SolveYourProblem Article Series: Pest & Bug Removal
How Do I Get Rid of Bugs & Pests?

Do-It-Yourself Pest Control Tips

Insects can be a problem for millions of people. All kinds of pests infest homes each year, including termites, flies, mosquitoes, fleas, and mites. Most of those insects are harmful and can make a home environment very uncomfortable, so it is essential to control them using various pest control methods. Pests can be controlled using physical, mechanical and chemical methods. There are many control methods that can be defined as mechanical and physical and these methods can simply be handpicking bagworms from a juniper bush, cutting caterpillars from a shade tree, or using a fly swatter and window screen to keep flying pests out of a home. Electronic bug killers have become widely used, and this technology can be used to help eliminate dangerous insects such as scorpions. Hand-held bug zappers can protect homeowners from rogue scorpions lurking in the shadows of their homes.

High-tech fly swatters are available for individuals who are not fast enough to catch flies with traditional swatters. These high-tech swatters produce an ultraviolet glow that attracts flying insects to an electrical grid that kills them instantly. Entrapment devices may work well for the control of some insects. Some examples include fly paper and sticky boards that are often used in greenhouses to control whiteflies. Burlap can be tied around fruit and shade trees to protect them from pests. The burlap wrapped around the trees can be treated with insecticides or inspected daily to collect pests. Ditches with steep vertical walls can be dug and used as barriers to keep crawling insects, such as chinch bugs from migrating out of one field and into another.

A rolled up newspaper secured with a rubber band and soaked in water can be placed in gardens where earwigs are found. The newspapers will catch and trap the earwigs inside, so homeowners will be able to dispose of the trapped bugs each morning. Healthy practices and cleanliness is also a major part of pest control. Homes should be kept free of clutter to prevent brown recluse spider infestations, because the spiders commonly hide in clothes and other items lying on the floor. Keeping a clean house will also prevent a roach and cockroach infestation. Floors and counters should be cleaned on a daily basis to keep them clear of any food sources for roaches to thrive on. Food containers should also be sealed properly, because cockroaches may get into the open containers and contaminate food.

Pet containers, and other containers that hold water should be stored properly, and dried regularly, because some pests are attracted to wet environments. Plants trays and pots should be checked regularly and kept dry when possible, as these wet environments may welcome silverfish. Vacuuming carpets and dusting can prevent certain pest infestations, such as carpet beetles and bedbugs. Plant debris should also be removed from areas outside of the home to prevent pest infestation. Glue traps are also effective method of pest control. Glue traps can be used to trap spider, roaches, scorpions, ants, and other crawling insects. These traps can be places along baseboards, near cracks and crevices, and other points of entry to help homeowners trap and eliminate pests.

Insecticides are some of the most popular control agents for pests, because they are readily available, fast acting, and reliable. Single applications may control many different pest species, and forms a persistent residue that can kill pests hours or days after application. Insecticides are available in many forms, including dusts and sprays. The insecticides are absorbed through the insect’s exoskeleton, and because they are contact poisons, the insects are killed instantly. The dusts may also be used around the home, but they must be applied to locations that are inaccessible to pets and children, including underneath baseboards, and behind cabinets. The dusts can be used to dehydrate some insects such as silverfish, which will eliminate them immediately. Insecticides are also most effective for controlling a fire ant population. Baits can also be applied inside and outside of the home to attract pests, and are especially effective for killing pests that form colonies, such as ants and termites.

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SolveYourProblem.com : 2008

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