings and hope no human beings one back this way.

Pesticide safety

When all else has failed and you feel you must use a pesticide, the following suggestions will help you use it safely, remembering that even relatively non-toxic pesticides can cause problems if used improperly.

• When choosing a pesticide, pick a product that is registered for your problem pest. Don't try to wipe out everything with a broad spectrum pesticide. There are myriad products intended for the individual pest and pest life stage you're trying to control.

Always read the entire label and follow it exactly. Never add more of the chemical than the label calls for.

Click this infographic for more label information!

The label is a legal document that tells you everything you need to know when using the product. It spells out exactly the characteristics of the pesticide and its proper use.

• If you have children or pets, store the pesticides in a locked cabinet. Keep the telephone number of the Poison Control Center in the cabinet and in your phone. Never remove the label from a container or pour a chemical into another container that does not have the same chemical label attached to it. You will need this label to tell the doctor exactly what you or your loved one got into. Sometimes antidote information is given on the label as well.

• Wear gloves when handling and mixing the pesticide, and remember that many pesticides can be absorbed through the skin. Always utilize chemicals in a well-ventilated area. The precautionary statement on the pesticide label usually gives important information on the hazards of the pesticide as well as the instructions for handling it. The statement also explains any toxicity to other organisms, such as bees or fish.

A Few More Things to Keep In Mind

• Buy only what you need for the current problem. Some products break down over time and you will not be treating your problem properly if you use a pesticide that has been stored for a long time.

• Spot treatment is better for your environment than a full on assault Use the pesticide on the smallest area possible, keeping in mind that many pesticides kill beneficial insects as well as harmful ones.

• Apply the pesticide when the pest is most vulnerable. If you have to use a pesticide, it's best to do so when it will be most effective.

• Never apply a spray type pesticide when it is windy. Most pesticide companies recommend not spraying when the wind is over 5 mph. Early morning spring usually works best.

• Never smoke, eat, or drink when applying pesticides, or allow anyone else to do so in the application area.

Although non-exhaustive, the above information can get you started on the way to pest control and a healthier home. Whether you choose to try your own hand at do it yourself treatments or, purchase a product, or roust up the pros - quick handling will save money and protect your home.