Pest Control - Page 1

• Repel Ants and Aphids
  Ants and Aphids can be deterred by growing Spearmint, Peppermint and Pennyroyal. 

• Fire Ants
  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.)

• anthill antidote
  1 handful lemon peel
  1 cup (250ml) warm water
  
  If you have a serious problem with ants, the power of lemon will persuade them to move to another location. Throw a handful of chopped lemon peel into the food processor and while the machine is running, slowly add the water to make a lemony liquid. Carefully pour the solution over and into any problem anthills. 

• biodegradable bug and fly spray
  Spraying bugs inside the home means that you get chemicals on carpets and furniture. Try filling an old water pistol with vinegar. You can then spray the offending insect without damaging the decor. This is alleged to work on cockroaches as well.  

• discouraging ants
  If you have problems with ants and other insects invading your home, they are probably crossing your doorways and windowsills. If you pour vinegar across the opening sill, it stops them from crossing. 

• keeping flies from a swimming pool
  Pour vinegar around the sides of your pool and it helps keeps flies away. 

• mosquito repellent
  peel of 1 lemon
  Few things can disrupt the pleasantries of summer like a slew of itchy and unwelcome mosquito bites. If you prefer to try a natural way to keep the mosquitoes at bay, cut the peel off a lemon and then rub the essential oil from the outside (yellow side) on your skin. Tip: If you fold a piece of peel between your thumb and forefingers (yellow side out) and give a gentle squeeze, the oils will be released. You'll actually see a squirt and smell a strong lemon scent when that happens. 

• natural flea spray
  1 lemon
  2 cups (500ml) water
  
  To prepare a homemade flea spray, cut the lemon into 4 to 6 pieces and place in a large glass bowl. Bring the water to a boil and pour over the lemon pieces, then let the mixture sit overnight. In the morning, strain the liquid and transfer to a spray bottle. Use to spray your dog or cat generously from head to tail, especially behind the ears (be careful to avoid the eyes).

• keeping flies away from horses
  Mix 1/3 vinegar (any type, but cider vinegar smells better), 1/3 water and 1/3 bath oil in a spray bottle. This makes a good spray for horses and other animals- dogs and goats for example- as well as a barn spray for keeping flies down. 

• ants, roaches, and fleas be gone
  Juice of 4 lemons, or more for ants
  2 quarts(2 liters) water
  
  Just as vampires allegedly loathe garlic, many insects appear to despise the power of lemon juice, especially roaches, fleas, and ants. To get rid of roaches and fleas, make an effective floor-washing solution by adding the lemon juice (along with the rinds) to the water. Scrub the floor thoroughly and watch the critters scatter. Alternately, if ants are your problem, squirt fresh lemon juice around all their points of entry (doorways, windowsills, small holes, and cracks along the floorboards). For extra measure, chop the lemon peels into small pieces and leave them just outside your door.