What is Biological Pest Control?

Instead of using chemicals,a gardener may want to use biological pest control, which is a method that allows one to control pests and diseases with natural predators. Many organic gardeners believe that a landscape is more sustainable and healthier when there is more variety in it, that is, by using biodiversity. Therefore, an organic gardener works to develop a [tag-tec]biological pest control[/tag-tec] system that keeps the insects at a manageable level with a complex system rather than eradicating them.

Rather than using the conventional gardening practices that rely on chemical methods, gardeners use the biological pest control, a holistic approach that works to develop an understanding of the interaction between the myriads of organisms that make up garden fauna and flora. An organic gardener who is using biological pest control will often prefer not to get rid of pests since without these insects, the beneficial parasites won’t be able to survive.

An important part of biological pest control is to become familiar with the life forms such as predators and pests that are found in your garden. That involves becoming familiar with the life cycles, feeding patterns, and the habitats that the insects prefer. Knowing this information will help the gardener determine which insects he must focus his biological pest control on and which ones will be taken care of naturally.

Types Of Predators That Help With Pest Control

Ladybugs, which are active between May and July, is the one main predator of aphids. They also consume mites, scale insects, and small caterpillars.

Hoverflies, which look like slightly darker bees or wasps but have one set of wings instead of two sets like the bee, is another welcome predator in the garden. Hoverflies feed primarily on the greenfly as well as on the fruit tree spider, mites, and small caterpillars. The hoverfly’s egg production relies on adults eating nectar and pollen; on the other hand, their larvae eat pest aphids on garden plants and crops. During the growing season, hoverflies can also encourage the growth of attractant flowers such as poached egg plant, marigolds and phacelia.

Another important predator, the dragonfly, attacks mosquitoes both in the air and in the water. Unfortunately, because the chemicals used for mosquito control programs will often kill the dragonflies along with the mosquitoes, this practice of spraying chemicals can and does affect the biological pest control methods and in the long run causes an increase in the population of the mosquitoes.

Also important to this group of predators are the larger breeds such as cats which focus on keeping the rat, mice, and bird populations down as well as dogs which chase away pests such as gophers and rabbits that burrow underground and cause problems in the garden. A specific breed of dog that works for these tunnel pests is Dachshunds which can fit inside the tunnels.

The biological pest control is a viable method which takes more study and practice but is certainly worth a try.

Marcie

Is Natural Pest Control The Way To go?

Wherever I can, I use organic or natural ways to control pests because I value my health. For years, people have been using chemical ways to control pests in homes and gardens. The unfortunate part of using chemicals is that the chemical kills not only the pests but it also POLLUTES our air. Then we humans breathe in those chemicals through our skin and inhale it into our lungs thus ending up with a number of diseases and/or other illnesses. In addition, spraying chemicals outside in our garden not only kills the pests, the chemicals also kill the good bugs which keep our soil alive.

Perhaps natural and organic pest control is THE WAY to go. After all, how did the pioneers and other people in the pre-chemical days handle these critters? Here are a few ideas where you can introduce [tag-tec]natural pest control[/tag-tec] methods.

Natural Pest Control For Mosquitoes:

If one is not careful, one can inadvertently be creating breeding places for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are not only bothersome but they also harbor diseases that can kill you if left untreated or if you have a weak immune system. Therefore, natural pest control practices are necessary to repel these mosquitoes both on your person as well as to keep them from breeding near your home.

For breeding problems, mix some dishwashing detergent (one teaspoon or two) into a gallon of water and then pour it into any open pools of water in your yard such as old tires or buckets or empty flower pots. Note: I have often used Murphy’s Pure Vegetable Oil soap ( a household cleaner especially good for wood cleaning) as one of the ingredients when preparing a concoction to protect my fruit trees from bugs. Murphy’s Oil soap is very environmentally friendly.

Another idea is to pour a little vinegar into the water, especially if you plan to use the water to water your plants. I mention vinegar because it is more environmentally friendly than the chemicals in your dish soap. These methods will kill any mosquito larvae and keep them from turning into the biting critters everyone hates.

However, if you are using barrels to gather rain water, it is best to get those with a cover which can be opened when needed. The cover further deters mosquitoes from using your barrel of water as a breeding ground.

To keep mosquitoes from biting, rub a fresh clothes dryer sheet on exposed skin and even tuck a few in your belt loops. You can also apply mouthwash directly onto your skin before you head outdoors. Mosquitoes hate the smell of the dryer sheets and mouthwash because of the ingredients in them.

Natural Pest Control For Ants

If you have been invaded by ants, you know that ants are perhaps one of the most aggravating pests on the planet and are definitely a thorn in every homeowner’s side. Ants get into everything and it seems as soon as you kill one mound or bar one entrance into your home, another access point or mound crops up — and this is while using pesticides! With natural pest control for ants, there are a number of simple solutions that can really make those ants sick so they will die.

Baking soda is a versatile substance which is also very environmentally friendly, but no one really thinks about it in terms of natural pest control for ants. However, baking soda is poisonous to ants, so dusting soda in your garden and trouble areas of your home like the cracks and crevices will go a long way.

Salt is another natural pest control ingredient that ants don’t like, and you can easily spread it around mounds and anywhere that ants may be entering your home.

Finally cream of wheat type cereal or instant rice sprinkled around ant mounds will attract ants and they will eat it, causing their bellies to bloat and explode.

Natural Pest Control For Roaches

One of the most effective natural pest control options for eradicating roaches could already be in your cupboard. The scent of soap repels roaches and when you put soap on these disgusting creatures, they die. Soaps with peppermint oil are the most effective natural pest control for roaches, especially the granddaddy cockroach. Just mix two or three capfuls of liquid peppermint soap into a quart of warm water, mix, and then spray on the roaches and along their normal traveling paths.

I hope you have found one or more of these natural pest control options to be of value.

Take care

Marcie

Finding A Home Remedy For Pest Control

We all know that one of the major problems that we can face when we own a house are the pests that may be lurking on the insides of our walls. And even though we try all we can to keep all the pests away, this problem may require more help from professionals.

On the other hand, there are also [tag-tec]home remedies for pest control[/tag-tec] that we can follow to somehow prevent or minimize their propagation inside our homes. These are the best tips for home remedy pest control that we can follow and they are tough and effective.

Home Remedy for Pest Control

Because of lack of moisture outside, many pests will find ways to get inside your house to look for the moisture that they need in order to live. In colder areas, as the weather gets colder, insects, rodents, and pests will survey your home very carefully, looking for that tiny crevice, crack, or opening to find their way inside to warmth and shelter.

The number one tip for a home remedy for pest control . . .

. . .is to seal all the cracks in your home exterior to help keep pests such as ants, insects, and cockroaches from getting inside your house. Making sure that doors and windows are always closed and properly sealed with tight-fitting screens and weather stripping can save you a lot of insect and pest invasion and grief.

Next, check over every inch of your house. If cement walls around basement windows are beginning to fall apart, repair the cracks before the insects get into the cracks. At hardware stores you can probably find small packages of ready-to-mix high grade cement for small jobs and crevices. Remember, a mouse does not require much space to crawl its way inside the house.

Then check the eves for possible rotting and holes where birds and squirrels can find their way inside the building. Those of you who have openings on your gable ends, make sure raccoons or other small animals cannot force their way into your attic because the screening or covering is weak or torn. You don’t ever want to end up with a raccoon in your attic, . . . nor in your false/extra chimney for that matter. So be sure the chimney also has a proper cover protecting it.

At one time I had no cover protecting my extra chimney, and a mother raccoon decided to have her babies at the bottom of my chimney. The only way I could get the mother to move her brood off my property was to pour at least 8 boxes of moth balls down that chimney. She finally couldn’t stand the smell, and she did move her babies.

However, she did come back in the fall to try to get into the house and the chimney. By that time I had put a cover on the chimney; however, she tried her best to take it off. She also tried to remove the heavy wire screening I had nailed on my gable ends where just a screen had been used for ventilation. It took me three years to get her to stay away from my house. So to avoid that type of problem, follow the tips given above.

Another great tip for a home remedy for pest control . . .

. . . is to keep all foods sealed and refrigerated once people have finished eating. Keeping leftovers sealed and refrigerated prevents attracting smaller pests from coming inside the home looking for food that may lead to spreading harmful bacteria.

A third tip for a home remedy for pest control . . .

. . . deals with clothes storage. If you are storing your clothes, consider placing them in a plastic container to keep fabric pests from breeding or staying in your clothes. Moth balls buried in and among your clothes or small pieces of cedar wood tucked here and there in your closet or plastic storage bag can do a great job of keeping pests such as moths and other fabric pests from settling in and making your clothes their food and home.

A fourth and easy home remedy for pest control . . .

. . .is to keep the inside of your home spic-and-span clean (insects hate cleaning products). In addition, remove from around or near your home all debris, stones, bricks, extra tall grass, and piles of junk which can serve as a good home for pests, insects, and rodents. You certainly don’t want these around or near your house.

Oh, one last thing. Mice have been known to scoot inside the house via an open door which someone had forgotten to close. (Children tend to do this — run out and leave the door open). So especially in the fall when the weather begins to get colder, monitor your doors and keep the critters out.

If you follow all these tips as a home remedy for pest control, it is guaranteed that your house will not only be pest or insect free but also very clean and healthier for you and your family.

Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Marcie