Controlling insect infestations without contaminating your environment with toxins can be a challenge. This is especially true if you live in an area where herds are very aggressive. Fortunately, there are a number of proven alternatives to harsh chemical sprays and pesticides.
Make Insect Poison from Earth Products
The acidic quality of some vegetables and plants make them fit for use as a pesticide. Your normal diet routine probably already provides enough source material for you to use. Start saving your chopped onions, peppers and garlic.
A basic organic pesticide can be made by mixing your extra onion pieces in warm water. Gather your leftover pieces and dry them in the sun for about a week. Once the solution is ready, you can use it to kill most household pests including ants and cockroaches.
The poison made from chili peppers and garlic works well against garden pests such as aphids and caterpillars. Crush fresh chilies and add the remaining chopped garlic to the water and liquid soap solution. Avoid using soaps that contain harsh detergents. After steeping, strain the liquid from the dregs and spray it on the affected plants. Insects that eat anything covered in this substance will become sick and die.
Suffocation spray
Insects need fresh air to survive like any other living creature, so cutting off their oxygen supply is deadly. This can be done with a spray that covers their body and prevents them from absorbing air through their stomach. There are two different effective solutions.
Water mixed with a little glue works well in the garden. Use mostly water and about a twentieth part of glue to make an even, diffused mist. Avoid adding too much glue to your spray, or you may accidentally end up with things sticking together.
Make an alternative sip by mixing water with liquid soap and oil. Standard vegetable oil works effectively. Avoid using soap with harsh detergents. This spray is safe to use indoors and can kill ants, cockroaches and other household pests.
Apply the Confusion Technique
Sometimes manipulating the natural behavior of insects is more efficient than extermination. If you understand what a species wants or what they tend to avoid, it is possible to change their environment in a way that limits their activities.
Aluminum foil wrapped around the base of the plant does a great job of reflecting light and confusing some insects. Instead of climbing up the stems of your garden plants to eat your vegetables and flowers, insects move on to the next most likely target.
Cleaning out trash and other attractants helps reduce the risk of an infestation in your home. Colonies cannot survive without adequate sources of food or water. Take out your trash regularly, fix leaky pipes, and clean up spills as soon as they occur.
Certain species of aromatic plants are known to repel various types of insects. Mint, sage, wormwood, lavender and other varieties of herbs discourage the movement of insects in your home and garden. Some gardeners also grow sacrificial plants. By placing alternative food sources for insects to consume, cultivated plants are spared.
There are many ways to control insects and pests, but sometimes your problem can still be solved. If this is the case, don’t despair. Professional exterminators have developed advanced methods of insect control that do not involve the use of unnatural, harmful chemicals. Seek the help of a qualified expert in your field for consultation.
