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CHAPTER 11 - The Best Control 2

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<strong>CHAPTER</strong> <strong>11</strong>SAFE AND FAR MOREEFFECTIVE PEST CONTROLOVERVIEWWHAT ARE PESTISAFES ® ?At the 2006 NPMA Pest World Conference in Nashville,Tennessee, Dr. Faith Oi noted a recent nationwidesurvey that found 83% of the respondents would paymore for a service that uses less pesticide. WhenRebecca Baldwin conducted her own survey of 600 pestcontrol consumers in Florida, she found 87% would besatisfied with an effective pest control strategy thatcould control pests without spraying pesticides.“Pest problems, including diseases, are really indicators that your yard or local area or eco-system is out of balance,sick, deficient or needs repair - volatile, synthetic pesticide poisons will surely not heal or address muchless correct the real problem - they only can contaminate and/or mask it temporarily at best. Often the use ofthese registered poisons actually exasperates the pest problem and creates resistance and makes the pestsituation worse. Pest infestations are only symptoms of your real problem not the cause or the problem - aslong as you continue to ‘treat’ just the symptoms - and do not correct the real cause or problem - you will beon a chemical tread mill that never ceases to make the ‘banksters’ and the poison ‘industry’ rich and well andyourself poor and sick and your pests prosper and increase.” – SLT in a 1993 speech.Elroy L. Rice, writing in Pest <strong>Control</strong> with Nature’s Chemicals (1983) noted: ”Two basic problems have beenencountered in the use of insecticides that were developed in the past: 1. Insecticides are toxic not only to thepests, but also to many other insects and animals as well. 2. Target insects rapidly develop resistance to them.This chapter contains only a few of the Author’s favorite alternative tools or Pestisafes ® , some safe alternativesto medicine and some common herbal recipes and/or tools he warns warn you not to use, some of which areonly mentioned here. <strong>The</strong> Author believes only pesticides (poisons) and “medicine” need to be registeredbecause they are or they contain dangerous volatile poisons and legally these poisons can not be called safe ornon-toxic. Obviously, if any product used to control pests is a food or GRAS and/or non-toxic, it is not logical orpossible to call it (or register it as) a pesticide poison. <strong>The</strong> Author’s favorite Pestisafes ® contain only naturallyoccurring materials that are all either food-grade or non-toxic or (GRAS) Generally Recognized as Safe.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generally_recognized_as_safe) Some “regulators” believe that under FIFRAanything that controls pests must be registered as a pesticide (poison); based on their logic all of my followingPestisafes ® would have to become registered and/or have poisons added to them! Virtually everything on earthcan be used as a “pesticide”! Obviously, many manufacturers do not want their food or cleaning products to becalled or “registered” as pesticide poisons. <strong>The</strong> Author’s Pestisafes ® will safely control even pesticide poisonresistant pests. Remember to use even these Pestisafe ® materials with caution as there are about 30,000 times asmany beneficial organisms on earth as there are harmful ones, e.g., mice and ants will eat up to 95% of all weedseeds deposited in no-till agricultural plots, making them safer, more efficient and more important than chemicalherbicide poisons. Remember, even the safest spray or dust or product can be abused and/or misused.Always remember to a choose the safest alternative or Intelligent Pest Management ® control possible.351


silicone sealant) is a good idea. Be particularly careful to seal around exterior plumbing and electrical outlets.Make sure that door thresholds have good weather stripping under them and that the door and windows seal wellwhen shut. Check that screens on windows, crawl space vents, and attic vents are intact and sealed around theedges. Remember 80-90% of all insect infestations migrate from the outside into your structure. Only 4types of pests are generally carried inside buildings to create infestation; they are German cockroaches,fleas, stored product pests and Pharaoh ants, so inspect for them.Use screens: Window screens are excellent for keeping insects out of a house, but screen doors are not veryeffective. This is because flies and mosquitoes are attracted to people or food odors so they hang aroundoutside screen doors and whisk inside every time the door is opened. Try to ventilate the house adequatelywithout screen doors, at least on heavily used entrances. If screen doors are used, they should have strongspring closures that shut the door quickly and tightly.Use glueboards and repellents: Prevent many pest invasions by properly using glueboards and by sprinklingdry Tide laundry soap powder and/or talcum powder or medicated body powder as a barrier inside and outside.Manage lights: Good design and management of exterior lighting is important to prevent insect problems.• Avoid leaving porch lights on all evening to collect a cloud of moths and other insects and/or predators,e.g., bats. Every time the door is opened, the insects swirling around the light are swept into the house.Minimize the attraction time by turning porch lights on only when they are needed. Sensor lights thatswitch on in response to motion are ideal because they light the area for arriving guests, but switch offafter a few minutes (saves energy too).• When designing the lighting around the exterior of a new home, don’t put light fixtures directly above thedoors, especially over doors to decks or patios that might be used a lot in the evening. Place flood or spotlights a few feet away from the door and direct the light onto porches and stairs. This illuminates themsafely, while keeping the mesmerized insects away from the door.• Use yellow bulbs in yard light fixtures; flies and moths are not as attracted to yellow as they are to ordinarywhite light bulbs, or try sodium vapor lighting.Manage garbage: Keep garbage in sturdy, tightly covered containers and wash them out regularly with enzymecleaners and borax. This prevents flies from breeding and reduces the attraction for ants, yellowjackets andother insects. If the kitchen food garbage can be composted daily, the trash will contain little that is attractive toinsects. Where composting is not possible, tightly wrap up kitchen garbage, take it out frequently to a coveredtrash can, and dispose of it in sealed plastic bags. Avoid letting old clothes, newspapers, paper bags, cardboard,empty cans, and other trash accumulate in storage rooms, garages, etc., as these provide breeding sites formany household pests.Manage soil: Healthy soil prevents many pest and weed problems.A FEW OF THE AUTHOR’S FAVORITE OFFENSIVE WEAPONS OR PEST CONTROL “TOOLS” OR PESTISAFES ® !Before beginniung, please note that just because something is natural does not mean it is safe. Rhubarband oleander leaves are very toxic to people and pets, especially small children. Even foods like peanutscan cause severe poisoning symptoms in some people. ALWAYS USE THE SAFEST ALTERNATIVE(PREFERABLY FOOD-GRADE MATERIALS) YOU CAN! ANY MIXTURES YOU MAKE AND USE SHOULDBE CLEARLY MARKED AND PROPERLY STORED.If the Author asked you to roll around and/or climb on concertina (razor) barb wire - you would think the requestabsurd - yet ants can climb all over it without harm - you can powder your baby’s bottom with talcum powder, butants will leave an area where talcum is sprinkled. Volatile, synthetic pesticide poisons were basically invented tokill man - why try using them on insects? Unlike the “professional” pest control industry that only has one “tool”to control pest problems -volatile, synthetic pesticide poisons - the Author wants you to begin to understand his“tool box”. <strong>The</strong> following are only a few of his favorite things or “tools” or Pestisafes ® to control or repel even theregistered pesticide resistant insects that annoy man and the 1,000 or so insect pests that damage his cropsand/or the other nuisance wildlife that “bug” him. <strong>The</strong> industry and “some” regulating people want to make thesePestisafes ® “pesticides” because they kill, repel and/or control pests better than “their” registered economic353


pesticide poisons do - to them the Author asks the simple question, “If I kill a resistant ant with an ice cube andthen the ice cube melts is the moisture and/or vapor still a ‘pesticide’?” It is the Author’s understanding that allmaterials generally recognized as safe (GRAS) and/or naturally occurring things and/or food products do notneed to be legally registered unless you want to make medical claims and/or make them all proprietary products.We know that if we kill a pest with “their” volatile, synthetic pesticide poisons - “their” poisons and inerts remainbehind to contaminate and harm us, our pets, food, water, homes, children and environment for a long time - thetoxic pesticide poisons that remain to contaminate and create pesticide resistance are not simply moisture orvapor, but dangerous poisons! It seems simply amazing and implausible to the Author that his (basically nonvolatile)techniques and Pestisafes ® that are safer, less expensive, more effective, scientifically provable, fieldtested and result oriented would meet such resistance - especially from “open-minded scientists.” But, to them,the Author would say you can not serve the public and your own selfish, archaic interests. You either love yourfellow man or you love money and power more. Note: Registered, volatile, synthetic pesticide poisons maybe used to control any and all pests in any and all areas unless the pest or area is specifically excludedon the registered label; therefore, unless the Pestisafe ® label specifically excludes the use of the productto control pests, the Author believes that all such uses are far more legal than the poison label. Note:Some of the following tools or weapons do not appear in any other chapter and some of the “tools”described in other chapters may not be included in this one. Always remember that even the Author’salternatives may negatively effect some plants, some people and some pets - so use even these toolsvery carefully! Safety should be the first and last thing you apply.Acetaminophen (APAP) PM - can be ground and mixed with aspartame and used as a rodent bait. An adultperson can not exceed 6 grams (8 extra-strength pills) of acetaminophen per day.Acetic Acid or White Vinegar - can be used as an effective herbicide and it can be used to preserve hay andgrain. It can be used to disinfect empty combs that have been exposed to European foul brood, Nosema or theAmoeba Disease.Acne Bacteria - can be killed with heat so frequently take a steam bath or sauna or wash twice a day with SafeTweetmint Enzyme Cleaner with Peppermint.Acoustic Emitters - are used by golf courses during spring flights to attract and trap mole crickets. <strong>The</strong>y can becontaminated, e.g., with nematodes, and the infected crickets can be released to contaminate and infest others.Activated Charcoal Filters and Fans - remove dust mites, mold and mildew spores, odors, pesticides, allergens,pollen, etc. from the ambient air.Adhesives - like Scotch 77 can be sprayed on plastic tennis/badminton racquets, yellow bags, white or yellowcards, paper, etc. to catch flying and crawling insect pests.Adhesive Tapes - can be used to trap insects and temporarily seal cracks and other openings.Adjuvants - are materials that, when added to a spray solution, facilitate or modify the action of a pesticide. In1889 there was a work that indicated that adding soap increased the toxicity of arsenical insecticides. Beforethe turn of the 20th century whale oils and fish oils were commonly used as adjuvants. Today there are morethan 3000 chemicals being marketed as adjuvants.Advice - You do not know everything; seek proper advice and then double check your research.Aeration - Air is needed to give soil fertility and optimum plant root growth and to oxidize mineral matter andto reduce carbon dioxide, thatch, acidity and plant debris. Many pests, e.g., wireworms, die when you properlyaerate the soil and/or compost. Provide good air circulation. Overcrowing plants can cause weak growth andan increase in foliage diseases. Staking, caging, trellising and pruning all help to increase air circulation.After Shave - It may smell great to you and your lady, but when squirrels invade your chimney or attic, aftershave is repulsive (whether lotion or cologne) to squirrels and they move out. Perfume, especially old perfume, orafter shave will also repel many ground dwelling mammals and ants. Many people now are chemically sensitiveand will react badly to fragrances.354


Agricultural Practices - If you plant the same crop year after year you are bound to fail.Air - A blast of air from an aerosol can, bicycle pump, or straw or air compressor can be used to flush roachesfrom their hiding spots instead of using a can of aerosol poison; then you can vacuum them up. Fans left on24 hours, 7 days a week will control roach and bat infestations and desiccate many insects and will repel manyflying insects, e.g., flies. Hot air can be used to quickly control spot roach infestations and help dry out fungalinfestations. Air circulation should also be encouraged in garden plantings to help control many diseases. Aircontaining less than 2.5% oxygen protects stored commodities by stopping insect and fungus activity.Air Doors - To be effective against flying insects, the minimum velocity of the air stream must be 1600 feet perminute.Air Guns or Varmint Guns or Pellet Guns - if legal can remove pest birds and squirrels and other varmit.Alcohol - In laboratory rats, drinking alcohol compromises the skin’s barrier to toxic chemicals.Alcohol Anti-Insect Spray or Mist:2 c. vodka1 T. citronella essential oil1 T. eucalyptus essential oil1 tsp. geranium essential oil1 tsp. rosemary essential oil1 tsp. orange essential oil1 tsp. lemon essential oilMix all ingredients and shake well. Spray or mist into the air to repel flying insects and some people and pets.Be very careful when you use essential or fragrance oils.Alcohol Plant Rub - Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol solution to wipe aphids and scales off resistant plants.Alcohol Spray - Combine 1 to 2 cups rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol) with 1 quart water.Alcohol will quickly kill wasps, aphids, roaches and other pests. Always test spray a small area on one plant.Wait a day to check for damage before spraying entire plants. You can add between ½ and 1 cup rubbing alcoholto 1 quart insecticidal soap or horticultural oil sprays or vegetable oil as a “kicker” to increase their effectiveness.Keep mix away from children or pets and your eyes!Alfalfa - has natural weed-suppressing effects when rotated in (crop rotation) with corn and other crops. Alfalfafields provide a tremendous vareity of beneficial insects to provide natural control when pests invade nearby crops.Algae - are some of the most important microbes in the soil.Alka Seltzer ® - pieces of Alka Seltzer ® thrown into the air and swallowed by sea gulls will quickly kill them. Lightlycover it in peanut butter or grease to kill rats and mice. Put an Alka Seltzer or two in a bowl of soapy water tocatch insects, e.g., fleas and mosquitoes. Use them on damp sponges to attract bed and kissing bugs.Alum - Used to control fungal diseases, e.g., on bananas.Aluminum Foil - Protect young trees form mice and rabbits - wrap the trunks loosely to a height of 18” withglittering, rattling aluminum foil. Place a 30”-wide strip shiny-side up on the ground to repel aphids and thripsand reflect light upward to speed food/flower production by two weeks and to help retain ground moisture. Hangaluminum foil from plants, trees or your home to keep birds away. You can also use it to increase winter lightfor house plants. Aluminum foil collars can also be used to protect plant seedlings from cutworms. Aluminumfoil repels some cats. Aluminum foil lightly wrapped 2” below the soil and 2” above the soil surface will detersouthern blight on tomato and pepper plants.Aluminium Plates - Birds hate the sound and appearance of pie plates blowing in the breeze and sunlight.355


American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americano) - <strong>The</strong> crushed leaves repel ticks, mosquitoes and other bitingbugs.American Cornflower - <strong>The</strong> roots of this plant contain an oil that repels and/or kills flies.American Plum (Prunus americana) - Leaves and flowers are toxic to insects.Ammonia - Can be used to control weeds in the Spring - later on it acts as a fertilizer. You can later killweeds with calcium nitrate or potash (4 cups per gallon of water) or 1 gallon of ammonia to 4 gallons of liquidurea with 2 oz. of a sticker. You can kill slugs with 1 part non-sudsing ammonia and 1 part water. Rags soakedin ammonia and dropped in gopher holes or rat holes etc., if you seal all of the openings - usually repels thepests in a hurry. Pour some in garbage cans to repel raccoons. Termites avoid anything that has ammonia/nitrogen on it. Many pests die when you spray them with ammonia. If you have no concrete or asphalt, you canuse ammonia to compact soil. That is why ground fertilized with ammonia can make the soil hard. Ammonianeutralizes the epoxide in mold. Never mix ammonia and chlorine bleach.Ammoniated Soap of Fatty Acids - Can be diluted and used as a weed and vegetation killer.Anise - People use anise to add a hint of licorice to everything from holiday cookies to robust bottles of ouzoand raki. Now Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has isolated 22 compounds in Pimpinella’s essential oilsand find high levels of organic mixtures called phenylpropanoids in anise Phenylpropanoids are found in a widevariety of plants, and some are thought to have health-boosting benefits. However, the chemical structure and thebiological activity of the Pimpinella phenylpropanoids are unique. Some phenylpropanoids the team found haveonly been found in Pimpinella and four of the compounds they isolated had never before been identified in anyplant. <strong>The</strong> compounds were evaluated for their activities against the plant fungus Collectotrichum, which causesanthracnose diseases worldwide. One unique compound was especially effective against strawberrysoft rot and leaf blight. In addition, Pimpinella isaurica essential oils were more effective in controllingaphids than isolated Pimpinella phenylpropanoids. <strong>The</strong>se compounds were also tested for theiractivity against various major and minor microbes. A few showed some effectiveness againstPlasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes malaria in humans, and Mycobacterium intracellularaea bacterium that can cause illness in immunocompromised patients. Some phenylpropanoids exhibited antiinflammatoryactivities. Pimpinella essential oils also showed estrogenic effects in a yeast model and wereconsidered to have phytoestrogen properties. <strong>The</strong>se results suggest that Pimpinella essential oils may be a sourceof potent compounds that could be used in developing powerful new pharmaceuticals and agrochemical agents.Anise Oil - Repels dogs and cats and will kill spider mites and aphids.Annual Tillage - is probably the most important weed management practice.Ant Lions - <strong>The</strong>y resemble damsel flies but they have longer and blunter antennae; they are weak fliers. Adultsand larvae eat ants, ticks, small insects.Antibiosis - Some plants, e.g., garlic and marigolds, produce volatile oils, known as phytoalexins, that canrepel, injure or even kill pests, e.g., insects and/or fungi. Some plants even react by killing the tissue around thearea of the infestation, as well as killing the pathogen. Some plants encase repellents in vacuoles (little cellularpackages) that rupture when the insect or animal bites into the plant.Antibiotic - All antibiotics come from the soil and are substances produced by some microorganisms that inhibitother microorganisms; used properly they save lives. Used too often they create super bugs and resistant species.Antibiotics - e.g., Flagyl ® , tetracyclene, etc. Even 250 ml. soaked into cardboard as a bait station will kill anentire colony of termites in days in days by destroying the microflora and/or bacteria in their guts. Flagyl alsokills the protozoa in their guts. <strong>The</strong>re are several natural antibiotics in this chapter, e.g., goldenseal.Ants - In 324 B.C.E. the Chinese introduced ants (Acephali armaragina) to their citrus groves to control caterpillarsand large boring beetles. If you follow ants up the tree, you will find the aphids, scale and/or disease.356


Aphid Lions - See green lacewings.Aphid Midges - are tiny, bright orange maggots feed on more than 60 species of aphids. <strong>The</strong> adults aremosquito-like flies with long legs and delicate bodies. <strong>The</strong> adults lay eggs at night.Aphidiid Wasps - are tiny black wasps with long antennae. <strong>The</strong>y have only one specific host. <strong>The</strong>y lay theireggs in aphids were the larvae hatch and consume the aphid host.Aphytis melinus (Armored Scale Parasite) - is a small yellow wasp which will control scale insects, especiallyin citrus groves.Apple Cider Vinegar - Mix 3 tablespoons of natural apple cider vinegar to a gallon of water - spray during the coolpart of the day for black spot on roses and other fungal diseases - or try baking soda as another safe fungicidealternative or fungisafe. Boil to purify the air and control airborne bacteria, etc. To relieve arthritis symptoms,drink a glass of water with 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons of unprocessed honey; do this3 times a day for at least 3 - 4 weeks to alleviate arthritis symptoms. You can also soak in warm, diluted applecider vinegar to hasten the results. Garlic supplements will also help. Mix straight apple cider vinegar andbaking soda to help cure insect bites and stings. Want to kill ringworm? Soak a rag or paper towel with applecider vinegar and cover the ringworm for 15 minutes several times a day.Apples - An apple a day is particularly good for your lungs. Organic applies are more effective than other fruitsand vegetables in reducing the risk of serious diseases, including lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease (COPD).Aromatic Cedar - Cedar wood, its shavings and/or mulch or oil made from the eastern red cedar or aromaticcedar tree, Juniperus virginiana (L), has long been known to possess pesticidal or repellant properties. Allstages of clothes moths and the black carpet beetle can be controlled with cedarwood or its oil or shavings.German cockroaches are repelled, but not killed by aromatic cedar. Ants do not like aromatic cedar mulchesand Argentine ants are killed for at least 4 months.Aromatic Plants - like garlic, chilies, mint, common rue and/or lavender will repel ants and many other pests -plant them in “troubled areas” and by entrances.Arrestants - are chemicals or pheromones used to bring about aggregations of insects and/or animals.Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. Vaseyana (Rydb.) Beetle - <strong>The</strong> volatile fraction from mountain big sagebrushis an effective fumigant. <strong>The</strong> main component of the volatile fraction is 1,8-cineole.Asparagus (Asparagus officianalis var. altilis) - This plant has root exudates that reduce plant-parasiticnematodes in the soil. Plain asparagus juice will kill virtually all nematodes.Aspartame - contains about 40% neurotoxic aspartic acid. Aspartame is a very powerful ant and mouse killer.Carpenter ants and mice will eat the powdered aspartame, but small black ants are best controlled when you mixthe aspartame in apple juice and/or honey. To control fire ants, sprinkle aspartame on the mound; then slightlymoisten the powder with water. Try it in juice to control yellow jackets. When handling any toxin protect yourskin and keep it out of your mouth. Aspartame is 10% methanol; when ingested or at any temperature over 86 oF. it converts to formaldehyde and then formic acid - the same substance used to strip epoxy urethane coatings.(Formic acid causes metabolic acidosis.) Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants. <strong>The</strong> methanoltoxicity mimics health problems, e.g., multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. <strong>The</strong> other 90% of aspartame iscomprised of phenylalanine and aspartic acid, amino acids which, when seperated from the other aminio acidsin you body, can become neurotoxic. In the 1970s FDA refused to approve aspartame for human consumptiondue to studies linking it to brain tumors, nuerological disorders and even death in laboratory animals. Stringswere pulled by powerful men like Donald Rumsfield and aspartame was approved by the FDA without furtherado. If you are using aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc.) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms,spasms, shooting pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, vertigo, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, joint pain,unexplainable depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision or memory loss…you probably haveaspartame poisoning. See Excitotoxins. See Equal ® or NutraSweet ® . Will kill ants and/or mice that eat a few357


packets in 4 days or less. Aspartame triggers gross obesity, suicide, diabetes, behavioral problems and learningdisorders and many other diseases and symptoms. http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.htmlSee Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Tagamet and Ibuprofen (Advil).Aspirin - Solutions of aspirin when sprayed on plants will help protect against pathogens and insects. Placing2 aspirins in your cut flower water will keep them fresh longer.Assyrian Apple (Malus assyria) - Pliny in Book 12 of his Natural History noted that the fruits and leaves ofthis plant, also called citron, have an exceptionally strong scent that “penetrates garments stored with them andkeeps off injurious insects.”Assassin Bugs - Depending on the species, they will eat flies, bees, leafhoppers, Japanese beetles, tomatohornworms, caterpillars and the like; they are fierce hunters and even may bite you.Assume - When you assume you make an ass out of u and me.Attention - Learn to pay proper attention so you can acquire knowledge and proper controls.Attic Vents - should all be screened.Attractants - Use these chemicals to bring in beneficials or to bring in pests or to monitor your controls.Pheromones, lures:• Advantages:Non-hazardous to humans or other animals; no residues; targets specific insects whileleaving beneficials unharmed.• Disadvantages: Variable results due to weather, physical conditions, etc; effectiveness limited to veryspecific adult insect populations; expensive, more useful for monitoring the presenceof insects rather than for control purposes in most cases.Automobiles - kill many insects as they travel. Put a net out one window and you can do mosquito counts;you can drive over fire ant colonies repeatedly to kill or move them, and you can use the exhaust to euthanizeanimals in tunnels or in (bagged) traps.Augmentation - When natural predators or enemies are too few in number or missing, their numbers and theresulting control can be increased by releases.Avocodo - A good source of unsaturated fat, fiber, vitamin C and B 6and folate; folate is a nutrient that neutralizesheart risks by neutralizing excess levels of heart attack-causing homocysteine. Florida avocados have less fatand fewer calories than those from California.Avocado Oil - Can be used to repel insects.Avoidance - You can till the soil to control volunteer or host plants to help reduce early season insect pests and/or you can plant resistant species, practice crop rotation and/or plant cover crops and change planting dates tocontinue to help avoid pest problems and/or to reduce plant damage.Azadirachtin Extract - See Neem.Baby or Food Oil - willl kill ear mites in cats and dogs.Bacillus popillae - A bacterial control agent used to control Japanese beetles.Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) - A bacterial pathogen first used to control flour moth larvae; named in 19<strong>11</strong> for theGerman province Thuringia where a European Researcher first encountered this pathogen. It was discovereda decade earlier by the Japanese. Early products were replaced by more effective ones in the 1960s whenpathogenic strains were discovered with activity against different types of insects. BT is stable during storage,but loses strength in sunlight. It is believed that a strain of gut bacteria (Enterobacter microbes) turns Bt toxininto a killer.358


Bacteria and Viruses - Bacteria and viruses often work as living “pesticides”.Bagging - Putting bags (paper or plastic) over the fruit will protect it from sunburn and pest attacks.BAITS - Why baits?• Make the pests help do their own control by taking the toxin where it will kill the others• No or low odor• Little or no volatility• Low % active ingredient• Low volume application• High % mortality• Good service life• Safety - less risk - Caution: Any time you make a toxic bait add green food color to the baitto indicate it is poisonous to people and pets too!Baiting for German cockroaches:• Perform a thorough inspection. You will need a “red or yellow” flashlight at night.• Put bait as close as you can to the cockroaches. Make it easy for them! Bait detection zone is about12”; apply small amounts of bait in many places.• Use enough bait to feed the entire cockroach population. For example: A baiting program wasn’t “working”, and the PCO still saw cockroaches. But when he checked, the PCO found the bait was all gone.He didn’t use enough bait to feed/kill off all the population.• Do a follow-up evaluation on any bait’s performance - 10 - 14 days.• Out of sight out of reach means out of trouble.Termite baits are just starting to be introduced and be used. As more people use them, that’s when you startseeing if they’re really going to work. Any termite bait station to be effective must be half in and half out of theground. Virtually any diluted antibiotic will quickly kill a feeding colony of termites. As EPA and environmentalconcerns limit traditional termiticides, people will rely more on baits. Trying to get a feel for the colony is importantfor treatments, especially baits. Worker termites are the ones most treatments key on for bait treatments.Termites go back to the soil every 24 - 48 hours; that’s when baiting comes in, try to catch them when goingback to the soil. Placement is important. Use ½% - 5% disodium octoborate tetrahydrate as the maximumamount of toxin in your (moist cardboard or cellulose insulation) baits, or use Flagyl ® or goldenseal which alsokills the protozoa and bacteria in their guts.Baits containing artificial sweetners/pain killers - You can kill rodents with beer or pop that has not lost itsfizz or with aspartame, Tagamet and/or acetaminophen.Baits using cellulose and other absorbent materials - can be used to hold diluted Safe Solutions, Inc. (2%- 4%) Tweetmint enzyme cleaners and (10%) sucrose water solutions for ant, roach, earwig, termite, wasp andfly control.Baits containing yeast and sodium bicarbonate, e.g., NaHCO 3or baking soda, when ingested by insectscause CO 2to be released in the gut and the pests die.You can make your own baits out of any food source your pest prefers, for example, boiled raisins, raw potatoes,bread and beer for the German cockroach (Blattella germanica), greasy ham skins and bacon for the red-leggedham beetle (Necrobia rufipes), cheap red wine for fruit flies (Drosophila sp.), soft moist cat food for mold mites(Tyrophagus sp.), grenadine or lemonade concentrate or beer or blue Hawaiian Punch ® for yellowjackets,(Vespula sp.), dead cockroaches for silverfish (Ctenolepisma sp.) and old fish meal for hide beetles (Dermestesmaculatus), or you can make a liquid bait out of non-chlorinated water (and 10% sucrose) using 5% or less (try1%) boric acid or 3% or less (try ½%) sodium borate - keep out of the reach of children, pets and/or wildlife.Baits containing even 66% or more food-grade diatomaceous earth or aspartame as an active ingredient arestill considered to be non-toxic to people. Add a little diluted Tagemet to your baits. Whatever bait you make,color it green and note on it clearly - “Not for human consumption”.359


Baking Soda - Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate or bicarbonate of soda comes from the mined alkaline mineral,Trona, from Green River, WY. It helps prevent microbial growth, is a leavening agent, absorbs many odors andneutralizes acidity. It is registered with the EPA as an active ingredient against plant fungi, e.g., powdery mildew,and is known to inhibit the growth of yeast and bacteria.When ingested it neutralizes acid and releases carbondioxide bubbles that can kill insects. Baking soda can be used as a fire extinguisher for small grease or electricalfires. It is an excellent toothpaste. A paste of baking soda will give immediate relief for insect bites or stings.(Diluted vinegar should be used for wasp stings.) It will tenderize meat in a few hours (sprinkle on meat, thenrinse before cooking) and remove the fishy taste from fish in 30 minutes (soak fish in 2 tablespoons of bakingsoda in a quart of water). If you cook a little in baked beans you will eliminate gas problems later. Baking sodain water will stop steel wood pads from rusting. To destroy ant mounts outside, sprinkle baking soda on a dampmound (about 1 - 2 cups), wait 30 minutes or so and pour a cup of vinegar on the ant hill. <strong>The</strong> combination isdeadly to ants. Put 1 rounded teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and several drops of vegetableoil or horticulture oil in a quart of water - shake and spray every other day until all the signs of fungus are goneand the weather becomes drier - the mix will control powdery mildew, black spot and many fungus problemsor try hydrated lime or try apple cider vinegar. To prevent the baking soda spray from being washed off andobtain thorough coverage add a drop or two of Safe Solutions Tweetmint Enzyme Cleaner with Peppermint.Caution: Oils and/or soaps can burn some leaves. If foliage shows browning or burning, exclude thoseplants from further treatment. Try simply sprinkling the baking soda powder around your home, inside andoutside and around pet dishes, as a safe way to control and/or repel ants, roaches, and other pests or make abait of baking soda and powered sugar bait to control ants, roaches, and other pests. Regular baking soda isa great, inexpensive deodorizer. Add a pinch or two of cinnamon or your favorite spice and sprinkle over thecarpet and wait 60 minutes and then vacuum. Sprinkle it on pet messes and stains, even on concrete. Batheyour skunk-sprayed dog in a tub of hot water with 1 cup of lemon juice and 1 box of baking soda and ½ cup ofshampoo. Put a tablespoon in your vacuum before you vacuum up pests to kill them inside the dry vacuum.You can also mop with baking soda to control ants temporarily. You can also safely wash your baby clothes insodium bicarbonate. Baking soda (paste) is alkaline and will soothe the acidic sting of a bee. All flower specieswhich thrive in alkaline soil produce wonderful flowers when watered with a weak baking soda solution. Tomatoplants also like this treatment and it discourages pests. Sodium bicarbonate will kill (fire) ants that walk on it andare exposed to it. Baking soda also will kill slugs when they walk on it or are dusted with it. Lightly sprinklingbaking soda will often repel rabbits from nibbling. Sprinkle it into cracks in the driveway and sidewalk so thesodium will kill unwanted grass and weeds or directly on to moss. Various dilutions for pest control include ½cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap or detergent in 1 quart water, 2 tablespoons baking soda per 1gallon water and/or add 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil per 1 quart water to kill pests, e.g., spider mites, whitefliesand aphids. One of the best all-purpose mixes to control insect and fungal problems and diseases is to take1½ tablespoons of baking soda, 1 tablespoon dish detergent (or Murphy’s Oil Soap), 1 tablespoon canola oil in1 gallon water; then add 1 tablespoon vinegar. Shake and spray once a week. Note: Water sprays can burnplants, on sunny days especially. Dip cut flowers into baking soda to extend their life. Put baking soda in baitsto kill pests. Flush pet ears with a solution of baking soda and warm water to kill ear mites and help stop petitching. Baking soda helps control mold. See Vinegar. See also Chapter 41.Balance - Nature uses predators and/or parasites and/or diseases to keep everything in suitable balance so noone species becomes too plentiful. Everything on earth eats and is eaten.Balls - See Tennis Balls.Baltimore Orioles - One Baltimore Oriole will eat up to 17 tent caterpillars per minute when it finds a nest.Banana Peels - Mulch them into the soil to strengthen plants, e.g., rose bushes and ward off aphids. A bananapeel will also kill warts. Just rub it on the wart.Banding Traps - Bands of sticky material, e.g., Tanglefoot, wrapped around tree trunks at a waist-high level arehorizontal fly paper for many crawling pests, e.g, cankerworms, beetles, ants, climbing cutworms, caterpillars, etc.Barbeque Bugs? Throw sage or rosemary on the coals to stop mosquitoes from bothering you.Barley Straw - A bale of barley straw placed in well-aerated water will (if you float the bale) succumb suspectedalgae forms in 6 - 8 weeks as it rots in the sunlight. Filamentous or stringy algae (blanket weed) control may360


take a lot longer than 6 -8 weeks and may even require another season. <strong>The</strong> presence of mud in the water willinactivate the important chemicals so remove the mud precipitants first; 6 barley straw bales will treat 1 surfaceacre of water. Well aerated water and rotting barley straw will produce traces of hydrogen peroxide. It is bestto add the barley straw before the algae begins to row. See Tadpoles.Barriers - Anything that will keep pests off and out of an area, e.g., door sweeps, fences, caulk, garlic, duct tape,double-sided tape, Vaseline, screens, doors, air curtains, chalk, ditches, moats, sound, lights, shields, covers,fragrances, chemicals, DE, repellents, temperature, microwaves, edging, essential oils, pepper, talcum powder,cinnamon, steel wool, sand, lime, copper, ashes, plants, cloves, corn gluten meal, glass, visquine, tapes, etc.Basil - <strong>The</strong> essential oil of basil can repel mosquitoes and has insecticidal, antibacterial and fungicidal effectsand may act as an antifeedant or repellent. Basil planted among tomato plants will control tomato worms. Tryboiling shredded leaves in a covered container and separating the oils found in the water and on the lid. <strong>The</strong>oil is almost half linalool. Basil is a mild sedative, antiseptic and helps digestion. See also Lemon Basil andSweet Basil.Bathing - In 1491 Johann Pruss advocated regular bathing and changes of clothing to control body lice.Bats - <strong>The</strong> little brown bat eats almost its weight each night in mosquitoes, moths, caddis flies, midges and/orbeetles.Bay Leaves - Add bay leaves to cereal, flour and sugar tins and shelves to help keep ants and grain moths andweevils away. Bay leaves, cloves and eucalyptus wrapped in sachets will repel flies if hung by open windowsand doors.Bazooka Bubble Gum - will deter weevils. Add some cloves and/or peppercorns for a “kicker”.Beaaveria bassiana - is a common soil-borne fungus that occurs worldwide. It can be used to control butterflies,moths, spider mites, true bugs, beetles, whiteflies, aphids, leaf hoppers, ants, bees, wasps, etc. Fungal sporescontact the pest directly (via sprays or mists) and penetrate the cuticle. <strong>The</strong> fungal spores then use the insect’sbody as a nutrient source. Mortality occurs from both desiccation and nutrient loss.Bear Hops (Humulus lupulus) - Its powdered leaves are toxic to southern armyworms, melonworms and otherinsects.Beaver - See the Author’s beaver letter at http://www.getipm.com/personal/dam.htm.Bee or Wasp Stings - Quickly scrape or flick off the stinger, then mix a little water with meat tenderizer (notAc’cent, it’s too spicy) to make a paste and apply it to the stung area. Papain, an enzyme in tenderizer breaksdown the proteins that make up insect venom. An ice pack on the stung areas will keep down swelling and helpprevent the venom from spreading. If tenderizer or ice isn’t available, apply your own urine (gross as this mayseem) to a cloth. It has natural antibodies that can neutralize the insect’s venom. If you have trouble breathing,reoccurring pain, nausea, dizziness or swelling over a large area, seek emergency care immediately!Bee Hives - will deter even the mighty elephant.Beer - can be used to attract and kill slugs, snails, roaches and rats - you can add tobacco juice and spray themix to kill insects, etc., but remember nicotine is still a deadly poison and should only be used with great caution.Take a one pound empty coffee can or empty milk jug and put 1 or 2 pieces of bread in the bottom of the can orjug and soak thoroughly with beer. Place in areas known to have roach infestations. Be prepared to view a can¼ to ½ full of roaches the next day! Beer in wasp traps will suffocate them as it gives off CO 2. Budweiser beeralso conditions the hair. If you find slugs and snails are taking a beer break and then leaving, mix a little flourinto the beer to make a sticky mixture. CAUTION: Tobacco can be deadly if ingested. See baits.Bees’ Wax - is used as a pruning agent.Behavior - Education and behavior changes can create/increase effective prevention, e.g., the risk of many361


Bioderivatives - are substances which are by-products of biological activity such as fermentation. See EnzymeCleaners.Biodiversity - Plant diversity will support and/or attract your allies, the birds, insects, nematodes and arachnidsthat will control your pest prolems for free.Biofuels - <strong>The</strong> rich burning the food of the poor.Biological <strong>Control</strong> - or the aiding of the blanance of nature. <strong>The</strong> first record ants were used in China’s citrusgroves in 300 A.D. to control caterpillar and beetle pests. <strong>The</strong> Chinese even constructed bamboo bridges to helpthe ants move from tree to tree. Biological <strong>Control</strong> or fighting nature with nature - has had some spectacularfailures. Biologists estimate over 4,000 plants and 2,300 animals have invaded the U. S. from abroad, introducedby accident, or through good but misguided intentions. Alien species come by sea riding in cargo holds andin the ballast water that ships use to stabilize themselves, by air in shipments of fruit, plants, lumber and soiland they come overland by rail and/or car. A few come hidden and undeclared in suitcases, boxes and even inunderwear. <strong>The</strong>ir natural predators are normally “left behind” so there are few natural controls. A few dozen ofthe “meaner” ones have cost the U. S. economy an estimated $97 billion from 1906 to 1991.Take the cane toad for an example. Imported by Australia in the 1930’s to oblige sugar cane growers - against thedire advice of a naturalist named Walter W. Froggatt - the poisonous cane toad was meant to get rid of a beetlethat was devastating the sugar cane crops. However, herpetologist Walter Meshaka, Jr., supervisory curatorat the Everglades Museum noted, “Beetles fly at night and were inaccessible to the toads.” So the voracioustoads ate everything else, having a field day in an under-exploited niche. Soon 102 “beneficial” toads turnedinto a trillion pests.Remember the Indian mongoose, which Hawaii imported to eat rats that were overrunning their cane fields?Between 1883 and 1885, the mammals were brought in, leading not only to a small drop in the rat populationbut to the destruction of all ground-nesting native birds and poultry throughout the islands.<strong>The</strong>re is the tamarisk, a plant introduced by Western settlers in the 1800s. It has spread across the Westernand Southern states, where it guzzles water so efficiently that it can dry up entire streams!<strong>The</strong>n there was Kudzu. Although not technically a biocontrol agent, this Japanese plant was planted acrossthe American South during the 1930’s for erosion control. It now blankets whole landscapes, covers homesand is ruining native habitats. Or recall the arrival of tilapia, a fish meant to take care of hydrilla, a runawayexotic aquatic plant that clogs Florida waterways: <strong>The</strong> tilapia didn’t make a major dent in the problem they weresupposed to solve but they did manage to drive out native fish, especially large-mouth bass, the prime Floridafreshwater sport fish.Even so, biological controls such as predatory and parasitic insects, plant and insect diseases, viruses and/ormicrobes are gaining more importance as pest control methods for certain insects in structures and outside. Forinstance, parasitic Steinernematid nematodes are occasionally effective in controlling some species of termitesand fleas and grubs. Cockroach populations have been successfully reduced in certain locations by introducingparasitic wasps.Biological control of pests involves the use of one living organism to control another. For example, mostarthropod pests have natural enemies or disease organisms that control or suppress them effectively under someconditions or in some situations. Occasionally insects or microorganisms contribute to the control of certainweeds. Over 20 million individual insects are released yearly to control insects or weeds naturally. More than200 arthropod species are imported in the U. S. every year. Many microorganisms also provide natural controlof pest birds and rodents. Sometimes biological control can be an important component of a Intelligent PestManagement ® program by taking advantage of or conserving these helpful organisms. When natural enemiesor microorganisms are present, efforts can be made to protect them so they may increase in number andhelp safely control pests more effectively. For example, lady bug beetles do better where there are dandelions.One of the first references to natural pest control comes from J. C. London (1850) in his “Encyclopedia of Gardening(Book III, pg. 819) when he suggested a toad kept in a mushroom house will eat worms, ants and other insects,363


ut to most people the idea would be disgusting of a toad crawling over anything intended for the table.”Large numbers of the beneficial organism may also be introduced into an area to control a pest. <strong>The</strong>re are severalcommercial companies that specialize in producing beneficial organisms for pest control programs. <strong>The</strong>re is anatural balance outside - leave it alone and you control pests naturally, without any “tools”, costs or dangers!Remember, biological control of pests simply involves the use of one living organism to safely controlanother. Biological controls are sustainable and quite safe!Most arthropod pests have many natural enemies or disease organisms that can often be used to control orsuppress them for free. About 1/3 of all insect species are carnivorous (they eat meat). Some species eatdecaying meat and/or dung or plants, but most carnivorous insects hunt for their food. House centipedes,earwigs and spiders are predators of the pest insects and should be conserved and nurtured. <strong>The</strong>y are calledbeneficial insects. In horticulture and agriculture, there are certain insect predators that may be introducedthat will eradicate or reduce the population of a pest insect or weed to acceptable levels. <strong>The</strong>se insects areoften available commercially. <strong>The</strong>re are many natural parasitoids and microorganisms that can be used to helpcontrol many pests. One of these products is milky spore (disease) which is deadly only to white grubs, e.g.,June bug grubs and Japanese beetle grubs, with no ill effects on earthworms or bacteria. People and pestsare also not effected adversely. Milky spore does need a year to build up killing levels in the soil. Once thislevel is reached, the spore will kill grubs for 20 years. A weevil from South America, Neochetina eichhorniae,helps to control the growth of water hyacinth, an aquatic weed that chokes waterways. A flea beetle from SouthAmerica, Agasicles hygrophila, helps to contain alligatorweed, another invasive plant. A flea beetle from Italy,Longitarsus jacobaeae, the caterpillars of the cinnabar moth from France, Tyria jacobaeae, together suppresstansy ragwort, a plant that takes over U. S. pastureland and is poisonous to cattle. Dung beetles from SouthAfrica help clear pastureland littered with cattle manure in Texas. Horn-faced bees from Japan help U. S. honeybees to pollinate apple orchards. A ladybug from Australia, Rodolia cardinalis, controls the cottony-cushion scale,a pest of U. S. citrus orchards. Note: You can still fertilize and use a fungicide on your lawn, but insecticideswill kill this spore. If you use Nutriganics or organic fertilizers, they will provide your yard with nutrients andrestore the microbial activity. We do not recommend you use “organic” fertilizers that contain human sewage,chlorine or use dangerous synthetic fungicides. You can also purchase gecko lizards, grasshopper semasporebaits, lady bugs, trichogramma and/or fly parasite wasps, lacewings, minnows, nematodes, Bt, praying mantisegg cases, traps or bait stations with the fungi -Metarhizium anisopliae (strain ESFI), owl and falcon decoys,etc. When natural enemies or organisms are already present, try to protect and nourish them so theymay increase in number and attack the pests more effectively, efficiently, safely, and more economicallythan any other control! Professional pest control probably will not utilize biologicals much because they donot stay where they are released, but go elsewhere and do their thing for free. Caution: biological controls donot work quickly - often farmers will release biologicals, still see a few pests after a few weeks and then sprayvolatile synthetic pesticides and kill all their beneficials or “hired killers” in the process. Understand how they workbefore you use them. Remember, you have to leave some “pests” around if you want their natural enemies tostick around and safely help you keep the pests under control. Biologicals need to be registered only when theyhave been genetically altered. When the Author drove through the jungles of Costa Rica, no insects splatteredon his car’s windshield; only here in the U.S.A. where we continually spray volatile, synthetic pesticide poisonsdo the insects splatter his car’s windshield.Biology of the Pest Species - If you know this you can design the proper control(s).Bio Path ® bait stations from Eco-Science - are biological control agents because they contain living organisms(fungus) which virtually eat the roaches or termites.Biopesticides - Natural materials that are used to control pests that are not synthetic chemical (poison) preparations,e.g., fungi, bacteria, viruses and enzymes. Mixed plant compounds lessen resistance and use theheightened control effects that synergism creates.Bird Slopes - Anti-perching and anti-roosting devices. http://www.birdgone.comBird traps and netting (http://www.birdx.com) - will safely control birds without harming them or the environment.<strong>The</strong>y are avisafes.364


Bird feeders - will attract more than birds; they can attract squirrels, rabbits, skunks, raccoons, opposums, deerand even bears into your back yard and into your buildings.Birds - Encourage birds to stay with bird houses, bird baths, plants they like and/or bird feeders. Birds eatmany insect pests. Birds are one of the leading predators of insects. For instance, more than a dozen speciesof birds are known to feed on codling moth larvae. Raptors or birds of prey remove pigeons and rodents awayfrom your property. See Spiders.Bitter - Bitter tasting and less fragrant plants are less likely to be eaten than those that contain any sweetness.Black Indian Hemp (Apocynum cannabinum) - Extract of twigs and stems controls coddling moth larvae.Black (or Ultraviolet) Light - can be used to fluoresce scorpions and rodent urine. It can be used to attractflies, moths, cutworms, ladybugs and other beetles and other flying pests to a trap or into an area where youcan vacuum them up or spray them with diluted enzyme cleaners or peppermint soap.Black Locust, False Acacia (Robina psuedo-acacia) - Beautiful ornamental loaded with white fragrant flowers.An excellent shade tree with acacia type foliage. <strong>The</strong> fragrant flowers can be smelled for hundreds of feet in thespring. <strong>The</strong> bruised foliage mixed with sugar will attract and kill flies.Black Pepper - and other freshly ground peppers sprinkled around repel many mammals and ants - they areorganic, “safe” and inexpensive. Mix in sweet milk to kill flies.Black Plastic Bags - Put infested materials in a sealed black plastic bag out in the sun for 3 - 4 hours on a warmday for a really inexpensive heat treatment; nothing inside can survive the heat.Black Strap Molasses - Dissolve 1 gallon in 50 gallons of water and spray plants and trees; sparrows and theother birds love to eat “sweetened bugs”.Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) - <strong>The</strong> odor of the leaves repels insects. <strong>The</strong> bark is toxic to mosquitoes.Blazing Star (Spicata) - A beautiful plant often raised for its ornamental appeal. Has rosy purple spikes offlowers up to 15” long. <strong>The</strong> dried roots of the plant have a soft vanilla smell and will repel moths when placedamong clothes. A hardy perennial that is easy to grow from seeds reaching 3’- 6’ tall.Bleach - Kill weeds and grass growing in sidewalk cracks by dousing with undiluted bleach. Use bleach tohelp break down organophosphate pesticides. Bleach also kills many pests and bacteria. Be careful...manypeople react to chlorine bleach negatively and never mix this product with ammonia.On January 22, 2007: EPA Okays “Cause Marketing” Labels for Pesticides and Poisons—PrecedentEntangles EPA in Promotional Campaigns at Risk of Consumer ConfusionWASHINGTON—<strong>The</strong> U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved display of promotions for causes orcharities on labels of pesticides, disinfectants and other commercial poisons, according to agency documentsreleased today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). As a result, these products maynow feature tie-ins with charitable organizations and marketing slogans on their labels which are otherwisesupposed to be devoted primarily to consumer safety and usage information.<strong>The</strong> policy change came in response to a request from the Clorox Company to advertise a pledge that it willdonate a small percentage of the retail purchase price of its bleach products to the Red Cross. EPA droppedearlier objections following a meeting in July between top agency and corporate officials, according to an EPAbriefing provided in early December to state pesticide agency officials.At Clorox’s urging, EPA will allow placement of the phrases “Dedicated to a healthier world” and “Help Cloroxraise $1M for the Red Cross”, as well as the use of the Red Cross logo on both the front and back panels, onfive Clorox products.365


“Thanks to EPA, even the most dangerous chemical can now wrap itself in a cloak of wholesomeness, featuringclaims that it helps the planet, benefits sick children or even saves the whales,” stated PEER Executive DirectorJeff Ruch, noting that the new agency cause marketing option will be open to every manufacturer of regulatedproducts. “EPA is squandering its limited regulatory resources to referee promotional slogans rather than protectingconsumer health.” http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=808Blood Meal - repels many herbivores, e.g., deer, mice, squirrels, rabbits, etc. and is an excellent nitrogenfertilizer. Mix it in vegetable oil so that it lasts longer.Blueberries - An extremely good way to get some antioxidant power and boost your immunity. See Bilberry.Boiling Water - will kill ant colonies, bacteria, weeds and many pests without endangering the environment -be careful not to spill on yourself or anyone else. You can also carefully use steam. Be careful not to burnyourself of any beneficials!Bon Ami ® - contains calcium carbonate. See Calcium Carbonate.Bone Meal - Border gardens or your home with steamed bone meal to keep out ants and it is a source ofphosphorus.Borage - This 18-inch — 3-foot tall blue and pink annual is a self-sower that repels tomato hornworm and attractsbees to your garden. <strong>The</strong> leaves can be used for coughs and poultices.Borates - See sodium borates. Insect and fungal pests do not have kidneys to secrete borates.Borax, or sodium tetraborate decahydrate or hydrated sodium borate is an organic salt - and is acombination of sodium, boron and oxygen, and is mined from the soil in its crude form. Borax has been usedas a cleanser and as a shampoo for over 100 years. It does not lather, but it will remove sweat and oil. It isanti-bacterial and anti-fungal. Boric acid is a crystalline material derived from borax. Caution: Remember, boricacid acts as a stomach poison when ingested. While 20 Mule Team Borax ® is extremely effective in controlling oreliminating mold, odors, ants, termites, weeds, lice, medflies, fleas, spiders, roaches, etc., the Dial Corporationnotes, “This product has not been tested nor received approval from the EPA for use as a pesticide.” Even so ifyou mop or spray the floors, voids, sill boxes, tunnels, backs of furniture, appliances and other areas where yousee insect pests - you will be surprised on how great the material controls pests. It has been used for years tomake cellulose insulation insect free and fire retardant. It also is great for removing odors in urinals, etc. - somop to remove odors and to help clean - in doing so you will also control pests “accidentally”. In their 1920 -1928 Burroughs Welcome & Co. (USA) Inc. catalogue they note borax (Sodii boras) is an antiseptic, used forlotions, mouth-washes, and gargles. Also given internally for epilepsy. Note: Chroma Trim Gum ® includes 200mcg of boron (as sodium borate) as a “food supplement”. We have used it as a bait toxin in anything the pesteats. Dilute it to 1% - 5% or less. We have also seen people control scabies by bathing in it. It is the reasonthat Death Valley will always be death valley. Putting exactly 5 teaspoons of borax in a quart of water for every25 square feet of lawn and then spraying in late spring or early summer will kill Creeping Charlie. It may alsocause yellowing of nearby grass. If you make it too strong, you will kill the lawn. Mix 1 cup borax and ¼ cupblack pepper in a bowl; finely dice ¼ cup bay leaves and then stir them into the bowl. Sprinkle a small amountinto corners of cupboards and pantry shelves to kill/repel roaches and other kitchen pests. Be careful not tocontaminate food or dishes. May cause stains and rust. Borax is insoluble in acids, soluble in glycerol, andslightly soluble in alcohol. See Caution in Chapter 36.Boric Acid, a/k/a boracic acid, borofax and orthoboric acid - Boric acid and its salts have been used as aninsecticide, herbicide and fungicide for over a hundred years, and in folk remedies for more than 1000 years.Boric acid baits have been used since the late 1800s. Boric acid has been used in medicine since the time ofLister in the 1800s. It was first used to protect wood in the U. S. in the 1920s against blue stain fungi. <strong>The</strong> fireretardant properties of boric acid were discovered in the 1930’s. Celcure ® was patented in 1933 to prevent woodfungi decay. <strong>The</strong>se substances are various forms of boron which also routinely is found normally circulating atlow levels in our blood streams. Boric acid and other insecticidal dusts are inorganic pesticides that have otheruses besides their insect killing power. For example, boric acid is a wonderful pesticide as a 99.95% pure dustformulation, but in a 1% - 5% water solution, it is commonly used as an eyewash. Most dust formulations have366


an abrasive action on the insect which removes the waxy coating on the exterior of the insect’s body. <strong>The</strong> waxycoating is used to retain water and without it the insect quickly dies from dehydration. When mixed in baits itcontrols houseflies by sterilizing female flies and/or kills adult flies that eat the bait.Common boric acid powder, e.g., for use against cockroaches, is ground to a very small particle size andcombined with an anti-caking agent. <strong>The</strong> most effective formulations exhibit an electrostatic charge that makesthe powder adhere more readily to insects and surfaces. If swallowed or otherwise ingested boric acid can beharmful. When inhaled, boric acid powder can irritate the nose, throat and lungs; it can also be absorbedthrough skin lesions and burns. You should wear a dust mask, gloves and eye protection when applying it.Keep boric acid in its original container and store in a safe place. Boric acid is virtually vaporless. Althoughslower acting initially, boric acid is certain to work. If you can keep the boric acid dry, a single application willcontinue working for years. Boric acid is most commonly sold as a dust or powder, but it can also be boughtas an aerosol spray, as a paste, in small plastic discs or baits, in tablets that can be glued to walls or placed inhard-to-reach areas, as a water soluble product for washing floors and walls and as a wood preservative. Tomake boric acid easier to apply, particularly in crevices and other hard-to-reach places, use a power duster or ifyou have to, use an aerosol formulation which normally contains 20% boric acid, a CO 2propellant, and carrierand a silica-aerogel stabilizer or better still avoid the 1, 1, 1 - trichoroethane and use a power duster that impartsan electrostatic charge or make up a (peanut butter) bait and fill the crevices with it. Boric acid is a registeredpesticide.Boric acid is considered a dual action (non-volatile) insecticide poison. It will cause desiccation, similarto the other materials mentioned, as well as being a stomach poison. <strong>The</strong> insect ingests the material whilegrooming and subsequently dies. Boric acid will remain effective indefinitely in a dry environment. Preferably,removal and reapplication of the material should be conducted every other year. Boric acid is thoughtto kill insects by inhibiting their various enzyme systems. Roaches exhibit erratic behavior, consistent withnervous system poisoning. Borate compounds kill termites and wood-boring beetles through starvation, possiblyby affecting their digestive enzymes and protozoa. Applying too much powder/dust causes roaches andother target insects to avoid treated areas and can harm you.We like to first try baits with only ½% - 3% (or less) boric acid, then increase the percentage of toxin only asa last resort. One of the best (carpenter) ant baits is made with 7 tablespoons of sugar and 3 tablespoons ofboric acid in a quart of boiling water - then put the cooled, very strong solution in cotton stoppered vials. Dryinsecticide formulations generally contain a desiccant to prevent it from absorbing moisture, as caked powderadheres poorly to roaches. Boric acid is more effective than borax for roaches and roaches seem to have ahigher tolerance for higher levels of boric acid in their baits. Boric acid derivatives, e.g., the sulfate-activatedsodium polyborate, are now being used to control flea larvae in carpets. Boric acid may be added to any baitthe pest species you are dealing with eats - you can mix it in ground hamburger for wasps, peanut butter forants and roaches, syrup/sugar water/mint jelly or honey for ants, and cornmeal etc., but be sure only the pesthas access to these types of baits that are also attractive to people and pets. Boric acid and borates do notcause mutations, cancer, birth defects or allergies, but can be very acutely toxic to humans, pets and/or wildlife,or lower sperm counts if eaten or drunk, and humans who are frequently exposed to large amounts of the dustform should wear respiratory protection to avoid possible adverse effects when used as baits or correctly appliedas powders, building occupants normally should not have any exposure to boric acid which does not volatilize.Do not use medical-grade boric acid for pest control. Remember the “less is more rule” - baits should notcontain more than 5% boric acid. Bait with toxin in it should be labeled and colored with red or green food colorto alert people not to eat it. When vacuumed, only particles greater than 10 microns in size are trapped in thebag; the smaller particles float until you breathe them or until they fall. A 1-micron particle takes 2-3/4 hours tofall 1 foot; if the particle is 0.1 micron; it takes 1-1/2 days to fall one foot. See Caution in Chapter 36.Boron - Boron is probably best known for the compounds borax and boric acid. Borax and hot water have longserved as a mild antiseptic and fungicide to clean and disinfect surfaces, and boric acid is commonly used asan eyewash. <strong>The</strong> Scientific Committee for Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products Intended for Consumersdoes not advocate the use of boric acid, borates and tetraborates for use on children under 3 years of age, orunhealthy or damaged skin and advises to avoid ingestion and to rinse thoroughly. A powdered sugar andborax bait was used against cockroaches as early as 1882 in New York City. <strong>The</strong>se compounds have alsobeen used as antiseptics, and to protect fruit from molds. Boric acid acts as a stomach and contact poison.When insects walk through the powder, some of it sticks to their bodies. By grooming themselves they ingest367


this slow-acting poison which can take up to 10 days to kill them. Boric acid is very lethal to roaches; 20 ug(one ug = one million part of a gram) can kill a 50 mg German roach. Boric acid can stay effective indefinitely.Do not contaminate food, dishes, toys, or water supplies with this toxin - it can kill people and pets.Boron use risky (News-Press, Thursday, March 26, 1992, pg. 21A) ...In a November 1982 article in “Pest<strong>Control</strong> Technology,” Dr. (M.S.) Quraishi cites a number of cases of children dying from boric acidpoisoning. C. Brooke and T. Boggs wrote in “the American Journal of Child Diseases,” (82:465, 1951),that “boric acid and sodium borate are sufficiently poisonous to cause severe symptoms and death whenused in amounts commonly considered to be perfectly harmless.” Boron and its compounds shouldnot be touted as safe. George R. Campbell, Fort Meyers. See Caution in Chapters 16 and 36.Botanical Insecticides - Rotenone, pyrethrum, sabadilla, ryania, neemAdvantages: Rapid breakdown, rapid action, low toxicity to mammals and plants.Disadvantages: Rapid breakdown requiring more precise timing and/or more frequent application; costand availability; lack of test data; lack of state registration of some materialsBotanical Pesticides - Just because a pesticide is derived from a plant does not mean that it is safefor humans, e.g., the botanical insecticide nicotine is a very poisonous compound that impedes normal neuromuscularfunctioning, causing insects and humans to convulse and die. Ryanodine, is 20 times more toxic tomammals than to most insects. Strychnine, a botanical widely used against gophers and birds, is very dangerous ifingested. Regardless of how poisonous they are initially, botanicals tend to break down into harmless compoundswithin hours or days in the presence of sunlight. In 1200 B.C.E. botanical insecticides were being used for seedtreatments andn fungicides in China. Also at this time, the Chinese were using arsenical compounds and/ormercury to control lice. Just because something grows or is natural does not make it safe - see the BloodFeeders Overview and Natural Plant Caution in the Flea chapter. Some aromatics are quite hepatoxic.Botanicals - virtually a whole new field; some edible plants repel pests others can kill pests - more and morebotanicals will be planted and used commercially as time goes on - including neem, peas and Persian lilac.Bottle - Bury a beer bottle (2/3 empty) in the ground with the neck just slightly exposed - slugs will fall in anddrown. Bury it halfway in the ground with the top up - as the wind blows over the top the sound may causegophers to leave or be repelled by the vibrations. Use ketchup or mustard (plastic) bottles to “shoot” dilutedenzyme cleaners into nests, voids, cracks, crevices, etc.Bounce - Bounce or other fabric softener sheets for the dryer can be used to repel mosquitoes and flies: Tiethem to your horse’s halter or your belt or outside your doors. Caution: <strong>The</strong>y make some people ill.Boxes - <strong>The</strong> June 2001 issue of Pest <strong>Control</strong> magazine noted: Large pizza boxes having one- to one-and-ahalf-inchdiameter holes cut into opposite edges can be fitted with super-size, paper-backed sticky traps andplaced along walls near where the snake was sighted. In cool environments these box traps can be made evenmore attractive to snakes by covering each with an electric heating pad, hot water bottle, or a layer of exothermicpocket warmer packs (available at sporting goods stores during football season). Conversely, a pile of damptowels on a basement or garage floor will entice a heat-stressed snake to seek relief within (them). Snakes canbe released from sticky traps by adding a little mineral oil or vegetable oil to the adhesive and snake. Withinminutes, a healthy snake will wriggle free and slither off.A snake that has wedged itself into a tight place can be motivated to move out into the open by directing anuncomfortably hot air flow toward it from a portable electric hair dryer or tile softener..Braconid wasps - Tiny (1/10” - 1/2”) brown or black wasps that often resemble flying ants. Depending on thespecies, braconid hosts include cabbage worms, tomato hornworms, army worms, gypsy moths and other insectpupae and adults.Brakish Water - is detrimental to weeds, so use it whenever you have tolerant grass like Paspalum.Brassicas - some of which are called “cole crops” including kale, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower,turnips, rutabagas, etc. - fresh residues produce sulficides that stop fungal growth and thiocynates that kill368


pathogens - volatiles produced during composition of this “green manure” kill detrimental microorganisms - whenteamed with soil sterilization they prevent weed growth for months.Brussel sprouts contain a large amount of vitamin K. People with liver problems are often deficient in thisvitamin. Vitamin K is essential for the presentation of internal bleeding and hemorrhages. Vitamin K will reduceexcessive menstrual flow in women and is involved in the energy producing activities of the tissues, particularlythose of the nervous system.Buffalo Gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) - <strong>The</strong> powdered root is somewhat toxic to cucumber beetlesBug and Bird Barrier - Allows ventilation and excludes birds and bugs. http://www.gatewayindustrial.comBug Juice Cocktail - Blend ½ cup aphids or 1 cup infested leaves and 2 cups water strain and spray. If you seea handful or two of your garden’s cabbage loopers are chalky white and weak - they are infected with nuclearpolyhedrosis virus (NPV) - put loopers in blender with water, strain and spray over crops. <strong>The</strong> remaining pestswill die in several days - try a mixture of bugs, strain, and spray. Collect ½ cup of any specific pest and mashwell. Mix with 2 cups water, and strain. Mix ¼ cup of this bug juice and a few drops of soap with 2 cups ofwater, and spray. Don’t make yourself sick, too! Use nonfood utensils and wear plastic gloves. “Betelgeuse...Betelgeuse...Betelgeuse!”Bug Zapper - I don’t generally recommend electric bug zappers. A study done by the University of Delawareat Newark analyzed 13,789 insects zapped by electric traps and found that only 31 less than ¼ of 1% - werepests or biting bugs “seeking blood meals at the expense of homeowners or their pests”. You can change thelight source to attract Asian or wood roaches to the zapper. Beneficial insects are destroyed by these zappersand we need them - insects can be described as the “glue” that holds the ecosystem together. When you killa beneficial, you inherit its work.Butterfly net - Virtually every stinging insect (wasp, hornet, etc.) you see in the spring is a queen. Everyoneyou catch (and kill) in a butterfly net or trap wipes out an entire nest. One spring yellowjacket represents 3,000to 5,000 potential stinging insects in the summer, so get them early. <strong>The</strong> use of a butterfly net can eliminatemany (potential) individual flying uninvited guests.Buttermilk - Mix ½ cup of buttermilk, 3½ cups of wheat flour and 5 gallons of water to control virtually all mites.“Buzz Cuts” - Probably the quickest and safest way to remove head lice and nits.Cabbage - White cabbage leaves contain rapine, an antibiotic active against some fungi.Cabbage Leaves - An inverted cabbage leaf makes a good trap for snails and slugs.Caffeine - can relieve headaches and asthma symptoms and is a diuretic and is useful in treating attention deficitdisorder and hyperactivity and helps burn fat. Caffeine is one of the chemicals called xanthines which stimulatethe central nervous system creating feelings of restlessness and nervousness. Caffeine is excreted in urine asmethylxanthine and methyluric acid as a product of metabolizing caffeine. Caffeine has several effects on thecardiovascular system. With diuretics you actually lose more fluids than you gain. Caffeine can, therefore, beuseful in pest control by helping to desiccate/dehydrate and/or over-stimulate the pests. Caffeine will kill snailsand slugs and tadpoles and frogs. Water-soluble caffeine penetrates the mucous membrane. See Coffee.Cages and Mechanical Barriers - can be used to safely exclude virtually every pest imaginable. <strong>The</strong> Authorhas even seen photographers in shark cages and polar bear cages safely filming these dangerous man-eaters.Calcium Carbonate - Finely ground limestone or calcium carbonate controls/kills insects because it has wonderfuldesiccant properties; it produces a different kind of insect mortality when it is formulated as a pottery glaze. Itoccurs naturally in shells, bones, etc. and is chiefly used as an antacid in its natural form for people and animals;also called precipitated chalk. You can finely grind materials in a coffee or pepper grinder even in the field. SeeBon Ami ® , Comet ® and chalk.369


Calcium Hydroxide - can be used as a fungicide.Calcium Sulfate - Plaster of Paris is also a wonderful desiccant dust/caulk. Mix with oatmeal for a bait.Calendula Ointment - is an excellent insect repellent and counterirritant. <strong>The</strong> ointment contains the dried floretsof the common garden or pot marigold (Calendula officinallis).California Buckeye (Aesculus californica) - CAUTION: Flour made with the meat hulls of nuts is toxic tolarvae and adults of the Mexican bean beetle; parts of plant are toxic to humans.Camphor Oil - is toxic to clothes moths and will repel some pests.Canadian Fleabane or Horseweed (Erigeron canadensis) - Can be ground up to make melonworm and/orJapanese beetle repellent.Candles - mosquitoes and fleas are drawn to the carbon dioxide or light, mosquitoes can be killed by the flameand fleas can be killed by the flame, soapy water or glue boards. Citronella candles and/or oil repel mosquitoes.Canola Oil - Originally called rape seed oil. When used in a water emulsion, it can be used as a dormant andgrowing season spray to kill all stages of mites and insects, including their eggs. It will attract grasshoppers, souse it as a bait. When heated to high temperatures, canola becomes a transfat. See Rape Seed Oil.Cans - Garbage cans, coffee cans, pails and many other containers can be used to trap a wide variety of animalsand/or insects.Canvas or a Sheet - Spread it under stone fruit trees, e.g., cherries and plums. Pound the trunk of the tree ifyou have plum curculio beetles; they will fall on the canvas and “play dead” until you can safely dispose of thosethat fell! This trick also works on the pecan weevil.Capsaicin - Hot peppers are loaded with capsaicin which gives a fiery chemical burn to mammals and kills somesoft-bodied insects and repels many creatures. Capsaicin can be applied topically to treat diaetic neuropathy,psoriasis, muscle pain, fibromyalgia, nerve pain after shingles and arthritis pain.Capsaicinoids - or the oleoresins of capsaicin, the fiery active ingredients of hot peppers, will repel many insectsand/or mammals.Capsicum and Castor Oil - Diluted 1% or less capsicum pepper, 5% castor oil in 94% vegetable oil can besprayed to repel mammals, e.g., rabbits and squirrels. Capsaicin C 18H 27NO 3present in capsicum is a verybitter compound.Carbamates, e.g., NaHCO 3(baking powder) and yeasts when ingested by insects cause CO 2to be releasedin the gut and they die.Carbon Dioxide (CO 2) - will attract ticks, houseflies, mosquitoes, termites, etc. and can also be used as a fumigantin the ground and in traps where it literally “takes their breath away” in seconds. <strong>The</strong> ants or animals quicklygo to sleep and then painlessly die of asphyxiation. It can also be used to safely fumigate pests in stored food/commodities and/or to kill bagged and sealed creatures, e.g., roaches in food carts, in an environmentally safefashion without the use of any poison. When CO 2is placed in traps, tunnels/runways, mounds, etc., it will quicklykill all living creatures in those underground areas because it is one and a half times heavier than air. As theCO 2moves downward throughout the tunnels, mounds, runways, etc. it also pours into all connecting moundsor tunnels or nests very effectively, very quickly and very safely. Without giving any warning or odor, it replacesthe air, killing the occupants, whether insect or animal, and then slowly dissipates back into the atmosphere tobe used by the plants. CO 2can be used virtually anywhere and is non-toxic to lawns and plants and its pestcontrol results are immediate. <strong>The</strong> Author believes it is possible to fumigate homes with CO 2by tenting themand “pouring” carbon dioxide in from the top, allowing the regular air to exit from a “chimney”; test the escapingair and once you find enough CO 2, stop “pouring”. This should be used in combination with sodium boratefor residual control. Carbon dioxide could/should replace volatile fumigant poisons in homes and buildings,370


ground, grain and stored product applications. It can be purchased as dry ice, in pressurized containers or infire extinguishers. When you use a CO 2container, 12’ of hose and pipe you can put a large Tupperware bowlover the nest upside down and inject CO 2through a 1” hole you can drill on the top or simply inject the gas intothe tunnels and/or holes. 6% carbon dioxide can destroy your kidneys! <strong>The</strong> air normally contains .03%carbon dioxide. Carbon Dioxide Caution: http://wasg.iinet.net.au/Co2paper.htmlCarbon dioxide fire extinguishers - can be used to freeze pests, e.g., an entire hornet or wasp nest, whichcan then be safely removed and placed inside double plastic bags, frozen for several days or buried. You canalso freeze other insects, e.g., roaches. Carbon dioxide fumigation has been widely used to treat storedgrain. Grain bins and other structures have also been routinely treated with carbon dioxide to eradicate insectinfestations. We believe the insect opens up its breathing apparati when exposed to high levels of CO 2and thensuffocates from the lack of oxygen. Concerns have been raised regarding the production of carbonic acid fromthe CO 2and the water in the chamber and its subsequent danger.Carbon dioxide attractants - CO 2can also be used to trap and/or attract termites, mosquitoes and ticks andfleas. Use dry ice or carbon dioxide cylinders to fumigate burrows and carpet pests, ant/wasp nests, etc.Carbon monoxide - also is heavier than air and can be used to fumigate burrows or individual pests you cannot safely or legally release. Use lit charcoal briquets and place them in the tunnels and/or openings.Cardamom - contains an oil rich in healing chemicals called terpenes. Chewing on the seeds is said to easeindigestion while sweetening the breath.Cardboard - You can trap roaches, earwigs, termites and other pests in cardboard, e.g., reduce codling mothinfestations and stop cut worms by installing a collar of corrugated cardboard around the trunk. Remove thecollar periodically, burn it and then replace it with a new collar. When you remove cardboard from a buildingyou generally reduce roach populations. It is the ideal termite bait with its “preformed mud tubes.” Rolled virgincardboard has been used for over 20 years to control subterranean termite infestations. You can lay cardboarddown on pathways or between raised beds and then cover the cardboard with wood chips. <strong>The</strong> cardboard willsmother the weeds and slowly deteriorates ovr the summer gardening season. You can even cover a (raised)bed with cardboard and cover the cardboard with leaves, grass clippings, straw, cocoa mulch, etc. After mulchingin early spring, wait 2 weeks (when the danger of frost is over) and then cut a hole in the cardboard with a trowelwherever you want to place a plant; then push the mulch close to but not touching the plant stem. <strong>The</strong> fewweeds that manage to poke through your holes are easy to pull by hand. By next year the cardboard will havedecomposed, but you should now have another season of basically weed-free gardening.Cartenoids - are a class of antioxidants that produce the red, orange, yellow and green colors of vegetablesand fruits. <strong>The</strong>y include lutein, lycopene, beta-carotene and zeaxanthin, all of which have been found to havea number of health benefits.Cashmere Goats - love to eat noxious (non-native) weeds like Canada thistle, knapweed, leafy spurge andRussian olive. As a rule of thumb, 100 goats eat the noxious weeds on one acre of land per day. Herbicidepoisons may kill noxious weeds, but they also kill native plants, deplete wildlife, contaminate and are healthhazards. Cashmere goats prefer noxious weeks to native grasses.Castor Bean Plants, Ricinus commanis - native to tropical Africa, effectively reduce soil nematode populations,but the seeds and the entire plant are toxic.Castor Oil - will repel chipmunks, gophers, squirrels, rodents, moles, armadillos, pocket gophers and otherburrowing/tunneling animals when sprayed in their tunnels and/or on lawns in spring, summer and fall at a rate of1 quart 100% castor oil USP per 5,000 square feet mixed in water. <strong>The</strong> castor oil covers their food and disruptsthe animal’s digestive system. Chiggers drown in castor oil. Degummed castor oil is a penetrating solvent thatimmediately penetrates rusted and gummmed-up parts, insects and arachnids. If you have chigger bites, showerand rub pure castor oil on your infected skin. You can also rub the bites with a moist aspirin tablet.Castor Oil/Mineral Oil Mix - Castor beans have been used medically at least since the first century A.D. Mix 3parts castor oil with 1 part mineral oil. Fill and eye dropper and put 1 - 2 drops of this mix on the top of an ear of371


corn (when the silk is just about to come out) to prevent egg-laying/hatching of corn earworms. When the cornstarts to make silk, put 2- 3 drops inside the silk on each ear of corn. Do this at least 3 - 4 times per season.Castor Oil/Mole Formula - In your blender, whip 3 oz. of castor oil and 3 tablespoons liquid detergent. Blendtill frothy. Add 8 tablespoons of water and blend again till frothy. Using a 15 gal. Ortho hose-end sprayer, put15 tablespoons of castor oil mix in jar. Fill remainder of jar with water. Attach sprayer to your hose and spraycastor oil solution to the entire lawn and garden area. Apply while walking at a slow pace. After you’ve finishedspraying, set up your lawn sprinkler and water the solution into the soil (about 20 min. to an area). Repeat whenyou observe new mole activity. One to two applications per year are average. Spring is the best time to applyas the ground is usually soft.Cat Litter - Well used cat litter will repel woodchucks and moles. Fresh cat litter sprinkled at the bottom ofgarbage containers will keep them smelling fresh - change weekly or when damp. Take well used (dark) cat litterand put in water, strain and spray the stinky solution to repel Canadian geese and other herbivores.Catnip - is a perennial herb (Nepeta cataria) that grows 2’ tall and it can be used to repel/control many insectproblems. Catnip oil contains at least 23 compounds, but commercially-available cat nip oil can be 80% - 90%nepetalactone. Catnip oil is probably a CNS depressant. Catnip is an antifeedant for mamy vertebrates, includingdeer, rabbits and squirrels. Catnip’s active ingredient, nepetalactone, is an aphid pheromone that can be usedto trap aphids. Catnip interplanted with collards reduced the flea beetle infestations. Brew some as a tea: Fill ajar with leaves and then add water and leave it out in the sun for 3 - 4 hours. Repels roaches, ants, mosquitoesand many pests, including the Colorado potato beetle, but it still will attract cats. Nepetalactone, the activeingredient, found in catnip oil repels roaches 100 times better than poisons. Catnip oil will repel/kill termites untilit breaks down. Catnip makes a soothing tea for stress or sleeplessness. Use the flowering tops for colds and/or bronchitis. <strong>The</strong>re are more than 250 species of catmint genus Nepeta. Not all contain nepetalactone; somethat do are Nepeta cataris, N. mussinii, N. nepetella and N. citridora.Cats - A good “mouser” will control mice and rats by patiently hunting them down. <strong>The</strong> Author’s old cat, CharlieBow Tie, kept his farm rodent free.Catawba Grapes - attract Japanese beetles and are used in vineyards to protect other grape varieties. Note: Inthe 1930s, in one study alone, 56 plant species showed good repellent qualities to use against Japanese beetles.Caulk - Seal all visible cracks, crevices, voids, and other openings (that you can insert a business card into) toprevent and/or control many pest problems. See Silicone Caulk.Cayenne - If you cut your finger with a paring knife, try sprinkling powdered cayenne pepper on the wound. Itwill help your blood to clot and it won’t burn, as you might imagine. Cayenne contains a pain-relieving chemicalcalled capsaicin, which appears to work by interfering with the action of Substance P, a chemical in the peripheralnerves that sends pain messages to the brain. Powdered cayenne repels most mammals and a liquid formulationcan be used as an alternative insecticide to destroy mosquito larvae; as an alternative mollascicide to controlzebra mussels and as an alternative fungicide to control mildew. Cayenne peppers also contain a particularsaponin that breaches fungal cell membranes, creating little tears or holes that destroy fungal pathogens thatadversely affect strawberries, blueberries and other small fruits. <strong>The</strong> chili pepper has been used to treat stomachaches, cramping and gas. It helps burn fat and reduce appetite and will often normalize blood pressure andoxygenate blood. See Capsicin. Please read Chapter 41 for other health information. Cayenne pepper canalso be used to repel ants and squirrels.Cedar - A solar tea made from cedar sawdust or chips will repel squash bugs, bean, potato and cucumber beetles,red spider mites, mealybugs, etc., or simply work the sawdust or chips into the soil. Sifted cedar sawdust willcontrol chiggers in lawns and will often act as a barrier to many crawling insects. Aromatic cedar mulch canrepel ants and other pests.Cedar Oil - Red cedar oil has been used as a fragrance carrier; it will repel insects and spiders.Cedarwood and Cedarwood Oil - Anti-fungal, anti-infectious, antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, calming effect, etc.;repels larvae of clothes moths and carpet beetles. Sifted cedar sawdust will control chiggers in lawns. Cedar oil372


epels many insects, including flies, mosquitoes, fleas, beetles, mites, ticks, moths, ants, roaches, spiders, stinginginsects, silverfish, stink bugs, etc., but avoid contact with the eyes; too strong a mix will kill plants. <strong>The</strong> wayto apply a cedar oil barrier is to add enough dish soap to make the water cloudy and then add some cedar oil.Celery Seed - With nearly two dozen anti-inflammatory compounds, it helps ward off gout and alleviates arthritispain.Cellulose - 90% ground up newspaper or sawdust, 10% molasses and just a touch of corn oil will quickly killall rodents - you can pelletize this bait or compress it in bees wax (or paraffin) so it can be used in moist ordamp areas like sewers. Treat it with sodium borate 5% or less and spray it on the ground, e.g., in crawls to killtermites. Walnut sawdust will kill horses - so don’t use it on stall floors.Cement - can be used to patch openings or mixed in with corn meal 50/50 to kill mice; hydraulic cement worksbest. CAUTION: Do not let children, pets or animals eat this mix.Chalk, talcum powder, baking soda and medicated powders - all control or repel ants quickly and many otherinsect pests - add these (or any dust) to your dry vac, or simply draw a line or sprinkle them around where youhave pests. Chalk is calcium carbonate; Tums ® and Comet ® also contain calcium carbonate.Chamomile Spray - will help prevent mildew and damping-off fungus on seedlings. Mix 1 cup of dried chamomileflowers in 1 quart of boiling water. Allow the mixture to steep and cool for about 1 hour; then strain and sprayon a daily basis.Chamomile Tea - Splashed on all uncovered skin repels mosquitoes. <strong>The</strong> sweet apple smell also repels gnatsand summer flies. Effective (when drunk) in the treatment of worms. Do not use if you are allergic to ragweed.Change the Conditions Conducive to Infestation - and you will safely and effectively solve most diseaseand/or pest problems.Changing Perceptions - Reduce the weeding problem by changing your idea of what is a weed. Many peoplelike the look of English daisies, Indian paint brushes, chicory, or even the common dandelions and these weedsdo attract beneficial insects to the garden. Weeds with deep roots break up compacted soil and bring nutrientsto the surface. White Dutch clover, in particular, should not be considered a weed because it is of long-termbenefit to turf. Not every insect, plant or animal is “bad” or a “pest.” Learn to appreciate all life.Charcoal - Activated charcoal filters can remove dust mite and cockroach allergens and/or odors and cleanchemicals out of the air when you put one on both sides of a running window fan.Charcoal Briquettes - Lit briquettes create carbon monoxide and when placed in tunnels - carbon monoxideis heavier than air - and all living things die that breathe this gas. Be careful if you try this control and checkregarding any ordinances that would prohibit it’s use.Cheesecloth - Cover plants with cheesecloth to prevent insect pests from feeding or laying their eggs on plants.Chemical Coding - When you alter this, ants will kill each other.Chemical Pest “<strong>Control</strong>” - We do not recommend its use. Chemical pest “control” has been in vogue sinceWorld War II. In fact, since then pest “control” has been almost totally chemical. <strong>The</strong>se poisons have killedour allies, the beneficial insects, and created even more pest problems. <strong>The</strong> cost of “control” skyrocketed andpolluted our air, water, food, soil and our bodies. <strong>The</strong>se chemicals have created resistant pests, secondary andeven tertiary pests. For disrupting the balance of nature, we lose our crops, property and we are lost as well.Chickadee - One chickadee may eat as many as 500 caterpillars in a single day, and more than 60% of achickadee’s winter diet is aphid eggs.Chicken Manure - Composted chicken manure will change the soils so that grubs disappear in a few weeks,moles disappear in a few months and weeds disappear in a few years. Do not use any synthetic pesticides or373


fertilizer or you will once again kill all of the beneficial microorganisms.Chickens - will eagerly hunt out and scavenge scorpions, cutworms, wireworms and grubs and eat hundredsevery day.Chili Peppers - <strong>The</strong> hot ingredient in chili peppers is capsaicin; it is an effective weight loss tool that speeds upmetabolism and reduces or suppresses the appetite, so you eat less. Capsaicin also relieves sinus congestionby stimulating mucous membrane secretions.Chili powder or pepper - Wash kitchen surfaces with vinegar solution and sprinkling bone meal, talcum powder,chili powder and/or powdered charcoal in and around suspected points of ant entry. Pour a line of any of thefollowing where ants are entering the building: cinnamon, cream of tartar, red chili pepper, salt, dried mint orsage, or cucumber peelings, and they will not cross it.Chili-vinegar Spray for Fruit Trees:4 jalapenos, habaneros or other hot chilies, seeded and chopped2 cloves garlic1½ quarts water2 oz. beer½ cup vinegarMix chopped chilies, garlic, water and beer. Cover and bring to a boil for 5 minutes; then let the mixture steepin the pot for 24 hours. Add the vinegar, strain well and pour into a sprayer. Spray leaves, but not blossoms.Chimney Caps - Keep out raccoons, squirrels, birds and bats without harming them.Chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach) - A handsome and dense shade tree. It is repellent to grasshoppers andlocusts. A repellent tea can be made with the leaves. <strong>The</strong> profuse berries are used to make necklaces andinsectisafes. Also called Lilac Tree, Pride of India, and Bead Tree. To make flea repellant for lawns, mix 1tablespoon of dry, powdered berries with 1 teaspoon of dishwashing detergent to a gallon of water and sprayon lawns with a sprayer. This will also repel flying insects as well.Chinese wingnut (Pterocarya stenoptera) - <strong>The</strong> powdered leaves are fairly toxic to Mexican bean beetlelarvae and will control other insects.Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) - An acetone extract of seeds is somewhat toxic to codling moth larvae.Chive vinegar - Take a bottle of white vinegar; add white onion chive blossoms when they are about a third ofthe way open. (<strong>The</strong>y bloom in about August.) Let vinegar “steep” for 2 weeks in a well-lit area, but not in thedirect sunlight. <strong>The</strong> finished product will be pink with an onion flavor; mix 1 oz. per quart of water to spray orsoak produce. <strong>The</strong> mix safely kills most pests instantly.Chives - Plant chives among your roses and you will never have aphids. Chive leaves may relieve rheumatism.Chocolate and Cocoa - contain a little caffeine but more theobromine which helps stop bronchospasms andhelps open constricted bronchial passages. <strong>The</strong> theobromine in chocolate can also be used as a cough medicineand also to help lower blood pressure, and helps keep the blood flowing and the heart healthy. Cocoa helpsthe body process nitric oxide and the flavanols it contains prevent fat-like substances in the bloodstream fromoxidizing and clogging the arteries and make blood platelets less likely to stick together and cause clots. Darkchocolate is higher in flavanoids than milk chocolate. <strong>The</strong> way cocoa powder and chocolate syrups are processedremoves most flavanoids. Flavanoids are compounds with potent antioxidant properties. <strong>The</strong> flavanoids inchocolate are called flavanols.Chloroseptic - stopped the infection in the Author’s ears and saved his hearing.Chrysanthemum - plants are effective in reducing soil parasitic nematode populations. Chrysanthemums have374


een used medically since at least the first century A.D.Cider Vinegar - Make a mix of 1 part cider vinegar to 7 parts of water and put some in a small glass or babyfood jar and lure fungus gnats and fruit flies to a death by drowning.Cinnamaldehyde - A food flavoring can be used as a fumigant for some beetles and weevils.Cinnamon - <strong>The</strong>re are around 250 species of this tree in the genus cinnamomum throughout Asia and Australia.Japanese researchers have discovered that this common food spice contains a substance that kills fungi, bacteriaand microorganisms, including those that cause botulism and staph infections. When three cinnamon specieswere extracted, the main constituent was cinnamic aldehyde, which is an effective insect fumigant, antifeedantand has contact insect toxicity. Ground cinnamon will repel ants and silverfish.Cinnamon may help alleviate gas, bloating, diarrhea and nausea. <strong>The</strong> Author’s Mother gave him cinnamontoast when he was ill as a child. One teaspoon of cinnamon per day can reduce blood sugar and triglycerides.Cinnamon oil - can be used to control/repel aphids, mosquitoes, spider mites and powdery mildew. <strong>The</strong> variousoils possess a range of antibacterial, antifungal and insecticidal properties. Four of them, cinnamaldehyde,cinnamyl acetate, eugenol and anethole, are more effective at killing mosquito larvae than DEET. Both cinnamonand cinnamon oil are on EPA exempt lists. Cinnamon oil at 10% or less will safely control antibiotic-resistantstrains of bacteria, e.g., staphylococcus and E. coli See Thieves Oil.Cinders - “Fresh” black coal cinders put down on a track will prevent weeds from penetrating. Try using themalong fence lines and other areas where you want the acids and color to kill off all vegetation without using anyherbicide poisons.Citric Acid, or Citricum acidum in Latin - is effective in controlling several pest species. 100% pure anhydrouscitric acid is derived from crystallized fruit sugar. Citric acid is an excellent preservatives it prevents rancidityand bacteria growth. Direct contact can result in skin and eye irritation. See Vitamin C.Citriodora (Eucalyptus) - Can be used to repel insects. It has beautiful, shiny, round silver-gray leaves. Makesexcellent cut foliage. Can be container grown. Will stand cold to -17 o . Outside it will grow as a tree to 50 ft.See essential oils.Citronella Beads - Put some in dumpsters and garbage cans to help repel pests, e.g., stinging insects.Citronella Oil - Attracts fruitflies, males only. Repels insects and ticks from humans and their clothing, homesand outdoor areas. Repels dogs and cats from ornamental plants and garbage dumps. It was the most widelyused mosquito repellent during the first one-third of the 20th Century. It is extracted from a grass (Andropogonnardus) and contains geraniol as its primary component with lesser amounts of citronellol, citronellal, borneoland other terpenes. Some people may adversely react to this oil.Citrus Oil - Citrus oil soap can be used to control a wide variety of insects and fungus problems. You can makeyour own citrus oil by grating the rinds of lemons, oranges or grapefruit, but the more sour the fruit, the betterthe citrus oil. Put the grated peeling in 1 pint of boiling water that has been removed from the heat. Let themixture steep overnight and strain the mixture. Used as a spray, the mixture will quickly kill insects with softbodies and will repel ants for awhile.Citrus Peels - will act as an insect barrier - chop or grind them up and scatter them around your home.Claw Hammer - Use a claw hammer to pull weeds out root and all - the deeper you grab the root the better.Cleaning - In 1602, Ulysses Aldrovandi reported bed bugs were worse in poor homes than rich homes thatsimply were kept cleaner. Whenever you clean or spray with Murphy’s Oil Soap, natural soap, peppermint soap,enzyme cleaners, etc. you control pests. Routinely remove and properly dispose of waste, debris and garbage.Remove early fallen (unripe) apples and burn them to control codling moth in apple orchards.375


Clear Plastic - can be used to solarize or burn weeds and their seeds to death. Till the area, water it and coverwith unbroken, clear plastic for 2 months during the summer.Clothes Dryer - Kills most pests when you dry your clothes.Clove Oil - relieves pain and is a strong germicide, more powerful than carbolic acid. Cloves repel ants. Steamdistilled clove buds are 90% eugenol; foliage is 45% - 60% eugenol. Use 4% - 8% eugenol and 1% sesame (asa synergist) in a spray and you can kill insects by blocking octopamine, a neurotransmitter found in insects butnot in humans or their pets. Eugenol is an exempted ingredient as is sesame oil. <strong>The</strong> Author has found 5% -15% clove oil when blended with 8% - 10% sodium lauryl sulfate and 1% - 4% sodium chloride and glycerin willquickly kill plants, especially if you drop the pH using vinegar and/or citric acid.Clover (sweet) - <strong>The</strong> attractive “weeds” contain a broad spectrum antibiotic.Cloves - Dry cloves repel ants and when stuck in oranges repel moths and other insects, but you might be allergicto cloves (Eugenica caryophyllata). Grandma was right. You can kill the pain of an aching tooth by swabbingit with clove oil. Researchers attribute the remedy’s effectiveness to eugenol, a pain-relieving chemical foundabundantly in cloves. Cloves and/or clove oil can be used as biopesticide alternatives.Coal Tar Pitch - is also known as pitch oil, topped coal tar and creosote. <strong>The</strong> Author does not recommend its use.Coca Leaves - Are natural insecticides.Coca-Cola - Spray this soft drink (with aspartame) on insect pests or feed it (with its fizz intact) to mice and ratsand see what happens. Pour 2 - 2-liter bottles into a hole you have made in a fire ant mound. Pour some inthe center of weeds on a hot, sunny day and wait at least a week before reapplying Coca-Cola. It will removegrease and blood stains from the driveway overnight and will take corrosion from batteries.Cocoa Shells - are an attractive mulch that is nicely scented and can discourage cats from digging in the garden.Coconut Oil - is known for its ability to penetrate skin.Coconut Oil Soap - Can be diluted and sprayed to control slugs and snails. See Soap.Cockroach Poop - This is the “secret ingredient” that determines if your roach trap and/or bait will be successful.<strong>The</strong>ir defecation contains the aggregation pheromone.Coffee (Coffee arabica [L.]) - Put some leftover coffee in a bottle trap to quickly capture wild Mediterranean fruitflies, Ceratitis captitata (Wiedemann), both male and females, or spray it on plants to control red spider mitesand repel snails and slugs. (Note: If you want to kill snails and slugs using coffee you will need to make strongcoffee.) Cocaine and caffeine are closely related. Coffee contains caffeine which helps stop bronchospasmsand helps open constricted bronchial passages, especially if you add chocolate and/or cocoa that contains moretheobromine, which also helps asthma attacks. Drinking coffee regularly helps prevent gall stones, especiallyif you eat nuts . Regular coffee drinkers also lower their risk of diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, colon cancerand dental cavities. Coffee lists your mood and can be used to treat headache. People who smoke and drinkcoffee on a regular basis have less heart disease and liver damage than those smokers who do not drink coffeeon a regular basis.Coffee Can Traps - Bury a tin container in the soil of your garden so the lip of the can is flush with the surfaceof the soil. Crawling bugs and slugs and snails will fall into your tin can trap; empty as needed.Cold - Another safe and very effective control; observe winter in Michigan.Collars - Cut a piece of paper one foot square and fit it snuggly around the stem of the plants and press intothe soil an inch or so deep. Use a paper clip to hold it in place, This collar will prevent cut worms and otherburrowing insects from getting into the soil and destroying your young plants.376


Collateral Damage - When you spray a broad spectrum pesticide poison, you kill your allies, the beneficialinsects and creatures including yourself and many other non-target organisms.Collodial Silver - and other collodials are very effective in controlling viruses, molds, bacteria and insect pests.<strong>The</strong> Author has used collodial silver to remove candida and/or infections in people and plants. Use pure water.Colors - can be used to find or attract or repel pests. See mulch.Combs - Metal nit combs or metal flea combs and a little patience, a bright light, a little baby oil and soapy orenzyme cleaner/water will safely control fleas and/or lice and/or ticks.Comet ® Cleanser - Try lightly dusting this cleaner in areas where you want to control or repel pests.Comfrey - Bruise a few comfrey (Symphytum officinale) leaves and lay them over a bruished area to removethe bruise. If you are pregnant, do not try this poultice and remember that comfrey is also consideredunsafe for internal use by people. Be careful.Common Oleander (Nerium oleander) - is effective against codling moth and many other insect pests. <strong>The</strong>bark can be used to kill rats and mice. It is poisonous to people. Be careful!Common Sense - <strong>The</strong> greatest tool and one of the rarest.Communicate Constantly - Keep everyone informed and ask for input and assistance.Communication - No one will know if you do not tell them what you saw, did and or know.Companion Planting - Seemingly random plantings can produce better growing plants that are relatively free ofpest and diseases, e.g., planting marigolds with tomatoes and potatoes will help ward off Mexican bean beetlesand nematode worms. Planting onions and garlic throughout your garden will also help reduce insect pests.Competitive Vegetation - Plant groundcovers and/or more aggressive competitors than the weed you wish tocontrol. Native plantings work best.Compost - prepared from certain recipes can suppress or control destructive root rot organisms with their fungicidalproperties. <strong>The</strong>y also improve soil and increase microorganisms. Composting can also help eliminate yard andgarden waste and pesticides. Caution: Soluble salts are naturally created during the decomposition process asorganic debris is broken down and reduced in bulk. High levels of soluble salts can kill exposed plant roots. “Oneaker well compost is worth akers three, at harvest thy barne shall declare it to thee.” – Thomas Tusser (1557)Compost Tea - will help control any fungal blight problems your plants have. Making this tea is easy: Take80% vegetable matter and 20% animal or poultry manure and make a compost pile. (You can even use straightmanure, but don’t use this blend on edible plants as manure can contain coliform bacteria.) Fill a 5-gallon buckethalf-full with a good quality finished compost; then fill to the top of the bucket with water. Stir every other day for9 days. <strong>The</strong>n pour through a fine screen and spray on your plants twice a week. <strong>The</strong> material acts as a foliarfertilizer and controls fungus problems.Composted Chicken Manure - <strong>The</strong> Author developed Get Set Grow and found that using composted chickenmanure restored the microorganisms in the earth so that in days the grubs were gone, in weeks the moles weregone and in years the weeds were gone. Synthetic fertilizers and pesticide poisons literally sterilize (kill) the soil.Composting - Proper composting destroys fly breeding sites and creates wonderful fertilizer. If large additionsof compost or manure are added to the soil, the population of eelworms and viruses are greatly reduced.Conditions Conducive to Infestation - Remove these and you usually prevent potential pest problems.Conduit - Can be used as a vacuum hose extension to vacuum up stinging insects. Cut a 4’ length and about10 feet of coated 14 gauge electrical wire or cable. Double the wire or cable and slide it through the conduit;377


leave a loop at the top end and install a hand grip at the bottom. You will have created a quick and efficient toolto grab “critters”. Simply slide the top loop over its head and pull tight on the bottom wire or cable.Consistency - <strong>The</strong> only way you can learn from your research; do not compare apples to oranges.Constant Vigilance - will prevent a major pest infestation or disease outbreak.Containers - Properly sealed containers will keep your food and your pet’s food and your garbage pest free andreduce the incidence of insect and rodent pests.<strong>Control</strong>led Burns - will remove several pest and disease problems and helps renourish the soil.<strong>Control</strong>ling Carriers - By controlling insect carriers of diseases and/or viruses which cannot be controlled byspraying you can reduce the spread of diseases and/or viruses.Cooking Oil - Any cooking oil placed around the base of plants will repel ants and other pests; additionally, 1teaspoon mixed in 1 quart water with 1 tablespoon dish soap will kill many insect pests if sprayed with this mix.Copepods, e.g., Macrocyclops albidus - Common in Florida waters are tiny crustaceans with a voraciousappetite that virtually kill any mosquito larvae they find.Copper - Copper is a powerful, nonspecific fungicide that kills disease organisms. It damages beneficial soilmicroorganisms and beneficial insects alike, and is more toxic to plants than sulfur is. Copper sulfate has beenused as an herbicide to control annual weeds on land or in water. Repeated applications of any copper productwill stunt plants and can accumulate in the soil. Copper sulfate is classified as very toxic to humans, so wedo not use this product; only the copper barriers to control slugs and snails.Copper Gauze - Copper gauze or mesh will not deteriorate like steel wool, so use it to seal and/or cover cracksand other openings.Copper Soap - can be diluted and used as a fungicide.Coriander, a/k/a cumin - An annual herb, 2-feet tall. Drinking a tea made from this plant will help to soothe anupset stomach. A poultice made from crushed seeds relieves rheumatism pain. Coriander adds an exotic flavorand is used as a digestive, for colic, gripping and flatulence. Coriander contains an oil used in an emulsion sprayto kill spider mites and cotton aphids.Corn - Dried corn can be placed in cloth bags and either heated or cooled in the freezer to provide relief fromaches and pains.Corn Gluten Meal - 100% corn gluten meal acts as a natural herbicide and prevents weeds. Use 20 pounds ofcorn gluten meal for every 1000 square feet; spread the gluten over your lawn; then apply again at right angles.Apply evenly in spring, late summer or early fall yearly. Be patient; it takes several years to work dramatically.Don’t fertilize for 2 - 4 weeks after a gluten application because the gluten provides a lot of nitrogen. Corn glutenprevents all seed germination for months after it is applied, so it is not wise to sow seeds in the treated area.Water activates the gluten.Corn Meal - Wet corn meal with 1% sodium borate solution; dry and place where insects can contact but people,pets and wildlife cannot. This bait will kill virtually anything that eats corn meal. <strong>The</strong> sodium borate will also keepit “fresh” in damp areas longer. “Straight” corn meal or bran sprinkled by plants will kill cut worms that eat it.Corn Starch - Placing 2 tablespoons of corn starch in a dry vacuum’s bag before vacuuming up insects willquickly incapacitate the insects. Sprinkle it where you see them crawl to desiccate them. Corn starch will alsocure athletes’ feet. If you have a burn, sprinkle it with corn starch; the pain should subside in 10 minutes.Cotton Swab - dipped in alcohol can remove many light pest infestations.378


Cottonseed Meal - is a source of nitrogen.Cottonseed Oil - will kill aphids, scales, mites and mealybugs.Cover Crops - help surpress weeds and/or plant pests naturally. Cover crops support macro and microfauna,e.g., parasitoids. One example is the corn earworm will devastate the bolls of a cotton plant, but it prefers corn;so if you plant rows of corn for every 500 feet or so of cotton, the corn earworm will attack the corn and leavethe cotton alone.Crab/Shrimp Shells - will control nematodes when incorporated into the soil.Creativity - Think. Define the problem. Develop as many solutions as possible. Choose the safest. <strong>The</strong>n act.Cricket Chirping - Count the number of chirps in 14 seconds, add 40; the total will equal the air temperature inFahrenheit within 1 degree 75% of the time.Crickets - Freshly ground crickets are the preferred food source/bait for pharaoh ants, fire ants and ghost ants.Crisco, Butter Flavor All-Vegetable Shortening - will attract ants, so when you are trying various materials toattract ants, e.g., syrup, applesauce, honey, etc., you may want to try this shortening. If the ants are attractedto these materials, you can add aspartame, food-grade DE or some other toxin to kill the ants.Crop Rotation - will culturally control most pests, e.g., weeds and insects and give life back to the soil.Cucumber - Dried and crumbled cucumber rinds or fresh cucumber slices will often repel ants. Bitter cucumberworks best.Cucumber, Cantaloupe and Pumpkin - An acetone extract of seeds (and aqueous extract of pumpkin seed)is toxic to mosquito larvae.Cucurbit Family - Members of this family, e.g., pumpkins and squash have leaves that are effective fly repellents.Pick leaves carefully from strong growing vines, crush them and rub them on animal heads/backs to repel flies.Cultivation and Hand-picking - <strong>The</strong> least expensive of all control practices. Must be used long before pestdamage becomes apparent and at the proper stage of development of the insect.Cultural <strong>Control</strong>s and/or Practices - <strong>The</strong>se are the oldest means of controlling insect and mite pest problems.<strong>The</strong>y include such things as parasitoids, resistant species or varieties, cultivation, crop rotation, soil and watermanagement, a diversity of crops, planting and harvesting schedules, pruning or mowing methods, proper plantselection, nutrition, reducing plant stress, improving soil condition, removal of crop residue and sanitation, all ofwhich can and/or do help and/or provide pest control or reduce and/or prevent pest problems. In 1500 B.C.E.there were writings about cultural control, e.g., manipulation of planting dates. In 950 B.C.E. burning was discussedas a cultural control.Cup of soapy water - If you slowly bring up a cup of soapy water directly under a fly resting on the ceiling, itwill fly into it and drown.Curiosity - If the Author had not been or remained curious, none of this book would have been possible.Curry - This bright yellow spice or herb is named for the aroma of its leaves. It is used to keep moths out ofwoolens. Make a paste out of the powder to relieve the pain and itching of insect bites and stings. <strong>The</strong> poulticewill also reduce swelling and inflammation. Curry powder contains curcumin, a substance similar to non-steroidealanti-inflammatory drugs. Curry helps decrease the symptoms of arthritis, tendonitis, auto-immune diseases andwill help shrink colon polyps and can help ward off prostate cancer.Cutworm bait - Mix 1 pint of hardwood sawdust (not cedar or pine) with 1 pint of wheat bran and 1 quart ofmolasses. Slowly add cupfuls of water until the sawdust and bran are moist and all ingredients are well mixed.379


Spread a handful of bait around each transplant or sprinkle evenly on long rows of corn seedlings. Molassesattracts the cutworms to the sawdust and bran, which cakes on their bodies and prevents them from burrowinginto the soil for protection from sun or birds. Destroy any cutworms you see on the ground each morning, andrenew the baits after heavy rains. You can also make enzyme (protease) or DE molasses bait. Tansy, crushedegg shells, damp wood ashes, pine sawdust, chicken manure or oak leave mulch will repel cutworms.Cutworm collars - Cut 2-inch-long sections from a paper towel tube or toilet paper tube. Slip one section overeach small seedling and press the collar lightly into the soil. Or cut a strip of lightweight cardboard or aluminumfoil, curve it around the base of the seedling, and fasten the ends with a paper clip. Make the collar 2 to 3 inchestall and about 2 inches in diameter. Don’t forget to mow the grass and remove the clippings.Cutworm repellent - Sprinkle a mixture of chopped wormwood leaves (Artemisia spp.) and sharp sand in a widecircle around the base of each plant. <strong>The</strong>y will die if they eat cornmeal because the cutworms cannot digest it.Cyanogens - Over 1000 species of plants are known to produce the very toxic hydrogen cyanide (HCN).d-Limonene - is the major component of the oil extracted from citrus peels and other essential oils. It has alemon-like odor. Used as a shampoo it will kill fleas; used as a spray it will kill ants and other insects. Very littleis known about health effects on people.Damsel bugs - Adults and nymphs prey on insects, e.g., aphids, small caterpillars, thrips, leafhoppers and othersoft-bodied insects.Damsel Flies - are predators that will eat mosquitoes and nearly every other insect.Dandelions - A healthy abundance of dandelions will act as an excellent habitat for lady bug beetles. <strong>The</strong>y willmove from their overwintering places under the bark of trees to the dandelions and then onto vegetable crops,etc. to control aphids as the weather warms up.Dead Leaves - If you let dead leaves lie where they fall, orange and reddish fritillary butterflies will feed on themas readily as they do goldenrod and violets.Deer Deterrents - Smelly work clothes, dog blankets, rotting eggs, dogs and invisible fencing, human hair, barsof scented soap, urine, etc. to control aphids. One good spray mix is 1 tablespoon of kelp, 5 tablespoons of fishemulsion and 1 tablespoon of liquid Dial hand soap in 1 gallon of water; spray as needed.Decoys - can be used to repel birds.Defence - Chalk barrier is your home’s first defense. Defence by Safe Solutions, Inc. has DE with or withoutsome pyrethrum formed in a piece of sidewalk chalk.Dehumidifiers - When properly installed, dehumidifiers reduce moisture and many pest problems includingtermites, mold, carpenter ants, mildew, roaches, sow bugs, earwigs, fungus, etc. are eliminated, or at a minimum,greatly controlled. Air conditioners, fans, vents and/or dryers also help reduce the relative humidity; most insects/spiders/termites/fungus/mold/etc. need high levels of humidity to survive; often if you just reduce the humidityyou can control all of these pests. Add a fan to increase the desiccant action. See Humidity Reduction.Deodorizer - Place a saucer of diluted Safe Solutions Tweetmint Enzyme Cleaner with Peppermint in the returnair duct(s). <strong>The</strong> furnace fan will draw the enzymes into the central duct and circulate them throughout thebuilding. Musty areas or items can be deodorized with enzyme cleaners or crumpled newspaper - repeat withfresh newspaper or enzyme cleaners until musty odor is gone. Fresh cat litter (and activated charcoal or bakingsoda) will also remove odors especially in small (enclosed) areas in one day. See also Fans.Derris or Tuba Root - was used by early Chinese to stupefy fish. Derris can be used on both plants and animalsfor insect control and to control mosquito larvae, lice and ticks. It is eliminated rapidly from the body and is notknown to be stored in animal tissue.380


Desiccants - Hot air, dehumidifiers, fans, food-grade DE, silica, talcum powder, medicated body powder, lime,clothes dryers, saunas, hair dryers, calcium sulfate, salt, calcium carbonate, sun, etc. all kill mold, insects andarachnids.Detection - Find the pests early before they become a major problem.DetectionTools - can be used to find moisture problems, termites, carbon dioxide, methane, radon; to seebehind and into voids, etc. and many more will be developed.Detergent Builder - Any substance, including another surfactant, that helps the first or “main” surfactant work,e.g., potassium salts, sodium borate.Detergents - are surfactants, or surface active agents, basically washing compounds that mix with grease andwater; they form a “bridge” between lipophilic substances and water-soluble substances and thus enhancepenetration of water, insecticides, oils, or enzymes. Richards and Korda (1948) found that detergents disruptnot only the lipoid layer of the epicuticle but also the protein layers of the endocuticle. <strong>The</strong> properties renderinga detergent most effective are (1) enough liposolubility to penetrate and emulsify the epicuticular wax, (2)sufficient solubility in water (i.e., not excessively lipophilic), and (3) ability to penetrate the outer cement layer ofthe epicuticle. Obviously, once the cuticle is comprised by the detergents - insecticide poisons are not necessaryto control the insects. Make sure your detergent does not have any hazardous or prohibited “inerts”. Whiledetergents are synthetic, some of their ingredients can be natural. Detergents were developed during WorldWar II when the oils needed to make soap became scarce.Deterrents - One of the most successful feeding deterrents is still the Bordeaux mixture developed in Franceover 10 years ago as a fungicide. It is produced from copper sulfate, hydrated lime and water in a 6-10-100mixture. Deter pests before they become a problem.Detoxification - See Chapters 40 and 41. “<strong>The</strong> world has become intoxicated.” — S.L.T.Devices - Fly swatters, traps, (e.g., snap, live, fungus, poison, sticky, electric, pheromone, etc.), screens,hair dryers, tile softeners, decoys, caulking, repellents, negative ion plates, sticky strips, vacuums, pressurewashers, and the like can not be tested accurately in a laboratory, but are very effective in field tests. Negativeion plates are the safest, easiest alternative to pesticides. When properly installed, we have controlled mostinsects including termites for up to 2 years. Occasionally the plates will “burn out” or be torn down and need tobe replaced and/or a “pocket of resistance” may need further Intelligent Pest Management ® control work, butthey work far better than many of the volatile, synthetic pesticide poisons I previously used and are non-toxic.Deworming Concoction - This is an old time remedy for deworming dogs and cats. Use full amount on dogsand ¼ amount on cats. Mix 1 teaspoon of dried, powdered rosemary and 1 teaspoon of wormwood with ½teaspoon of fresh ground garlic. Mix well and divide into 4 portions. Give pet a portion mixed in with food or pettreat four times a day. Repeat this for 3 days and pet should be completely dewormed. Caution: there may bea toxic/allergic reaction to this concoction, so I suggest you use food-grade DE or Not Nice to Toxins.Diagnosis - Proper diagnosis is the first step to find a proper remedy. Make a proper diagnosis before you startany control program.Diammonium Phosphate - can be used in traps as an attractant.Diatomaceous Earth (DE) - If you use this product, be sure you only use Safe Solutions, Inc. food-grade qualityDE that has been properly milled and wear a cotton face mask and goggles. “If you see white, it ain’t right.” Keepwarm and dry. We do not normally choose to use DE. <strong>The</strong>re is a definite difference between fresh water vs.marine diatomaceous earth - use only the high purity fresh water (food-grade) product (with ½% or less silica) ifyou can get it. It is labeled GRAS or Generally Regarded As Safe and kills insects better. Diatomaceous earth(DE) is mined from the fossilized silica shell remains of unicellular or colonial algae or one-celled pytoplankton inthe class Bacillariophyceae, better known as diatoms that converted the silica they ingested to form their shells.Diatoms are animals that are related to the crustaceans of today. <strong>The</strong>y produced shells that are now ground upand used as a powder or dust for insect control. Caution: Diatomaceous earth can also be impregnated with381


pyrethrins for faster kill; we do not use this type. <strong>The</strong> main hazard associated with the use of diatomaceousearth is from inhalation of the materials and silicosis of the lung tissue. It has both abrasive and absorptivequalities. Like the silica aerogels, although to a lesser extent, diatomaceous earth absorbs the waxy layer on thesurface of insect skins, causing the insect to desiccate (dry out). DE also controls slugs and snails. In additionto its desiccant action, it works abrasively to rupture insect cuticles, allowing cell sap to leak out. DE can be aregistered pesticide or a food-grade product used as an anti-caking agent. It can also be used to removeodors - it simply “grabs them”. Food-grade DE has other uses including cleaning and polishing metal andsoaking up spilled oil and grease. Do not use DE outside until you know the pest life cycles or you maykill all the beneficials and vacuum up all residue (inside) after a few days. Make sure your DE does notcontain crystalline silica which is a dangerous respiratory hazard.Like silica aerogels, diatomaceous earth (DE) consists of silica and does not break down or leave harmfulresidues. <strong>The</strong> effective insecticidal form absorbs up to 4 times it’s weight in moisture - so it takes the oils frominsects’ skin, causing dehydration and death. Food-grade DE also controls mildew and brown rot. This leasttoxicinsecticide is considered harmless to humans and is used in stored grains. Mix ¼ cup of food-grade DE ina gallon of vinegar and spray pests with the mix or pour into individual ant colonies as a drench. Food-gradeis sold as “fossil shell flour” and is approved by the FDA to be added to livestock rations at a rate not to exceed2% . <strong>The</strong> beneficial control is said to be gentle and normal without toxic shock. It can be rubbed into your pet’sfur starting from the neck down - spending particular attention to the tail area; this will generally control fleasuntil the pet is bathed. As a livestock feed additive at 1% to 2%, it can kill worms and other internal parasites.I know of people who feed their emus, cattle, dogs and horses 2% food-grade DE as an additive to their feedto control internal parasites and to reduce the number of flies in the excrement/manure. You can mix sugarand food-grade DE and feed it to people with E-coli contamination. <strong>The</strong> sugar attracts the E-coli and the DEabsorbs the toxins. It is best applied as a dust using a duster that imparts an electrical charge, but it can alsobe hand dusted and/or thoroughly mixed 2 oz. in a gallon of water and sprayed. You can make a very goodpest barrier by applying Tanglefoot (or petroleum jelly) to the area, e.g., trunks of trees, and then lightly dustingthe adhesive with food-grade DE. People also use it for garden pest control, though it will also kill beneficialinsects (especially Hymenoptera parasitoids) - especially at higher application rates. Do not buy or use DEsold for swimming pool filters. This form is not effective as an insecticide and may also contain a high levelof crystalline silica which, when inhaled, can cause silicosis, a deadly lung disease. Diatomaceous earthis abrasive to lung and eyes - so use proper personal protection when using this product. Chinese used DE forpest control 4,000 years ago, compare with (synthetic) silica gel. Use food-grade DE to dust pets, livestock,bedding, barns (inside and outside), windows and foodstuffs to deodorize, preserve and for its absorption qualitiesas a benefit you also will control internal and external pest problems. Rats fed a daily diet containing 5%fresh water DE showed no abnormalities after 90 days. Japanese workers chronically exposed to DE showedsignificant serum increases of the protease enzymes that correlate with emphysema. Always remember whenusing diatomaceous earth - less is truly more - try a pinch on a piece of paper and then blowing this tiny amounttowards the infested area or simply dust cracks, crevices, and/or voids. Diatoms in the lungs will not dissolveand may harm like asbestos. Swimming pool DE is considered a carcinogen.Advantages: Nontoxic to mammals and birds; works by dehydration rather than poisoning; containsbeneficial trace minerals.Disadvantages: Affects both beneficials, e.g., ladybugs, and pests; thorough applicaton needed; lesseffective in humid weather.Dietary Supplements - See Herbal Remedies.Disease - Not at ease. Stress, worry, fear and depression are killers.Dishwashing Detergent - Quickly breaks down down an insect’s outer covering,ectoskeleton or cuticle. It alsowashes away the grease, wax, oil and/or dirt from the outer covering.Diversity of Plants - A diversity of plants will create a diversity of insect species, attract beneficial insects fornatural control, and provide more nectar, pollen and/or alternative host insects for them to feed upon.Dog Spray - Mix apple cider vinegar (or wine) half and half with water in a spray bottle; add the juice of 1 crushedgarlic clove, 1 T. dish soap, 1 tsp. canola or olive oil and 1 tsp. salt; shake and spray into the fur. Reapply asneeded. This spray removes fleas, dog odors and gives your dog a shiny coat.382


Dogs - have been trained to sniff out bed bugs, termites, drugs, bombs, rabbits, deer, fugitives and mold, but,remember, the termite-sniffing dogs trained in the 1980s had a false-positive rate of almost 30%.Dollar Bill - Need a measuring device? A dollar bill is 6-1/4” long, folded in half it is 3-1/8”, folded in half againit is almost exactly 1-1/2”. <strong>The</strong> 2-5/8” wide bill folded lengthwise is very close to 1-1/4”. From the tip of a man’smiddle finger to his elbow is a cubit or about 18”. From (extended) fingertip to fingertip is about 6 feet.Dormant Oils - can be sprayed on trees before the leaves emerge to smother (overwintering) scale, spider mitesand insect eggs - some varieties will not harm leaves, but will kill caterpillars and many other pests - read thelabel. <strong>The</strong>re are no reported oil-resistant pests. Check for prohibited or dangerous inerts. <strong>The</strong> Author hasalso used vegetable oil as an alternative. Another formula for a dormant miscible oil spray for use on dormanttrees is to mix 1 gallon light-grade oil, 1½ pounds of fish oil soap (or 2 pounds of regular soap) and 1 gallon ofwater. Bring to a boil and stir. <strong>The</strong> soap will act as an emulsifier and allow the oil to blend with the water. Dilutewith 10 gallons of water and spray immediately. If your mix separates, reheat and restir and then mix again.Double-check - If you do not bother to double-check, you will really waste time and money correcting yourmistakes and newly created problems.Dragon Flies - Favorite prey: flies, mosquitoes and bees.Drains - need to be cleaned routinely and covered or screened. See Tennis Ball.Drills - <strong>The</strong> hidden space behind walls, the toe kick and underneath the base of kitchen and bathroom cabinetscan all be easily treated with dusts and/or enzymes - if you drill a 3/8” to an 1” hole through either the wall orthe toe kick or the cabinet floor. Plug with a furniture dowel button or wood dowel plug or an insulation plug.Dry Bran - Sprinkle dry bran on plants, e.g., potatoes, and the potato beetles will eat it and drink dew to slacktheir thirst and then die from the expanding and/or drying bran.Dry Cleaning - Kills adult stages of insects, but may not kill eggs.Dry Ice and/or Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers can be used to kill nuisance wildlife and insect pests byfumigation and/or freezing. Dry ice can also be used to attract fleas, termites, mosquitoes and ticks into traps.Dry ice can also be used to fumigate burrows, homes and grain.Dryer - A dryer can be used to kill dust mites, ticks and many pest problems. See Clothes Dryer.Duct Tape - can be used to trap ants, bed bugs, crickets, scorpions, spiders, cockroaches, flies, etc. Just placeit sticky-side (glue-side) up wherever you have small pests. You can add some bait or the insects’ fecal matterto make it attractive. You can add a little masking tape on the edges to hold it in place. Crickets cannot climbup the silver (non-sticky) side. Put down 2 tracks to see which side of the room has the bulk of the infestation.Dung Beetles - Up to 10,000 horn flies can creep onto a bull’s back and suck its blood until it dies. Dung beetleswill eat horn fly eggs until they have wiped out this pest in several areas.Dusts - e.g., soot, finely ground chalk, talcum powder, food-grade DE, baking soda, activated charcoal, talc,siliceous materials, finely powdered alumina, kiln dust, ashes or even road dust have been used to control insectseffectively since ancient times. Caution: Most dusts are over-applied. You should only have a fine coating overthe treatment area. Keep all dusts dry and warm. Cold dusts absorb moisture which makes them clump together.Many birds and animals dust themselves in areas where there is fine silt to remove ectoparasites. Primitivefarmers noted they had less pests in areas next to dusty roads than they did in those further back. One modeof action of dusts involves withdrawal of body water and lipids from the insect, i.e., desiccation through abrasionof the cuticular surface or through a continuous adsorption of the lipid elements. With hygroscopic materials(soot, activated charcoal, etc.), the moisture is directly adsorbed onto the dust particles with nonhygroscopicmaterials (e.g., alumina) the cuticle is lacerated, allowing moisture to be lost to the surrounding air. Anothermode of action is due to the fact that insects don’t breathe through their mouths. <strong>The</strong>y expand and contract theirbodies like bellows, inhaling and exhaling air through a series of small openings called spiracles along the sides383


of their bodies. Fine dust clog the spiracles. Dusts are ineffective at 100% relative humidity and their efficiencyincreases in direct proportion to the dryness of the air. Abrasion facilitates the entry of contact insecticides, sodust preparations of many contact insecticides are common. Caution: Dusts deposited on plants in somecases may inhibit the activity of natural enemies and actually favor the increase of pests. Some dustsare toxic and/or may cause allergic reactions. Always wear a respirator and goggles. Never spray anopen flame. Use hand lotion to keep your hands from drying and cracking. If you see white, it is notright, so remember to lightly dust.Dusters - <strong>The</strong> Author has used power dusters and has controlled cockroaches in school kitchens for years usingonly talcum powder. Never load a manual duster more than half way to the top!Duty - <strong>The</strong> word is derived from the French word “deu.” Our word “debt” is also derived from this word. Whenwe become intellectually and morally aware, we discover that in real life we have a duty to help others live andto protect them and the environment. Do your best to protect all life. Keep on, keep keeping on.Dwarf or Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia) - <strong>The</strong> flowers attract and kill Japanese beetles. Bedsteads made ofhorse chestnut are said to be free from bugs.Dyes - can be used to attract or repel pests. Red food dye diluted and sprayed on leaves or other food sourcescan kill (insect) pests that feed on them. <strong>The</strong> amines in the dye quickly destroy the liver. Try red dye foliarsprays and baits. A photoactive dye used in drugs and cosmetics called D& C Red #28 by Warner Jenkinsonhas an active ingredient called phloxine B-Mazoferm which is as effective as malathion in controlling fruit flies(and other pests). When placed in sugar formulations it controls flies and other pests that eat it. Add aspartameas a “kicker”.Earthworms - aerate and pulverize the soil, create top soil and destroy the larvae of several noxious insects.Easter Lily - is toxic and often fatal to cats, so be very careful of this plant.Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia) - has powerful antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Use with freshgarlic to protect against colds, flu and even cancer. See Herbal Remedies.Ecological Balance - Leave nature alone and insect pests and diseases will be naturally held in check. Youcan not have beneficials if you have no pests.Economic Threshold of Damage - Do nothing until the level is reached.Education - Never come to the point you are no longer “teachable” or willing to learn a better or safer way tocontrol pests. <strong>The</strong> continued successful control of any pest is a “learning process”.Effort - You must put forth some effort for any plan to work. Will Rogers once noted, “Even if you are on theright track, you will get run over if you just sit there.”Egg - Mix 1 teaspoon dish washing detergent, 1 egg and 1 quart water - spray as needed to repel deer.Egg Shells - To repel slugs and snails, edge the area with coarsely crushed egg shells. To make an interestingtrap for flies, grind the egg shells into a fine powder. <strong>The</strong> (cluster) flies get stuck and die when they get miredin the powder. We are working on a find dust made from egg shells.Egg Yolks - Separate and pierce an egg yolk and put the material on a piece of wood and float it on top of thewater to kill mosquitoes. <strong>The</strong> yolk creates a very thing film of protein across the water surface which clogs themosquito larvae’s breathing apparatus. <strong>The</strong> egg breaks down in a day or two, so reapply as necessary.Elder - In 1870 Dick’s Encyclopedia of Practical Receipts and Processes advised spraying cucumbers and melonplants with a decoction of elder leaves to control thrips or on other plants to control mildew.Elderberry - usually is free of disease and insect damage of all kinds, so spray your plants with a concoction of384


elderberry leaves to protect them from insects and disease. See Plant Product Insecticides and/or Fungicides.Electric Fence - A single strand of electric wire 4” - 6” off the ground should put an end to virtually any animalpest invasions, except deer (as they may easily jump over the barrier).Electricity - <strong>The</strong>re are electrocuting rat traps, electro-guns and electrical bird repellents, etc.Electrocuting Insect Traps - Use these with great discretion because we have a great concern about the dangerof disease-causing viruses surviving on the insect parts that explode from these units.Eliminate Competition - Remove weeds and grass from the growing site since they compete for nutrients andwater.Encarsa formosa - are not native to North America. <strong>The</strong>se wasps are sold to prey on greenhouse whitefliesand sweet potato whiteflies.Encasement - Encasement of the mattress and box spring will deny bed bugs access to inner and hard to reachareas. Bed bugs have been surveyed and 90% of the infestation is found living inside beds, sofas and/or recliningchairs, so encasing these objects will kill all bed bugs living inside and will prevent others from infesting insidethese tightfitting covers. You can also see any remaining bed bugs on these covers more easily. Use a quality,zippered bed (dust mite) encasement cover.Endophytes - are fungi that infect some grasses and live symbiotically in the leaves. <strong>The</strong>y benefit the grassby producing toxins that kill and repel insects and confer some disease resistance. Turfgrass varieties withendophytes are generally more vigorous, more tolerant of heat and drought and more competitive than the samevarieties without endophyte infections. Several varieties of perennial ryegrass and fescues with high levels ofendophyte infections are now available from turf seed suppliers. When buying, check the lot numbers to makesure seed is fresh because the endophytes may die after prolonged storage even though the grass seed itselfremains viable. Do not plant endophyte infected grasses where horses or other livestock might reach it as theendophytes are harmful to grazing animals.Entomopathogenic Fungi - Several mold fungi are natural insecticides and will kill insects and use their deadbodies to launch spores. <strong>The</strong>se spores can be used to repel and/or kill ants, termites, flies, crickets and grasshoppers.Enzyme Cleaners - <strong>The</strong> 5th Edition of Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest <strong>Control</strong> Operations described “<strong>The</strong>Ideal Pesticide”. “Ideally any pesticide will act rapidly on pests, yet be completely harmless to people, domesticanimals, wildlife, and other aspects of the environment. Its residues would only last as long as was necessaryto create the desired effect, usually for very short periods. It would also be inexpensive and readily available innecessary quantities, chemically stable (before application), non-flammable, and otherwise safe to use aroundhomes or industrial sites. It would be easily prepared and applied, non-corrosive and non-staining, and it wouldhave no undesirable odor. Unfortunately, no such (synthetic) pesticide exists.” Purdue University and AdvanstarCommunications (Pest <strong>Control</strong> Magazine) worked on this 1997 Pest <strong>Control</strong> Manual, but they were, obviously,still unaware the Author had begun patenting and using and field testing the perfect (pesticide) or Pestisafe ®based on natural pest control. In addition to being on the (perfect pesticide poison descriptive) list, Safe SolutionsTweetmint enzyme cleaners, shampoos or soaps with enzymes will never create any pest resistance problems,are truly the perfect “pesticides” and the entire compounds contain only ingredients that are considered non-toxicor GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) and they are active as long as they are liquid and can be used virtuallyeverywhere, even when people are sick, under 1, over 60, pregnant and/or chemically sensitive to controleven pesticide-resistant pests. In addition, these Safe Solutions, Inc. products can be diluted/applied in sucha way that only the pest species are killed, leaving the beneficial species alive! <strong>The</strong> U. S. EPA prohibits any/all claims that any registered pesticide poison is either safe or non-toxic. That is just another reason why wecall enzyme cleaners, soaps and shampoos natural biological controls and/or Pestisafes ® rather than pesticidepoisons. Maggots produce enzymes to help soften up their food so they can eat it. Insectivore plants produceand also use protease enzymes to digest their insect prey. Spiders and scorpions produce and inject proteaseenzymes to predigest their prey and all molting insects produce a small amount of protease enzyme to serveas a chemical “zipper” so they can split open their exoskeletons when they molt and increase twice their size;385


without the protease enzyme they would be trapped inside their own exoskeletons and be crushed to death bytheir own growth. Fogging and/or spraying enzymes in or on gardens, lawns, orchards, fields, swamps, and/ordirectly on insects, washing floors, linen, clothing, pets, hair, etc. will quickly and safely result in virtually instantpest control. We strongly recommend you only use diluted Safe SolutionsTweetmint. enzyme cleaners or NotNice to Lice ® or Pet Wash ® , Lice R Gone ® , etc. (patented process) enzyme products (that contain proteaseenzymes, various surfactants and peppermint oil) to control virtually all insects, fungus, mildew and mold pests.Most enzyme products or cleaners available at swimming pool supply or cleaning or janitorial supply houses usebacteria to create “their” enzymes, e.g., pet mess cleaners, drain openers and septic tank cleaners - some of thebacteria may be harmful to you and none of them are patented for this use. If the enzyme cleaner contains morethan 1% protease enzymes and/or has a low pH, this product can be harmful t the skin and eyes. Too muchprotease can bring on anaphylactic shock and/or occupational asthma (in the Author’s opinion). Use thepatented and patented process (commercial strength) Safe Solutions Tweetmint enzyme cleaners at a rate of 1oz. per quart to control virtually all pests or 1 - 3 oz. per gallon as a soak for ant nests or for their use as a floorcleaners. <strong>The</strong> body surface of insects consists of a hard skin known as the cuticle - the major pesticide pathwayis cuticular penetration. <strong>The</strong> insect cuticle is hydrophobic so that it can resist desiccation and drowning but theprotease enzyme and/or surfactants quickly and safely cut through this protective shell. Synthetic pesticidepoisons use light oils, dusts and/or volatile solvents to help penetrate this same cuticle. Caution: Remember,Safe Solutions Tweetmint Enzyme Cleaners, Pet Wash and/or Lice R Gone ® shampoos all have less than1% protease and all of them will kill all insects, including beneficials, so use them outside with greatdiscretion! (See also protease enzymes.) Note: You can adjust the dilution rate (1 - 500 or about ½ oz. enzymecleaner per gallon water) when spraying for soft-bodied pests, e.g., aphids; lady bugs and other beneficials willnot be destroyed at this rate. For some pest species, e.g., spiders, ticks and yellowjackets, we recommend youonly use Safe Solutions Tweetmint Enzyme Cleaner with Peppermint at a rate of 1 oz. per 1 quart water. Youcan purchase enzyme shampoos or cleaners or soaps from Safe Solutions, Inc. by phoning 1-888-443-8738.Gabriel Cousins, M.D. has stated, “All life depends on enzyme function. When our enzymes are depleted, sois our vital force and health.” Enzymes, therefore, (in the Author’s opinion) do not need to be “registered”; theyare naturally occurring, biological controls that have been controlling insects since the beginning of time.Epsom Salts - Not a salt as the name would imply; it is a naturally-derived compound called magnesium sulfate- a combinatioin of magnesium and sulfur. Diluted in hot water and then cooled will soothe mosquito bites andwill kill insects and plants when sprayed on them. When sprayed lightly (½ cup per gallon water) on plants itencourages leaf and flower production and improved resistance and is a great source of magnesium for plants.Magnesium is the central atom of chlorophyll, which is what makes plants green and enables photosynthesis.Sulfur helps in the uptake and efficiency of nitrogen and plays an important role in the formation of plant vitaminsand enzymes. It will not replace organic fertilizers, but will truly enhance your feeding program.Epsom Salts Bath - Please read Chapter 16.Equal ® - Try using a packet of Equal ® to control sweet-eating ants and mice.Eretmocerus mundus - After selecting a suitable whitefly nymph, the female of this parasitic wasp chemicallymarks its back with lipids or marking pheromones that alert other females this particular nymph already has awasp egg/larvae feeding inside.Essential Oils - <strong>The</strong> essential oils of peppermint and rosemary will control lice (Veal 1996). A number of essentialoils have insect-repelling properties and/or are antifungal, such as oils of cedarwood, camphor, citrus peel,clove, cinnamon, menthol, mint, oregano, tansy, tea tree, lavender, lemongrass (citronella), limonene, eugenol,pennyroyal, neem, eucalyptus (1,8-cineole), patchouli, rosemary, orange, peppermint, terpineol, thyme, aniseseed and bergamot - these can be diluted and applied to the skin, clothing and/or bedding - never applied undilutedoils to the skin and always check to see if you are allergic or sensitive to them before treating large areas.Rosemary oil may cause contact dermatitis and contribute to occupational asthma (Lemiere 1996). Pregnantwomen should never use pennyroyal internally or even topically. Always check to see if you react to a smalldiluted amount first. All oils, especially essential oils, must be used at rates less than 1.5% to 2% toavoid phytotoxic burning of plants and/or harming pets.Eucalyptus - Herb annual. Aromatic flea repellent. Eucalyptus oils will also control insects; it is said to repelflies, mites, fleas, cockroaches and mosquitoes. Eucalyptus (pure castile) soap is another great Pestisafe ® that386


controls pests and acts as a deodorizer and disinfectant <strong>The</strong> oil brings soothing relief to sore muscles and lessenspain. CAUTION: It may attract certain biting midges. Make sure you are not sensitive before usingthis oil. Eucalyptus oil must have a minimum of 70% cineole content to effectively repel mosquitoes.See Citriodora.Evaluation - Be honest; how did your control efforts actually result in safe effective and economical pest control?Were the objectives met? Are there better choices? What needs to be “fine tuned”? What more needsto be done? Who has or what are possible better alternatives? What kind of follow-up is needed? What wentwrong? What was done right?Evening Primose - helps reduce prostatic inflammation when taken with saw palmetto.Excitotoxins - will kill insects and rodents, but there are books called - EXCITOTOXINS: THETASTE THAT KILLS, written by Dr. Russell Blayblock (Health Press 1-800-643-2665) and DEFENSEAGAINST ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE, written by DR H. J. Roberts (diabetic specialist)<strong>The</strong>se two doctors will be posting a position paper with some case histories on the deadly effectsof Aspartame on the Internet. According to the Conference of the American College of Physicians,”We are talking about a plague of neurological diseases caused by this deadly poison.”Aspartame in diet soda is truly NOT a diet product! It is a chemically altered, multiple SODIUM (salt) andASPARTAME containing product that actually makes you crave carbohydrates. It is far more likely to make youGAIN weight!<strong>The</strong>se products also contain formaldehyde, which stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hiips and thighs.Formaldehyde is an absolute toxin and is used primarily to preserve “tissue specimens.” See Formaldehyde.Many products we use every day contain this chemical, but we SHOULD NOT store it IN our bodies!Dr. H.J. Roberts stated in his lectures that once free of the “diet products” and with no significant increase inexercise; his patients lost an average of 19 pounds over a trial period.Aspartame is especially dangerous for diabetics. We found that some physicians, who believedthat they had a patient with retinopathy, in fact, had symptoms caused by Aspartame. <strong>The</strong>Aspartame drives the blood sugar out of control. Thus diabetics may suffer acute memory lossdue to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are NEUROTOXIC when taken withoutthe other amino acids necessary for a good balance. Treating diabetes is all about BALANCE.Especially with diabetics, the Aspartame passes the blood/brain barrier and it then deterioratesthe neurons of the brain, causing various levels of brain damage, seizures, depression,manic depression, panic attacks, uncontrollable anger and rage.Consumption of Aspartame causes these same symptoms in non-diabetics, as well. Documentation and observationalso reveal that thousands of children diagnosed with ADD and AHD have had complete turnarounds in their behaviorwhen these chemicals have been removed from their diet. So called “behavior modification prescription drugs” (Ritalinand others) are no longer needed. Truth be told, they were never NEEDED in the first place! Most of these childrenwere being “poisoned” on a daily basis with the very foods that were “better for them than sugar.” See Aspartame.Ex-Lax ® - When fed to rodents, laxatives will literally make them defecate themselves to death.Exclusion - Keep pests from entering with screens, properly fitting doors and windows, caulk, cement, rodentguards, etc. You can fill large voids/cavities with aerosol foam insulation. Screening Caution: Screening willseverely restrict air flow into vents, so if you need to screen vents, build a box with a surface area large enoughto allow proper air flow. Your screen manufacturer will provide you with tables that determine how much the airflow will be restricted.Exosect Auto-confusion Mating Disruption System - lures male pest insects into a trap where, using electrostaticpowder technology, they are covered with pest specific female pheromones and powder. Males pass387


the gender-confusing powder onto other males who are attracted to the sex pheromone and the cycle continueson and on.Black’s Law Dictionary defines “intoxication” as a situation where, by reason of taking intoxicants, an individualdoes not have the normal use of his physical or mental faculties, thus rendering him incapable of acting in themanner in which an ordinary, prudent and cautious man, in full possession of his faculties, using reasonable care,would act under like conditions. About 6,000 new synthetic chemicals are added to our environment in just theU. S. every year! Today we have 500 chemicals residing in us that were not there in 1920; we have become full oftoxins - intoxicated - only apparently we can’t sober up! To add even more toxic, volatile poisons to this cesspoolwe carry is truly absurd! Especially if these volatile poisons do not even control the target pests! Obviously, weno longer have the normal use of our faculties. It is time to get clean and sober and use some Pestisafes ® !INTELLIGENT PEST MANAGEMENT ®<strong>The</strong> Art of War - In any war, one must have a sword (an offensive weapon) and a shield (defensive protection)- when we choose to only use volatile, synthetic pesticide poisons to “control” pests, we have no shield, noprotection and our only “weapon” is attacking us and not our enemy.In our ongoing war against home and garden pests, over 70 million American households make more than4 billion pesticide applications each and every year. At least 85% of Americans or 84.5 million householdsmaintain a poison arsenal of at least 3-4 synthetic poisons ranging from no pest strips, pesticidal shampoos,aerosols, granules, liquids and dusts. <strong>The</strong>re are over 21,000 different over-the-counter household syntheticpesticide poison products containing over 300 active ingredients and as many as 1,700 “inert” ingredients per a1990 EPA study prepared by Research Triangle Institute. <strong>The</strong> “National Home & Garden Pesticide Use Survey”found at least 75% of all American households use insecticide poisons, and consider cockroaches and ants astheir leading pest enemies.In 1993, there were over 140,000 reported pesticide poison exposures; 93% of these involved home poisonuse reported nationwide to poison control centers - about 25% had (acute) pesticide poisoning symptoms (overhalf involved children under 6).<strong>The</strong> Chinese Sage, Sun Tzu’s “<strong>The</strong> Art of War” written in China 500 B.C. clearly warned: “<strong>The</strong>re has neverbeen a protracted war from which a country has benefited.”Since the 1940s advent of volatile, synthetic pesticide poisons we have waged a protracted war againstpest populations and now our air, water, food, mother’s milk, blood, and adipose tissue all “normally”contain significant residues of these poisons, their metabolites, their “inerts” and contaminates! Wehave suffered an ever-increasing array of health effects, damages, and deaths - yet our pest “enemy” continuesnot only to flourish, but to increase. We have continually killed our own allies (the beneficials), poisoned ourown water, air, and food and, thereby, sickened, wounded or killed ourselves and our own forces and continuallyignored our enemy’s natural weaknesses and engaged in warfare using only one (useless) weapon! Wehave totally forgotten how to protect ourselves and how to successfully wage war on our pest enemy. In 1950fewer than 20 species of insects showed signs of synthetic pesticide resistance. In 1960 Rachel Carson haddocumented 137 species were resistant to at least one pesticide poison and noted it was the early rumblings ofan avalanche of synthetic pesticide resistance. By 1990 the number of documented pesticide-resistant insectand mite species was 504 and, obviously, is still increasing. In addition to insects and mites, we have manyother pesticide resistances developing, e.g., bacteria, fungus, weeds, etc.In 1993, 1 in 7 Americans got cancer. We now have spent $25 billion on cancer research (a river of gold),now 1 out of every 2 (or more) Americans will get cancer breast; cancer will be the #1 killer and prostatecancer will be the #2 killer of Americans! When I wrote this at least one in eight women was doomed toget breast cancer. Since 1960 - 2000, more than 950,000 women had died from breast cancer and almost halfof these deaths had occurred in the last 10 years! Putting this in perspective - only 617,000 Americans havedied in all the wars our country has fought during the 20th Century! Unless we desire death of our own race, wemust stop releasing tons of virtually untested, unstable, synthetic pesticide poisons that are creating a synergistic388


contamination that no one can honestly say they can truly assess all of the human health risks for and which stilldoes not even control our pest enemy! Some of the “inerts” can continue to contaminate for much longer thanthe active poison ingredients, e.g., some inerts have a half-life of greater than 880 years!Yet, the U. S. annually still blasts itself with about ½ million tons of volatile, synthetic pesticide poison activeingredients which cost $4.1 billion and provide fewer and fewer benefits. Since synthetic pesticide poisons wereintroduced into agriculture at the end of World War II, total crop losses due to insect damage (despite a tenfoldincrease in insecticide poison) have almost doubled - from 7% in the 1940s, when all agriculture was essentiallyorganic, to 13% by the end of the 1980s. In 1945 almost no insecticide poison use was used on corn and theUSDA noted insect damage only averaged about 3.5%. Despite more than one thousandfold increase in theuse of synthetic insecticide poisons on corn, losses to insects now average 12%! Entomological Journals arefilled with pesticide resistance problems developing all over the world - obviously, synthetic pesticides quicklycreate resistant or immune pests. Pestisafes ® normally do not!<strong>The</strong> clarity of Sun Tzu’s thought is still acted upon by Chinese generals of today; it is “<strong>The</strong> supreme art of waris to subdue the enemy without fighting.” This supreme art is what the author has continually developedupon in his intelligent pest management ® manual, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Control</strong>, © and this book. <strong>The</strong> Author, like Sun Tzu,believes “<strong>The</strong> skillful strategist should be able to subdue the enemy’s army without engaging it, to take his citieswithout laying siege to them, and to overthrow his State without bloodying swords”. One of Sun Tzu’s admirerswas Mao Tse Tung - in Chiang Kai-Shek’s army - most of the younger officers considered Sun Tzu’s thoughts tobe out-of-date and hardly worth study in the era of mechanized weapons. Chairman Mao Tse-Tung disagreedwith his enemy and in May, 1928 wrote “on protracted war”, selected works Vol. II page 156 that “<strong>The</strong> objectof war is specifically to preserve oneself and destroy the enemy” (to destroy the enemy means to disarm himor “deprive him of the power to resist”, and does not mean to destroy every member of his forces physically).This “truth” taken from the “Little Red Book”, contains the essence to true IPM. To use toxic, volatile poisons thatdo not preserve us, but rather destroy our own people, pets and natural allies without even diminishing, muchless destroying our pest enemy, but which in truth actually preserve our pest enemy and even prosper our pestenemy is to ensure the annihilation of those living things (including yourself) you are trying to protect and preserve!All of the guiding principles of military operations grow out of this one basic principle: to strive to theutmost to preserve one’s own strength and destroy that of the enemy . . . to release nerve gases, hormonaldisrupters, carcinogens, mutagens, etc. (poisons) into or onto one’s own ambient air, food, or water is to ensureour own defeat or destruction - while preserving that of our resistant enemy, and totally ignores the basis of allsuccessful military principles! <strong>The</strong> communist Chinese Red Army defeated General Chiang Kai-Shek using thisvery principle and Mao noted that “without preparedness - superiority is not real superiority and there can beno initiative either. Having grasped this point, a force which is inferior, but prepared can often defeat a superiorenemy by surprise attack.” I warn you our “inferior” pest enemy is already resistant to our “superior’ pesticidesand is already winning the war - common sense (which is not too common) and the use of true IPM as detailedin the Intelligent Pest Management ® manual, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Control</strong> II © and this book will yet turn the tide in our favor.EPA Exempted Ingredients - <strong>The</strong> EPA is convinced that the deregulation of low risk products is wise. Exemptedproducts should not require significant monitoring and it will not be difficult for states to identify properlyexempted products. You must, however, not add any safe product (like detergent) that is not specificallyon the exempted lists. Producers are now free to sell these materials as pesticides without prior approval orregistration with the EPA. In developing the exemption list, consideration was given to availability of the pesticidalsubstance, whether it is a common food or food constituent, whether the mode of action is non-toxic, and whetherthe substance is recognized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as safe. Other considerations wereabsence of information showing significant adverse effects, low probability of significant exposure and probablylack of persistence in the environment.EPA exempted least-toxic pesticides - You can not add 1% or less of anything other than these specificactive and inert exempted ingredients to your least-toxic or non-toxic formula or you will make yourPestisafe ® product an “unregistered pesticide”.389


<strong>The</strong>re are several restrictions. Among these are:‣ <strong>The</strong> exempted pesticide product label must specifically identify all the exempted inert ingredients of theproduct and other the percent by weight of the exempted active ingredient must be listed.‣ No false or misleading statements about the exempted product can appear on the label.‣ <strong>The</strong> product can not claim either to “control or mitigate microorganisms that pose a threat to humanhealth, including, but not limited to, disease-transmitting bacteria or viruses, or claim to control insects orrodents carrying specific diseases, including, but not limited to, the ticks that carry Lyme disease.”(Poison can legally still make these unsubstantiated claims.)Exempted Pesticide Active and Inert Ingredients — On May 6, 1996 a number of least-toxic pesticide ingredientswere exempted from EPA registration. <strong>The</strong>se pesticides have become Pestisafes ® . <strong>The</strong>y include:Exempted Pesticide Active and Inert IngredientsAcetic Acid Corn starch Lemongrass oil Rice hullsAgar Corn syrup Lime Rosemary/rosemary oilAlfalfa Cotton Limestone RubberAlfalfa meal Cottonseed meal Linseed oil Rye flourAlmond hullsCottonseed oilAlmond shells Cracked oats Malic acid Safflower oilAlpha cellulose Cracled wheat Malt flavor SawdustApple pomace Meat meal Seaweed edibleAttapulgite clay Dextrin Meat scraps Sesame/sesame oilDextrose Medicated feed ShaleBeef fat Dolomite Mica SoapstoneBees wax Douglas fir bark Milk Sodium bicarbonateBeet powder Dried blood Millet seed Sodium chloride(common salt)Bentonite Mineral oil USP Sodium lauryl sulfateBone meal Edible fish meal Mint/mint oil SorbitolBran Edible fish oil Molasses Soy flourBread crumbs Eggs Montmorillonite clay Soy proteinEgg shellsSoybean hullsCalcareous shale Eugenol Nitroen Soybean mealCalcite Nutria Meat SucroseCalcium carbonate Flour Nylon Sugar beet mealCanary seed Fuller’s earth Sunflower seedsCane syrupOatmealCarbon dioxide Garlic/garlic oil Oats TallowCardboard Gelatin Olive oil Thyme/thyme oilCarrageenan Geraniol OnionsCarrots Geranium oil Orange pulp VanillinCaseinGlue (depolymerized Oyster shellsVermiculliteanimal collagen)Castor oil Glycerin Viitamin CCedar oil Granite Paper Vitamin ECheese Grape pomace Paprika390


Chlorphyll Graphite Parrafin wax Walnut flourCinnamon/cinnamon oiil Ground oats Peanut butter Walnut shellsCitric acid Guar gum Peanut oil WaterCitronella/citronella oil Gum arabic Peanut shells WheatCitrus meal Gum ttragacarth Peanuts Wheat germ oilCitrus pectin Gypsum Peat moss WheyCitrus pulp Pecan shell flour White pepperCloves/clove oilHydrogenated vegetable PectinWintergreen oiloilsCocoa Honey Peppermint/peppermintoilCocoa shells2-Phenethyl Propionate Xanthangum(2-phenylethyl propionate)Cocoa shell flour Invert sugar Polyethylene filmCod liver oil Invert syrup Polyethylene pellets YeastCoffee groundsPotassium sorbateCookies Kaolinite clay Potatoes Zinc metal strips (consistingsolely of zincmetal and impurities)CorkPumiceCorm Lactose Putrescent whole eggsolidsCorn cobsLanolinCorn flour Lard RaisinsCorn gluten meal Latex Red cedar chipaCorn oil Lauryl sulfate Red dog flourLecithinRiceIn the following pages you will find tables for the Active Ingredients Exempted Under 25(b) of the FederalInsecticide, Fungicide, & Rodenticide Act and Inert Ingredients Eligible for FIFRA 25(b) Pesticide Products,Last Updated December 20, 2010391


Experiment - <strong>The</strong>re will always be something new. Your efforts to find a better way have to precede all yourother efforts - then share what you discover with others. Einstein noted that “the process of scientific discoveryis in effect a continual flight from wonder,” and that “everything that is really great and inspiring is created by theindividual who can labor in freedom.”Extracts - of pumpkin, cucumber, garlic and many hundreds of other plants have been found toxic to nematodeparasites and other pest species in animals and the soil. Extracts from plants have great pesticidal value andpotential as killers, repellers and/or inhibitors.Fabric Fences - Simply laying a lightweight polypropylene material, e.g., Reemay ® , over crops will keep most4-legged pests from eating the vegetables underneath. Floating row covers keep woodchucks and rabbits away- they make no effort to dig under the floating fabric or even push it aside.Fabric Softener Sheets - Bounce ® Fabric Softener Sheets worn on the belt or sticking out of your pockets mayrepel mosquitoes - a lot of old retirees in Florida swear by them. Liquid fabric softeners often contain formaldehyde,limonene, benzel acetate, benzel alcohol, ethanol and/or a-terpneol. Be careful if you have allergies.Fallowing - or simply allowing the ground to rest is just one more agricultural technique or way to control pestproblems without using “registered” poisons. It is advised that when you allow the land to lie fallow you allowit to do so under a green manure crop. G-d was the first to mandate and/or advise the use of this technique.False Hellebore - Acts as a stomach poison for insects, but remember, it was also used to dip arrow heads intoto make slight wounds fatal.False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa) - An acetone extract of flowers is repellent to chinch bugs and stripedcucumber beetles. Powdered mature pods with seeds are moderately toxic to Mexican bean beetle larvae. Asugar derivative, amorpha is effective as dust against chinch bugs, cottonaphids, squash bugs, tarnished plantbugs, potato leafhoppers, blister beetles and spotted cucumber beetles. <strong>The</strong> fruit is more insecticidal than roots.Fans - will control roaches and fruitflies in kitchens (and other aeas) if left on 24 hours a day and when usedoutside safely keep mosquitoes and biting flies at bay. To control dust and dust mites take a (square box) windowfan, using duct tape attach two furnace filters (cut to size) to the fan grills on both the intake and exhaust sides.Turn on the fan and it will filter dust and mites from the air - use activated charcoal filters and you also removeodors, pesticides and increase filtration results. Change charcoal filters as needed. See also Deodorizer.Fatty Acids of Soap (soft soap) - kill insects quickly.Fencing, Screens and Chicken Wire - all keep many pests under control. Cover rain barrel tops with a finescreen 14 to 18 wires per inch - rain water will pass through but mosquitoes can not. Use invisible fencing tokeep dogs inside an area to control deer. Fencing can be used to safely and effectively keep creatures inor used to keep creatures out.Fenugreek seeds (Trgonella foenum graecum) - In two small studies of individuals with either type 1 or type2 diabetes, fenugreek seed powder lowered blood glucose and improved levels of blood cholesterol and trigylcerides,among other beneficial effects. <strong>The</strong> active ingredient responsible for the antioiotic properties of fenugreekis in the defatted portion of the seed, which contains the alkaloid trigonelline, nicotinic acid, and coumarin.Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) - Simply chew on a leaf to stop a (migrane) headache. You can makea mosquito and fly repellent by grinding a fine powder out of feverfew (looks like clumps of miniature daisies),then apply the powder to your face and body. To make a lotion, steep 2 teaspoons of feverfew powder in a cupof brandy for 2 weeks. Add a few drops of your tincture to cold water and apply to the face and body; be sureto try this mix on a small area first. Some people are sensitive to this plant and if you are pregnant youshould avoid this plant. Side effects include canker sores and gastrointestinal distriss.Files - Nothing can help more than keeping proper records of all your inspections, treatments, monitoring, etc.in a file that does not forget.392


Film Capsule - <strong>The</strong> plastic capsule in which 35 mm film is packaged can be made into a liquid ant bait stationby drilling a 1/4” or smaller hole as close to the lip edge as possible on opposite sides. <strong>The</strong> capsule is thenfilled with 2/3’s of an ounce of 83% apple juice, 16% honey or light Karo syrup and 1% disodium octoboratetetrahydrate to just below the punch holes. Snap the lid in place and quickly invert the container. If you havedone this properly, no liquid bait leakage will occur if the container remains vertical. <strong>The</strong> liquid bait will flow intothe “trough” lid only as it is consumed by foraging ants. Place at least 8 to 10 bait stations in all areas wherecarpenter ants have been observed, but out of the reach of children and pets.Fire or Flaming - destroys weeds, ticks, insects, fungus, and old vegetation, but also buildings and biologic lifeusually only exists in any quantity in the top few inches of the soil, so be careful!Fire Extinguishers - Take an old (rebuilt) 2½-gallon stainless steel, rechargeable fire extinguisher and fill it with1½ gallons of water and any water soluble alternative; pump it up to <strong>11</strong>0# of pressure and you have a wonderfullypowerful sprayer.Fireflies - Fireflies are great predators of snails and slugs.Firewater - Mix two to four jalapeno, serrano, or habanero peppers, three cloves of garlic, and 1 quart of waterin a blender, or chop the peppers and garlic and let them steep in a clear quart jar of water set in the sun forseveral days. Strain through cheesecloth, and carefully spray as needed; repeat after rain.Firewood - Store it outside (not inside) until it is needed, away from the building and 6” above ground.Fish Oil - Omega-3 fatty acids heal arthritis in many people as well as helping prevent colds and flu or any otherautoimmune diseases.Fishberry (Anamirta cocculus) - <strong>The</strong> berry can be used as insecticide and to kill mosquito larvae and fish.Be careful!Flagyl ® - Lightly spray a mix of water and Flagyl ® on virgin cardboard and this will kill all of the microorganismsin a termite’s gut and the whole colony will starve in a few days.Flannel - Put on some homemade knee-high white flannel socks and walk through the house; fleas jump onand get caught in the nap of them; remove them with a vacuum. Flannel can be used to catch other insects.Try it on bed bugs. See duct tape.Flea Collar - For dogs only: Mix ½ c. rosemary oil, ¼ c. citronella, 2 T. white cedar oil, peppermint oil and eucalyptusoil in a covered bowl. Soak a natural fiber rope for a few hours; allow the rope to dry and then use asa dog collar.Flicker - A flicker can eat a few thousand ants per day.Floating Row Covers - Help to protect plants from insects and weather.Flour - Dusting plants that are being eaten by grasshoppers or beetles with all-purpose flour (Get some on theinsects too.) in the morning when the plants are still wet with dew will cause the insects to ingest so much flourtheir mouthparts become so gummed up they cannot eat anything, and/or they will eat so much flour they willget sick and die. After 2 days remove the flour with a fine spray of water. If you use self-rising flour, or leaveall-purpose flour on plant leaves for more than 2 days, you can kill the plants. If you are trying to kill plants, addsome salt.Flowering Mustard Plants - are used as a trap crop in fields of cole crops because flea beetles prefer mustardwhich has high concentrations of attractive oils.Fluoride - Fluoridation is linked to bone cancer (osteosarcoma) in young boys. Many studies now link fluorideuse to cancer and shortened life spans. Fluoride has been linked to many deaths, especially in children and oldpeople. Fluroide can cause DNA damage and even kills human cells. <strong>The</strong> currently accepted estimate for the393


minimum lethal dose of fluoride is 5 milligrams of fluoride for each kilogram of bodyweight. Fluoride toothpastessold in the U.S.A., including those marketed to children, contain this minimum lethal dose of fluoride. Each yearPoison <strong>Control</strong> gets thousands of reports related to excessive ingestion of fluoride. Early symptoms of acutetoxicity, e.g., gastrointestinal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excess salivation, fever, can be produced at dosesas low as 0.1 to 0.3 mg/kg. A dose as low as 5 mg/kg may be fatal for some children. This means the ingestoionof a tube can kill the average 9-year-old child and half a tube can kill a 2-year-old child. <strong>The</strong> number of ingestedfluoride supplements with vitamins necessary to kill a 2-year-old is 60 tablets and 90 tablets could kill a 5-year-old.Concentrated fluoride treatments from a dentist can be used to kill rodents when mixed in a bait. That is whyit was so dangerous when we used 1080; not only could it kill by ingestion, there was no antidote and inhaledfluoride is implicated in acute respiratory failure. Grand Rapids, Michigan was the first city to add fluoride tothe drinking water. NOTE: When the fumigant sulfuryl fluoride breaks down it forms fluoride in the soil, in yourhome or on your food.Fly Paper - Make your own: Mix ¼ c. syrup, 1 T. granulated sugar and 1 T. brown sugar in a bowl. Cut stripsof brown kraft paper and soak them in this mixture. Let dry overnight. Put a small hole in the top and hang thestrips wherever you see flies.Fly Swatters - Often the best and safest way to control a fly or individual. <strong>The</strong> main line of defense in any Pestisafe® tool box; you can whack many pests including pets and kids with a (clean) fly swatter.Fly Tapes - An old reliable way to control a lot of flies (or bats or fleas); can now be purchased in many differentforms/shapes. Some have “flies” imprinted on them, or are now in “color” to increase their initial acceptance asa “safe” resting place.Fly Traps - http://www.catchmaster.com/ and Safe Solutions Fly Traps, http://www.safesolutionsinc.com.Foam - Aerosol foam cans or better yet guns quickly caulk; fill; seal voids, cracks, crevices; around pipes, doors,and/or windows excluding many spiders, mites, insects and mammals and/or making many habitats inaccessibleor unusable. When injected into carpenter ant, bee or hornet nests, foam insulation will quickly “encapsulate”them all and turn them into instant “fossils”.Foil - Foils can be used to repel insects. Foil potato chip bags can be taped open on a wall and cockroacheswill climb into the bag but will be unable to climb out.Folic Acid - helps prevent birth defects (especially of the spinal cord), heart disease and osteoporosis in adults.Pesticides are a folic acid antagonist.Food-grade DE - This pure diatomaceous earth product from Safe Solutions, Inc. contains less than ½% silicaand is used to stop flour from caking and is what the Author recommends to kill insects, e.g., ear mites. Addingit to animal feed increases flow and decreases mold, stops insect damage, prevents maggots and increasesdigestibility of the feed and, thereby, increases food production.Formaldehyde - causes schizophrenic-type condition. See Notes in Chapter 13 and Aspartame.Formula 409 - can be used as a spray to kill insects almost immediately.Four (4) Thieves Oil - can be used as an insect repellent.Fragrance and Herbs - Place tansy near your kitchen door or where flies tend to cluster. Other repellentsinclude oil of cloves and mint springs. Set a sponge in a saucer and soak it with oil of lavender to repel flies.A pot of basil set on a window sill or table will help reduce the number of flies in the room. Mix ½ pound rosemary,½ pound mint, ¼ pound thyme, ¼ pound ginseng and 2 tablespoons cloves and put in cheesecloth bagsto be used as a sachet, or sachets of any of the following: dried lemon peels, dried lavender, bay leaves, wholecloves, cedar chips, dried rosemary and mint or whole peppercorns will repel fabric pests. Rub citronella oilon exposed areas or burn citronella candles to repel mosquitoes. Dried or fresh marigolds repel insects too.Pennyroyal, rubbed on the skin, tansy planted near a door, or basil plants will repel mosquitoes. Eucalyptus,rosemary, citronella, pennyroyal, garlic on pets to keep fleas off. Try bayberry leaves as a flea repellent on cats.394


Repel roaches with bay leaves and eucalyptus.Fragrance Oils - which are a mixture of monoterpenes and/or essential oils act as insect growth regulatorsagainst fleas. When mixed with finely crushed calcium carbonate, they can kill cockroaches. Dust formulationsget fragrance oils closer to the nervous system sites and make them more lethal. Fragrance oils also are highlyrepellent.Frankincense - Anti-bacterial, antiseptic, holy oil used in ancient times to improve communication with G-d. Enrichedextract of the Somalian frankincense herb Boswellia corteri has been shown to destroy bladder cancer cells.Freezing - kills insects by exposing them to rapid temperature change. Remember the first killing frost in the fallwhen all of the outdoor insects stopped making noise and hitting your windshield? Why? Mother Nature killedthem quickly and safely. In winter months put infested items outside in a secured or locked area in summer,put them in freezers or meat lockers and/or refrigerated trucks called “reefers” - zero degrees Fahrenheit will killall stages of insect life. Insects are cold-blooded and they are extremely sensitive to even slight temperaturechanges! This technique is inappropriate for many composite or painted objects. Most animal skins,books, papers and textiles can be frozen safely. Temperatures in the freezer should be around -20 o to -40 o C. Adeep freeze unit rather than a common household freezer should be used, and self-defrosting freezers shouldnever be used due to their low Relative Humidity. If the items have been previously stored in a cold climate orare frozen too slowly, the insects will become acclimated and may not succumb to freezing - so drop the temperatureas rapidly as possible. <strong>The</strong> object to be frozen should first be sealed in a plastic bag. Place the objectin the freezer for at least 2 weeks. Objects thicker than one foot should be left in 1 week longer. <strong>The</strong> interiorwill freeze and thaw at a slower rate than the exterior of the object. During freezing and thawing care should betaken to observe for any condensation inside the bag or on the object. Liquid nitrogen can be injected.Fresh Bay Leaves and Peeled Garlic Cloves - are natural pest repellers. Dried thyme in sachets will give yourhome a fresh aroma and when properly placed will repel silver fish and other pests.Fuel Alcohol - You can make your own fuel: http://www.ttb.gov/industrial/alcohol_fuel.shtmlFungicides - sulphur, copper, Bourdeaux mixtureAdvantages: Provides fungicidal action and disease control.Disadvantages: Toxic to mammals, wildlife, and many beneficials. Timing of application is critical.Sulphur should not be used within a month of oil sprays or when temperature is above 80 ° to 85° F.Unsafe levels may build up in soil after years of use.Fungisafes - 1 gal. warm water, 2 T. vegetable oil, 2 T. dish soap and ½ c. baking soda; mix and spray anddrench affected plants. This mix will normally not harm plants. Another recipe: 3 cloves crushed garlic, 1minced onion and 1 tsp. crushed jalapeno pepper; steep in 1 qt. warm water for several hours. Strain througha disposable coffee filter or cheesecloth. Add 1 gallon warm water and a dash of dish soap and 2 T. canola orvegetable oil. Spray this mix wherever you see rust, blackspot or any other fungus problem. Fungus problemscan also be controlled with compost tea, liquid seaweed, blackstrap molasses, apple cider vinegar, potassiumbicarbonate or garlic juice (diluted about 1 T. per 1 gal. water). You can add various combinations of thesefungus-fighting ingredients at 1 T. each, but test a few leaves first and always spray lightly during the cool partof the day. Clean your sprayer after each use. See Antibiosis.Fungal Disease <strong>Control</strong>1. A mixture of ash (2-3 kg) and 1 litre of castor oil is spread on a seed bed of a size of about 100 m2. <strong>The</strong>application is repeated 2-3 times at intervals of 7-10 days. This provides protection against soil bornediseases in tobacco nurseries.2. 2 kg of turmeric powder and 8 kg of wood ash is mixed well. This is applied over plants during earlymorning hours for treatment against powdery mildew.3. Ginger can be used at the concentration of 20 gms / litre of water and sprayed thrice at intervals of 15days. This provides protection against powdery mildew and other fungal diseases.4. A small handful of slaked lime can be applied at the base of the tomato plant. This combats damping - offdisease.5. Cattle and goat urine have fungicidal properties. Urine from animals with a vegetarian diet is said to be395


preferrable. Two cups of cattle urine with 5 ml peppermint oil and 10 litres of water can be used tocontrol fungal diseases on grapes.Furrows - Deep (dusty) furrows can be used to stop armyworms, chinch bugs, wingless May beetles, crickets andother crawling pests as they move from field to field. <strong>The</strong> loose dirt keeps them for escaping and you physicallysmash them in the furrows or bury coffee cans with soapy water dug at intervals along the bottom of the furrow.Galerucella Beetles - can be released to attack the purple loosestrife plant. One stalk of loosestrife can reach7’ in height with 30 stems and produces 2.5 million seeds. Purple loosestrife is beautiful to look at, but reallyuseless as far as wildlife is concerned.Garbage - Keep in tightly sealed containers that are routinely washed.Garlic - is one of the best-researched medicinal plants, its use dating back before Hippocrates in ancient Greece.Christopher Columbus found the Native Americans harvesting it, and Louis Pasteur described the wonderfulantibacterial properties of garlic extracts. More than 1200 scientific papers have been published in this centuryalone that suggest a wide variety of uses for garlic preparations. Whether consumed in the U. S. as a food orin a pharmaceutical-type form, garlic remains extremely popular, with annual U. S. sales of over $100 million.Recent studies on garlic’s cardiovascular effects have focused on the sulfur compounds called thiosulfinates.It is suggested that these compounds are primarily responsible for garlic’s potency and for its effectiveness indecreasing the production of cholesterol and lowering blood presssure. Studies suggest that garlic may inhibitfatty acid synthesis and decrease cholesterolgenesis in liver cells, and may reduce total cholesterol, triglyceridesand LDL-cholesterol levels. In some cases it may also improve levels of HDL-cholesterol, the so-called “good”cholesterol. Garlic decreases the risk of developing colorectal, prostate, liver, breast, skin and digestive tractcancer. For maximum benefit you need to ingest 3 medium cloves of fresh garlic daily. Garlic boosts the immunesystem and helps reduce the pain of arthritis and contains sulphur which helps your liver detoxify a widerange of poisonous compounds.Garlic improves the taste of food. Garlic repels most insect pests. When it is diluted with water, garlic can besprayed on plants weekly to prevent many pest infestations. Garlic contains a sulphur compound that is an excellentnatural antibiotic and a fungicide (<strong>Control</strong>ling rust, blackspot and other fungal diseases.). Don’t forget toproperly weed, organically fertilize, water and space your plants. Puree 5 - 6 garlic cloves with 2 cups of waterand a few hot chili peppers in a blender, strain, add a few drops of liquid soap - spray to repel a wide variety ofpests including deer and to kill or prevent fungal diseases. To make garlic/pepper tea, liquefy 2 bulbs of garlicand 2 hot peppers in a blender 1/2 to 2/3 full of water. Strain the solids and add enough water to make 1 gallonof concentrate. Mix at a rate of 1/4 cup of this concentrate per gallon of water. As a “kicker” - add 2 tablespoonsof vegetable oil or horticultural oil per gallon of the mix. To make garlic tea - simply omit the hot peppers andadd another bulb of garlic. Garlic keeps insects off your plants without dangerous synthetic insecticide poisons.Garlic is highly systemic for translocating nutrients. Garlic normally will not wash off plants because of thesystemic or absorption factor. Garlic can be applied in furrow, foliar, or as a transplant solution. Approved fororganic use. Safe for people, animals, and the environment. Synergistic with other liquid materials-blood meal,bone meal, sulfate of potash, seaweed, fish emulsion, biologicals, corn syrup, molasses, etc. Increases healthand yield. Works naturally to repel insects and/or kill others, especially caterpillars and larvae. Insects neverbecome immune to garlic. Scent disappears from human detection in minutes. Garlic preserves beneficialinsects so they can do their job, and does not leave a hint of garlic taste on food crops. Repels mosquitoes for1 - 2 months. One gallon of 100% garlic juice will cover 20 acres - when diluted and sprayed. “One clove ofgarlic, one onion, one tablespoon of cayenne pepper and a quart of water. Steep for one hour, add a tablespoonof liquid soap and spray it around the house” for ant and roach control. Garlic may slow bladder cancer in miceand improves the taste of many food items, and is said to repel some blood-feeding insects when eaten. Garlichas been used as an antibiotic to control wounds before World War I and has been used in herbal medicine formillennia. Garlic barriers repel ants, earwigs, spiders, aphids, grasshoppers, loopers, etc. Growing garlic alsocreates an aroma around vulnerable plants that creates a fungus-free zone. CAUTION: Garlic will also killand repel some beneficial insects, e.g., lacewings and syrphid flies which prey on pest insects, and isphytotoxic to Littleleaf Linden leaves.Plant garlic next to peach trees as close to the trunk as possible to keep peach borers from killing your trees.At the first sign of a cold or flu, pop a garlic clove in your mouth and chew. You may not be the most popular396


person in your house, but you’ll feel a lot better. Scores of studies confirm garlic’s ability to create a fungus-freezone, to kill germs, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and prevent blood clots. <strong>The</strong> allicin in garlic confusesthe sensory receptors in insects and repels deer, rabbits and geese.Garlic Oil - Garlic (Allium sativum) a member of the lily family, has been used for thousands of years in treatingcoughs, colds, chronic bronchitis, toothache, earache, dandruff, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis and otherailments. In addition, garlic has been used as an insect and bird repellent on plants. Gardeners have been usinghomemade garlic preparations as insecticides for many years to protect flowers, greenhouses, gardens, lawns,ornamentals, trees and vine crops. Simmer several cloves of garlic in cooking oil for about an hour, cool, strainand spray. Although garlic does kill pest insects and some pathogens, it also kills many beneficial insects andmicrobes. Garlic oil also contains the volatile compounds allicin, citral, geraniol and linalool, which are known tohave insecticidal properties. Garlic solutions have been reported to destroy four species of larval mosquitoes,as well as boll weevils, aphids, the cabbage-butterfly caterpillar and larvae of the Colorado potato beetle. Garlicoil sprays also repel many insect pests including white flies, thrips, grasshoppers, spiders, spider mites, leafloopers, leafhoppers, ants, aphids and mosquitoes - spray every few days - the odor goes away in minutes andleaves no aftertaste on produce - spray before the bugs arrive! Garlic oil also repels slugs and snails, or causesthem to create so much mucus they literally dry up. <strong>The</strong>re are now commercial garlic oil dispensers that canbe hung 4-6 feet apart to repel deer and rabbits from an area. To make your own garlic oil: finely chop or crush10 -15 garlic cloves and soak them in one pint of mineral oil for 24 hours. Strain and spray as is, or dilute witha few drops of soap in water. Garlic will protect the kidneys and help eliminate heavy metals.Garlic/Pepper Spray - Smash 6 unpeeled garlic bulbs and place them in a 1 quart jar with a lid; add 1 tablespoonpowdered/crushed hot peppers. Cap. Set in the sun for a few days. Another variation is to dissolve a half cakeof Octagon Soap in a gallon of hot water, add 2 mashed garlic bulbs and stir in 4 teaspoons of red pepper for anadded control. Strain liquid and spray to control flea beetles and other pests. Remember, water-based sprayscan damage plant leaves if applied on a sunny day.Garlic Powder - 2 tablespoons of garlic powder in a horse’s food per day will keep the flies off that horse.Gatorade - Drinking 2 glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain, almost immediately, without the unpleasantside effects caused by traditional pain relievers.Geese - have been used for generations to selectively weed gardens and orchards of narrow-bladed plants.<strong>The</strong>y will “mow” your yard. Contain them with 3-feet tall chicken wire fence. See Chapter 35.General Pest Spray - 1 c. grated or liquid castile soap, 1 c. coarsely chopped tobacco leaves (fresh or cured),3 c. boiling water (divided), 1 entire bulb (not just 1 clove) garlic (peeled, crushed/chopped), 1 c. chopped freshtansy (optional). In a bowl: Dissolve soap in 1 c. boiling water; set aside. In a blender: Pour remainder of boilingwater over tobacco leaves; let set for 10 minutes or so. Add garlic and tansy (if available) and whirl untilsmooth. Strain through cheesecloth; discard solid materials. Add liquid soap to mixture and stir; pour into aspray bottle. To use: Spray the herbal liquid at early morning and dusk for 3 days in a row. Apply as needed,but be very careful.Geotextile Fabric - will control weeds in gardens, along fences, under decks, etc. while allowing water and airto reach the soil.Geranium Oil - will attract Japanese beetles and repel mosquitoes and other biting insects.Get the Facts - Find out exactly what the problem is before you start to work your plan.Gin - Mix 1 ounce gin, 1 ounce apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon baby shampoo in 1 quart of water and sprayunwanted weeks on a hot, sunny day. Repeat as needed.Ginger (Zingiber officinale) - Wild ginger contains a broad-spectrum antibiotic active against both fungi andbacteria. Ginger root tea relieves nausea and motion sickness. Did your mother give you ginger ale when youhad an upset tummy? If so, her instincts were medically sound. Ginger contains chemicals similar to digestiveenzymes, which calm stomach spasms and break down proteins. 1 oz. fresh ginger in a cloth bag can be put in397


a pool to control algae and keep the pool fresh smelling and silky. Ordinary powdered ginger destroyed humanovarian cells in a laboratory experiment of the University of Michigan.Gingko - Protects and preserves the brain as well as peripheral circulation.Glass - Put pieces of glass over a plowed field; they act like mini-greenhouses; when you see sprouting seedlingsemerging under the glass, you are 3 - 4 days away from field emergence. This is the best time to flamethe field. A flamer in Europe costs about $6,000 to buy and $2,000 to ship and about $30 an acre to use. Smallplots can use a propane torch which costs under $50. Securely place a piece of plate glass or a clear glassbowl over a yellowjacket nest entrance hole at night using only a red light. <strong>The</strong> yellowjackets will not be able toget out; they still can see the blue sky during the day so they usually will not try to dig out a new entrance holeand will starve to death in a few weeks.Glueboards - can be used to safely and effectively catch rodents, bats, stinging insects and crawling creatures,even snakes.Glycerol - A/K/A glycerin or glycerine, glyceritol and glycyl alcohol is colorless, odorless, hygroscopic and sweettasing liquid. Glycerol is a sugar alcohol that is soluble in water. Safe Solutions uses only pure vegetable glycerolthat is specifically labeled for use in food (E422). It attracts insects and has been used as a livestock teatdip and to soften skin and delay the evaporation of water and keeps the hair moist. Insects produce glycerol,which prevents ice crystals from forming in their cells. It acts as a surfactant.Goats - Grazing goats actually relish eating toxic “weeds” like poison sumac, poison ivy and poison oak.Gold - <strong>The</strong> color gold attracts flies; add some glue and/or food-grade DE and you will have an excellent trap.Gold fish or Koi or Gambusia Minnows or Tilapia or Guppies - will feed on mosquito larvae.Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadenis) - <strong>The</strong> root of goldenseal contains berberine, an antibiotic with broadspectrum anti-bacterial and anti-protozoa activity. Try to use it in termite bait stations (or mud tubes) for nontoxictermite control. You can make a goldenseal linament by adding 1 T. goldenseal root powder, 1 T. myrrhpowder, 1 T. oak bark powder to 2 c. isopropyl alcohol in a sealed glass jar. Shake daily and let steep for atleast 2 weeks; then strain and put mixture in a sealed bottle. <strong>The</strong> linament will last virtually indefinitely andwill alleviate poison ivy, insect bites, ringworm, rashes and/or abrasions.Gopher Spurge (Euphorbia latyrus) - <strong>The</strong> plant is said to produce an acrid milky juice in its roots that gopherscannot stand. It is said one should plant several of these plants in the yard and garden to discourage the pests.Grapefruit juice - will kill even pesticide-resistent species. Naringenin found in grapefruit inhibits a group ofenzymes called cytochromes P450 which are primarily responsible for metabolizing toxic substances and byremoving toxins from the blood, but it can also adversely effect you if you are exposed to some medications orpesticide poison.Grass Clippings - are 85% water, decompose rapidly, return nutrients to the soil with no thatch buildup. <strong>The</strong>yactually return 20% if their nitrogen to the soil so using a mulching mower cuts down on lawn maintenance andmakes your grass greener..Gravel - rodents that tunnel will not penetrate a wall (buried) of gravel or small stones.Grazing - with sheep and goats and ducks can suppress many undesirable plants.Grease - Pour bacon grease or hamburger fat into empty tuna cans until 25% full. Place outside and catchearwigs who crawl in but not out. Grease can also be used to attract raccoons into your live traps.Green Lacewings (Chrysopa carnea) - Are delicate, broad winged insects of pale green color with eyes ofbright, metallic gold and wings of transparent green membrane. Adults are ½” to ¾” in length! <strong>The</strong>y have acharacteristic fluttering flight. <strong>The</strong>y rise in great numbers when crops are disturbed. <strong>The</strong>ir larvae are called“aphid lions” that feed on virtually every pest that moves on the crop. <strong>The</strong> larvae are broad and squat and have398


slender sickle-shaped jaws. <strong>The</strong>y approach aphids, plunge their jaws into them and suck out all of their juices.<strong>The</strong>y are active searchers. <strong>The</strong>y destroy aphids, spider and red mites, leafhoppers, thrips, moth eggs, whitefliesand caterpillars.Green Manure Crop - Green manure plants are one of the best ways to economically build and/or improve yoursoil’s fertility and organic matter content. One of the most important sources of organic matter is plant roots,so plant alfalfa, barley, beggarweed, clover, buckwheat, cowpea, rye grass, field peas, kudzu, soybeans, rape,oats, millet or any number of plants or even weeds and then plow them under.Green Tea - Camellia sinesis has tea tannins or polyphenols that are strong anti-carcinogens that protectagainst oxidation and have anti-bacterial, anti-inflammation, anti-microbial and anti-viral properties. Use greentea to control ear mites; flush the ears with green tea and then add a few drops of olive oil. Cleaning productscontaining green tea are better able to permeate the skin and can help relieve and improve skin conditions andwill even remove dandruff.Grits - Sometimes if you feed ants and other insects some instant grits they will expand in ant bodies and kill them.Ground beetles - can live for 2 - 3 years; the larvae feed on other ground living larvae and insect eggs. <strong>The</strong>yare partial to cutworms, gypsy moth larvae, root maggots, slugs and snails. <strong>The</strong>y are nocturnal hunters.Ground Covers - e.g., artemisias, lilies of the valley, ferns, iris, daylilies, violets, pachysandra, crownvetch,myrtle and vinca, are helpful in smothering weeds.Ground-up Coconuts - When used as soil, ground-up coconuts have no destructive nematodes to inhibit growthor cause disease. Replace the soil with ground-up coconuts when you grow strawberries and tomatoes or ingreenhouses, etc. and you will never need to resort to soil fumigation.Guinea Hens or Guinea Fowl - <strong>The</strong> domesticated Guinea hens (cousins of pheasants) are often used for pestcontrol. Guinea hens are meat eaters and will rid your property of many pests, e.g., ticks, slugs, Japanesebeetles, grasshoppers, mice, rats, snakes and most bugs in the garden or yard. <strong>The</strong>y have an acute awarenessof predators and will act as watch dogs day or night to alert you of predators or unfamiliar people withintheir habitats. Guinea hens do all this and still leave your plants, vines and garden foliage basically unharmed.Try a pair today.Gum - It has been said that an unchewed stick of Juicy Fruit ® gum placed in a tunnel may kill a mole or a molecricket, but I have never seen it work.Habitat Reduction - Remove the conditions conducive to pest infestation, humidity, food, hiding places, access,etc. Remove diseased plants a.s.a.p. and do not let branches touch or overhang the buildings.Hair - Human and dog hair repel many animals, e.g., deer, and, when cut into very small pieces, it can kill snailsand slugs.Hair Dryers - can be used to control fungus and roaches and other pests - simply direct the hot, dry air at themor where they hide and see what happens next.Hair Spray or Spray Adhesive - When sprayed directly on most insects will kill them but be careful not to breathethe fumes yourself. Caution: <strong>The</strong> spray is also very flammable.Hand Removal - When I was a very young man I kept our potato patch free of potato bugs by hand removal ofthe eggs, larvae and adult stages. When you hand pick pests, be sure you wear gloves.Hand Sanitizer - will attract and kill vinegar/fruit flies and will preserve small soft-bodied insect and arachnidspecimens.Hawaiian Kava - Make a tea (strained) and reduce your tension level.399


Hawthorne Extract - will guard your heart. Heart disease is the number one killer in America. See Chapter 41.Healthy Plants - Purchase stocky, dark green transplants, certified virus-free seed, potatoes and fruit. All healthyplants contain compounds that naturally make them resistant and/or toxic to many pests. Healthy, strong plantsresist stress, pests, diseases, etc. better than sick, weak plants.Healthy Soil - In the rush to plant, this important step is often overlooked; yet it can make the entire differencebetween a productive and a so-so garden. Many insects are attracted to unhealthy, poorly growing plants. Poorlygrowing plants also recover more slowly from insect injury. Have a soil test and follow the recommendationsto supply a full range of nutrients. Adding extra fertilizer won’t create healthy soil, because excess nitrogen orphosphorus can promote insect and disease injuries. Add organic matter to the soil each year in the form of soilamendments or mulch.“I suspect that the insects which have harassed you have been encouraged by the feebleness of yourplants... produced by the lean state of your soil... When earth is rich, it bids defiance to droughts [and]yields in abundance.” Thomas Jefferson, 1793, in a letter to his daughter.Heat - It has been estimated that for every 10 degree Celsius increase in temperature insects must increasetheir respiration and activity 10 fold! When insects are exposed to high temperatures, death normally is causedby this increased energy output, by the coagulation of soluble proteins in the body tissues and when the bodyfluids are dehydrated. Turn up the heat and kill your pests.Heating - is similar to freezing in that an infested item is exposed to a temperature extreme that will kill insects.Heating refrigerated trucks or “reefers” outdoors up to 60 o F. internally while there are sub-below temperaturesoutside will effectively fumigate them. Heating is not recommended for all materials. Any insect can bekilled by subjecting it to high temperatures for an extended period of time. Temperatures over 140 o F. for 1 to4 hours will kill most insects. Wood infested with powder post beetles can be killed by heating the wood to185 o F. for 10 hours. However, many materials are easily damaged by high heat. For bulk paper supplies suchas copier paper and similar materials, this treatment is very effective. Copier paper boxes are often infested withsilverfish. Infested boxes can be heat treated prior to using the contents. Treatment procedures may includesealing the infested materials in a black plastic garbage bag (and then placing that inside another black bag toincreased the ability of the container to hold heat). Each bag should be individually sealed. <strong>The</strong> bagged materialscan then be placed in the sun for 8 hours on a hot summer day. Once the materials cool down, they may beremoved from the bag. Treatment using an oven should never be attempted. Propane or blow torches and/orboiling water or steam control weeds without contamination. Be careful not to get burned.Hedgehogs - a/k/a urchin, hedgepid and furze-pig. <strong>The</strong>re are 165 species of hedgehogs in 5 genera. <strong>The</strong>yare primarily nocturnal. <strong>The</strong>y are insectivores, but are virtually omnivorous. A single hedgehog will eat up to200 grams of insects each night from your garden and/or home. <strong>The</strong>y will also eat worms, snails, toads, frogs,snakes, bird eggs, carion, mushrooms and fruit.Hedgerows - A natural border of trees and brush between fields create bird havens, act as windbreaks andprevent wind erosion. Birds provide marvelous insect control.Heinz Vinegar to Heal Bruises - Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. <strong>The</strong>vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.Hemlock Oil - like that found in Ced-O-Flora plant spray, controls mealybugs, spider mites, scales and aphids.Hemp - Naturally resistent to pests, it repels cabbage maggot/cabbage moth, but attracts law enforcement people.Herbal Cautions - As a general rule, pregnant women should avoid herbs. Watch for any side effects you mayexperience with any new food, herb or medicine. Unpleasant reactions can include dizziness, headache, nausea,etc. Beware of the dangers some interactions may cause you such as drug/drug, drug/herb, drug/food, herb/herb,herb/food, even food/food. Try not to get dependent on any substance. Pulse treatments are usually the best.Herbal Mosquito Repellent - T Bhuvaneswaramma, a resident of Chennai, cliams to have developed a mosquito400


epellent that contains only natural materials and not any chemicals. <strong>The</strong> leaves of the plant Vitex negundo(commonly known as sambhalu) are dried and powdered. About 100 grammes of broken rice and one litre ofwater is cooked and left to cool. This solution is mixed with the powdered leaves. Sugarcane waste (baggase)and charcoal powder is added to this dough, which can be made into different shapes and then again dried inthe sun. According to Bhuvaneswaramma, the effect of the repellent can ward off mosquitoes for around sevenhours. He adds that since the materials used are available locally, villagers can themselves prepare this repellent.Herbal Remedies - Most have been used successfully and safely and economically for over 4000years, but:ESSAY; Diet Supplements and Safety: Some Disquieting DataBy DAN HURLEYPublished: January 16, 2007Since 1983, the American Association of Poison <strong>Control</strong> Centers has kept statistics on reports of poisonings forevery type of substance, including dietary supplements. That first year, there were 14,006 reports related to theuse of vitamins, minerals, essential oils — which are not classified as a dietary supplement but are widely soldin supplement stores for a variety of uses — and homeopathic remedies. Herbs were not categorized that year,because they were rarely used then.By 2005, the number had grown ninefold: 125,595 incidents were reported related to vitamins, minerals, essentialoils, herbs and other supplements. In all, over the 23-year span, the association — a national organizationof state and local poison centers — has received more than 1.6 million reports of exposures to such products,including 251,799 that were serious enough to require hospitalization. From 1983 to 2004 there were 230 reporteddeaths from supplements, with the yearly numbers rising from 4 in 1994, the year the supplement billpassed, to a record 27 in 2005.<strong>The</strong> number of deaths may be far higher. In April 2004, the Food and Drug Administration said it had received260 reports of deaths associated with herbs and other nonvitamin, nonmineral supplements since 1989. But anunpublished study prepared in 2000 for the agency by Dr. Alexander M. Walker, then the chairman of epidemiologyat the Harvard School of Public Health, concluded: “A best estimate is that less than 1 percent of seriousadverse events caused by dietary supplements is reported to the F.D.A. <strong>The</strong> true proportion may well be smallerby an order of magnitude or more.”<strong>The</strong> supplements with the most exposures in 2005, according to the poison control centers, were ordinary vitamins,accounting for nearly half of all the reports received that year, 62,446, including 1 death. Minerals werelinked to about half as many total reports, 32,098, but that number included 13 deaths. Herbs and other specialtyproducts accounted for still fewer total reports, 23,769, but 13 deaths. Essential oils were linked to 7,282 reportsand no deaths.Among herbs and other specialty products, melatonin and homeopathic products — prepared from minusculeamounts of substances as diverse as salt and snake venom — had the most reports of exposures in 2005. <strong>The</strong>poison centers received 2,001 reports of exposures to melatonin, marketed as a sleep aid, including 535 hospitalizationsand 4 deaths. Homeopathic products, often marketed as being safe because the doses are very low,were linked to 7,049 exposures, including 564 hospitalizations and 2 deaths.But most other types of herbs and specialty supplements also appear in the annual report. In 2005, the poisoncenters received 203 reports of exposures to St. John’s wort, including 79 hospitalizations and 1 death. Glucosamine,with or without chondroitin, was linked to 813 exposures, including 108 hospitalizations and 1 death.Echinacea was linked to 483 exposures, including 55 hospitalizations, 1 of them considered life-threatening.Saw palmetto was not listed on the report.Injuries to children under 6 account for nearly three-quarters of all the reports of exposures to dietary supplements,according to the poison centers. In 2005, the most recent year for which figures are available, 48,604children suffered exposures to vitamins alone, the ninth-largest category of substances associated with exposuresin that age group.Major medical groups and government agencies do not generally recommend vitamin or mineral supplements401


for children who are otherwise healthy. However, an analysis of the National Maternal and Infant Health Survey,published in the journal Pediatrics in 1997, found that 54 percent of parents of preschool children gave them avitamin or mineral supplement at least three days a week.Advocates of the products correctly point out that the poison centers’ figures do not prove a causal link betweena product and a reaction and that, in any case, far more people are injured and killed by drugs. Painkillers alonewere associated with 283,253 exposures in 2005, according to the poison centers, more than twice as many aswith supplements. But only 3.5 percent of those exposures occurred when people took the prescribed amountof painkiller; most were from overdoses, either accidental or intentional. <strong>The</strong> same was true of asthma drugs(3.6 percent of exposures were associated with the prescribed dose) and cough and cold drugs (3.1 percent).While problems with vitamins, minerals and essential oils occurred at similarly low levels when people took therecommended amounts, exposures linked to the recommended levels of herbs, homeopathic products andother dietary supplements accounted for 10.3 percent of all exposures to those products reported to the poisoncenters — about three times the level seen for most drugs.Drugs marketed in the U.S. go through a rigorous F.D.A. approval process to prove that they are effective for aparticular indication, with the potential risks balanced against the benefits. While the approval process has comeunder attack in recent years as unduly favorable to drug companies, it remains among the toughest in the world.<strong>The</strong>re is no comparable requirement for supplements. Even so, hundreds of millions of tax dollars have beenspent since the early 1990s on hundreds of studies to test the possible benefits of supplements. <strong>The</strong> NationalCenter for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, established by Congress in 1991 to “investigate and validateunconventional medical practices,” has a 2007 budget of more than $120 million.Since April 2002, five large randomized trials financed by the center have found no significant benefit for St.John’s wort against major depression, echinacea against the common cold, saw palmetto for enlarged prostate,the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin for arthritis, or black cohosh and other herbs for the hot flashesassociated with menopause.A new source of data on exposures to dietary supplements will soon become available: in December, Congresspassed a measure requiring the manufacturers of dietary supplements and over-the-counter drugs to inform theF.D.A. whenever consumers call them with reports of serious adverse events. <strong>The</strong> bill was signed by PresidentBush the day after Christmas. It is a welcome acknowledgment that “natural” does not always mean “safe.”<strong>The</strong> supplements linked to the most reactions in 2005, according to the poison control centers, were ordinaryvitamins, accounting for nearly half of all the reports received that year, 62,446, including 1 death. Minerals werelinked to about half as many total reports, 32,098, but that number included 13 deaths. Herbs and other specialtyproducts accounted for still fewer total reports, 23,769, but 13 deaths. Essential oils were linked to 7,282 reportsand no deaths. Always test a small area before you treat the entire area and always test a small amount beforeyou ingest or apply larger amounts. It is known some people are allergic to peanuts and milk. As a generalrule, pregnant women should avoid contact with herbs.Herbal Tea Sprays - After preparing the following plants in a water solution:Burdock - Has been used against June beetle grubs.Camomile - Against damping-off in greenhouses and cold frames.Cayenne Pepper - Against caterpillars and fleas.Chive - Against leaf and fruit scab.Elderberry Leaves - <strong>Control</strong>s blight, caterpillars and flea beetles.Garlic and Onion - Against late blight on tomato and potato and brown rot of stone fruit; red spidersand aphids. This mix is also a powerful antibacterial product that destroys many plant diseases.Gooseberry - Against mildew.Horseradish - Against fungi.Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) - Against mildew and other fungi, especially on grapevines, vegetables,fruit trees and rose bushes.Hyssop - Against bacterial diseases.Pumpkin or Squash Leaves, Freshly Cut, a decotion of black walnut leaves soaked overnight or an402


infusion of pignut leaves, rubbed on horses or cattle will repel fliesRhubarb - Against club root, greenfly and blackspot.Stinging Nettle - Against plant lice (aphids).Tomato Leaves - Against aphids, grasshoppers, caterpillars and flies.Wormwood - Against leaf-eating caterpillars on fruit trees and aphids.NOTE: Many herbs, through their essential oils, have natural insecticidal, fungicidal andbactericidal properties.Herbivorous Fish - Julien (1992) lists eleven species of fish that have been introduced for the biological controlof water weeds and algae.Herbs/Herbal Pillows - can be used to repel flies, fleas, mice, roaches and many other pests. Horsebalm,cardamon, tea tree, spearmint, rosemary, eucalyptus and sage are herbs that can and do naturally inhibitcholinesterases in mammals, so be very careful.Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (HP 88): Among the most important beneficial nematodes, H. bacteriophoraattack insect larvae especially root weevils. This “cruiser” specie is less effective in cooler temperatures, souse above 20 degrees C. <strong>The</strong> main beneficial nematodes are Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditisbacteriophora. If you have these two handy to spread on your property then most of the harmful insects will betaken care of. However, there are others that seem to specialize as to insects they parasitize. Although thereis a right beneficial nematode for that varmit you want out of your lawn and garden, there is not a way right nowto get them all commerically.High Places - German cockroaches like high places, so put your baits on top of kitchen cabinets.Hike or walk - around the exterior and inspect the vents, weep holes, seals, screens, doors, caulking, siding,gutters, downspouts, exterior and ground and pretend you are a pest trying to invade the structure.Hoes - A very ancient and extremely effective way to remove weeds from your garden or yard.Hollow Tubes - Paint 1-foot long hollow tubes, straws or bamboo green and place them side by side under lowgrowing shrubs and bushes to catch earwigs, cutworms and other pests. In the morning, empty the tubes intosoapy water.Home-made “Pesticides” - Make your own by blending ½ cup hot peppers and/or garlic with 2 cups waterand spraying it on infested plants; another mix could be 1 cup enzyme cleaners in water or 2 teaspoons of dishwashing liquid with a few drops of vegetable oil in 1 gallon of water; or use a blender and blend 1 quart of water,2 - 4 hot peppers and 3 - 5 cloves of garlic, blend, strain and spray on plants - thoroughly wash vegetablesbefore eating. See also mint, soap, rhubarb, stinging nettle, baking soda, buttermilk, vinegar and plain water.We prefer to call these mixes Pestisafes ® .Honey Remedy for Skin Blemishes - Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it.Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile and speeds healing. Works overnight. Honey has been shownto have an anti-microbial effect against many bacteria and fungi and will attract most sweet eaters to your baits/traps. Honey does not spoil because there is so much sugar in it that bacteria cannot grow. Use it to help heal awound or to make irresistable baits. Honey will heal infected wounds and is effective against antibiotic-resistantbacteria. Honey releases low levels of hydrogen peroxide and some honeys have an additional phytochemical,anti-bacterial component. Honey has been an ancient remedy for treating infested wounds. When diluted bywater or wound exudate, honey contains an enzyme that now produces hydrogen peroxide. Honey will also helpheal burns; sugar does not work as well. Staphyloccus aureus wounds are quickly rendered sterile. Allergicreactions to honey are attributed to a reaction to a specific pollen in some honeys.Honor - For honorable human beings, doing what is right and necessary is dearer than life itself. “What is notdone for love is done for money.” Psalm 55:12-16Hopperdozer - consists of a long, narrow, shallow trough filled with soapy water with a vertical shield at the403


ack of the trough, mounted on runners and is drawn across fields to catch grasshoppers who fly up to avoidthe hopperdozer, hitting the shield and falling into the soapy water to drown. 8 bushels of grasshoppers havebeen caught per acre. A smaller version can be used for flea beetles in vegetable gardens.Horizontal Transfer - Secondary kill or horizontal transfer occurs when a pest, e.g., a roach, eats a slow-acting“poison” bait and then dies inside a harborage area that you can not reach to treat. <strong>The</strong> other pest will cannibalizetheir former colleague and die.Horse Chestnut - Helps keep painful varicose veins from forming and helps prevent swelling of arthritic joints.Horseradish - mixed in water will repel potato bugs. Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 tablespoonhorseradish in 1 cup olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes; then apply it as a massage oil for instant relieffor aching muscles.Horseradish leaves - are known to have fungus-fighting properties, especially against brown rot on fruit trees.Mush the leaves or blend them to extract their juice, then strain and spray on plants and trees. You can usethem in salads in spring when they are tender.Horsetail - (Equisetum arvense- L.) An infusion of Horsetail sprayed on plants may help prevent fungal diseases.Horticultural Oils - include dormant oils, suffocating oils and summer oils. <strong>The</strong>y are used as insect smotheringor suffocating agents. Horticultural oils are summer oils. Several things distinguish summer oils from dormantoils. Summer oils leave more unsulfonated residues and are less likely to burn tender plants. Summer oilsare mixed with wax and can be used as a leaf polish and have good “spreading” properties and are safer andeasier to use.Hose-end Sprayers - can be used to spray diluted enzyme cleaners or peppermint soap or dish soap to controlearwigs around the foundation, to spray lawns, hornets, trees, bushes, etc. with diluted enzyme cleaners tocontrol fungus, insects, mold, etc. wherever the spray will reach.Hot Air - quickly kills many insects, e.g., roaches - take a hair dryer or commercial tile softener and direct thehot air into cracks and crevices and watch what happens to the roaches. You can destroy non-subterraneantermite colonies with hot air if you can locate the nest and treat the galleries with hot air. Other (moisture loving)insects and wood decay may also be quickly controlled, but be sure you don’t start a fire and remember to atleast wear a mask to protect you from the asbestos and other flying debris. Caution: If you use a heat gun,use it with a PVC collar to help prevent burns.Hot Pepper - Blend ½ c. of hot peppers with 2 c. of water. Strain and spray. Caution: Hot peppers can burnskin and eyes. Pepper sprays used to repel bears may actually attract them.Hot Sauce - Mix half and half with water and spray to repel roaches.Hot Water - Dip fruit into plain hot water (43 - 49 o C.) for a few minutes and you can safely and cheaply controlor kill the larvae and the eggs of many species of fruit fly and other fruit pests.House Plants - provide oxygen and are the quickest and most effective filters of common, dangerous air pollutants,e.g., mold, bacteria, mildew, formaldehyde, benzene, xylene and ammonia. <strong>The</strong>y act as the lungs andkidneys of the building. If you grow the plants hydroponically in soil-free pebbles and water or cover the soilwith gravel, you eliminate soil mold and mildew spores and fungus gnats.Hover Flies - or syrprid flies or flower flies, the adults resemble bees and help pollinate. <strong>The</strong> hover fly’s slug-likemaggots can consume an aphid a minute for extended periods of time.Human Enablers - will feed the pest and release trapped pests and provide pests with shelter; they must betrained not to do so.404


Human Hair - cut in small pieces will stop slugs and snails. Human hair will usually repel deer and squirrels.Get some from a barber shop.Humidity Reduction - Virtually all wood destroying organisms and many other pest problems will be controlledin a direct proportion to your reduction of the humidity and moisture content/problems. See Dehumidifiers.Humor - Studies prove that teaching effectiveness is significantly related to how funny the teacher is perceived.Hunt’s Tomato Paste - is said to be a boil cure. Cover the boil with tomato paste as a compress. <strong>The</strong> acidsfrom the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.Hydrated or slaked lime (Calcium hydroxide) - will kill snails and slugs - use a coffee can with small holespunched in the base - fill with hydrated lime (mist plants) and sprinkle this caustic pesticide and fungicide onthe moist plants or try baking soda.Hydraulic Cement - Use this material to patch holes even with water coming in; mix with corn meal 50/50 tokill mice.Hydrogen Peroxide - <strong>The</strong> human body produces hydrogen peroxide in the immune system as the first line ofdefense against various microorganisms that have invaded it. H 2O 2has been described in medical literature as adisinfectant, antiseptic and oxidizer. H 2O 2increases the flow of blood and oxides the sick, weakened and dyingcells while simultaneously strengthening healthy cells. <strong>The</strong> human body uses H 2O 2in metabolizing fats, vitamins,minerals, proteins and carbohydrates. Anaerobic microbes are unable to live in an oxygen-rich environment.H 2O 2is an antimicrobial agent that reduces or kills viruses, bacteria, pathogens, fungi, parasites, yeast, algae andendospores in and out of the body. <strong>The</strong> USDA has approved H 2O 2as a food additive in some foods. H 2O 2canbe used to purify drinking water and water so treated also will kill parasites in the digestive system. H 2O 2is sopowerful in killing bacteria and viruses that it is routinely added to residential and industrial sewage and wastewater to make them safe enough to return the treated water to the natural environment. Note: Chlorination indrinking water decreases the oxygen in the water. Excessive use of synthetic antibiotics destroys the beneficialoxygen-creating bacteria of the intestinal tract. It is obvious to the Author why asthma, emphysema and lungdisease are on the rise, especially when you consider our atmosphere was 35% oxygen just 200 years ago, andtoday it is a mere 19%! Add a little H 2O 2to your water today. Mix 8 oz. black strap molasses or white sugar and8 oz. of 3% H 2O 2in 1 gal. water and spray as an insecticide spray; it can also be used for odor control. Feelingbad? <strong>The</strong> Author has been told to try the following: Put 1 pt. 3% H 2O 2in a 1 gal. (steam) vaporizer; fill the restof the reservoir with water. Plug in and breathe the vapors overnight. A constant low level of hydrogen peroxidein the water will control many algae problems. Also read the use of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to disinfect.• Try taking 1 capful of 3% hydrogen peroxide as mouthwash and holding in your mouth for 10 minutes daily;then spit it out. Your canker sores will be healed and your teeth will be whiter.• You can use 3% hydrogen peroxide to kill salmonella and other bacteria.• To remove fungus, spray a 50/50 mixture of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water on your feet and the toesevery night and let dry - .• Spray 3% hydrogen peroxide on trees and plants as a natural fungicide, insecticide and as a weed killer.• You can lessen the pain of a toothache by putting a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it forten minutes several times a day.• You can add 4 oz of of 3% hydrogen peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections.• Hydrogen Peroxide is described as an effective anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-fungal, and can be used foranthrax decontamination.• You can gargle with hydrogen peroxide and/or put drops in the ear and nose to end colds, flu, chronic sinusitis(including polyps], and infections.• When you clean with hydrogen peroxide you can remove toxic mold.• You can saturate any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for 5 to 10 minutes several times a day to heal them.It has been said even gangrene can be healed by soaking a ganrenous wound in 3% hyrogen peroxide.• Put 2 capfuls of 3% hydrogen peroxide into a douche several times a week to cure even chronic yeastinfections.• Throughout the world hydrogen peroxide is used instead of chlorine as a safer and eco-friendly municipalwater purifier. Some use H 2O 2in pools and spas.405


Dr. Edward C. Rosenow, author of 450 published medical papers and associate at the Mayo Clinic for over 60years, proved that bacteria could be found consistently in the lymph nodes that drain joints (J.A.M.A., April <strong>11</strong>,1914) and he postulated that H 2O 2would help arthritis because of its ability to supply oxygen to oxygen-hatingorganisms causing arthritis (Streptococcus viridans).”Your body naturally makes hydrogen peroxide to fight infection which must be present for our immune systemto function correctly. White blood cells are known as Leukocytes. A sub-class of Leukocytes called Neutrophilsproduce hydrogen peroxide as the first line of defense against toxins, parasites, bacteria, viruses and yeast.Hydrogen peroxide is the oxygenation of the body. Sickness and tumors are generally oxygen-hating growthswhich thrive in oxygen-poor bodies.Medical use of hydrogen peroxide was first noted in the March 3, 1888 issue of the Journal of American MedicalAssociation. In the last 25+ years more than 7,700 articles have been published in standard medical journals.In the 1960’s, etc. In the early 1960’s, Baylor University Medical Center (Texas) conducted major studies inthe medical uses of hydrogen peroxide. One of the things these researchers discovered was that H 2O 2has anenergizing effect on the heart. Specifically, they learned that myocardial ischemia, (lack of oxygen to the heart)was relieved by H 2O 2. <strong>The</strong> Baylor researchers found that plaque buildup in arteries was removed efficiently, andthat the effect was long lasting.Note: One pint of hydrogen peroxide per 100 gallons of water can be used to control both suspended and stringalgae. See Barley Straw and Tadpoles.Hydrolyzed Proteins - Used as an attractant.Hyssop - a perennial herb used in the Bible to prevent the plague; it is anti-viral, anti-infectious, anti-asthmatic,anti-spasmatic, antiseptic, etc. W. Coles writing in 1657 noted the oil from hyssop (Hyssopus) “killeth lice.”Hyssop is used in cooking to aid in the digestion of fats.Ichneumon Wasps - <strong>The</strong>re are over 3,300 species in North America. <strong>The</strong>y parasitize caterpillars, the larvaeof other insects and spiders and/or sometimes spider egg sacs. <strong>The</strong> wasp larvae develops inside the host,feeding on it and eventually killing it.Ideal Pesticide - http://www.safesolutionsinc.com/Enzyme_Cleaner_Pest_<strong>Control</strong>.htm and/orhttp://www.thebestcontrol.com/ideal-pesticide.htmIdentification - You need to make a proper identification to make the proper control choices.Imagination - this is the greatest pest control “tool” ever - some people have no imagination and are doomed toonly use poison to “control” their pests. Look around, think, ask and develop new tools all of the time. Imaginationcombined with intelligence can not be beaten. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledgeis very restrictive; imagination is unlimited. Your brain is 200,000 times bigger than an insect’s, so use it!Immunity - Insects, arachnids, plants, etc. all quickly develop resistance or immunity to all dangerous, syntheticpesticide poisons, so why use them? See Resistance.Improve Air Circulation and Soil Drainage - and you will cure a host of pest and disease problems. Seehydrogen peroxide.Indian Aloe (Aloe borbadens) - Leaf extracts of this plant inhibit larval hatching of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyneincognita).Infra-red - techniques can be used to kill weeds.Insect bites - In the jungle when someone is bitten by a poisonous insect, the people look for it and make apaste of it to rub on the burn or wound. It usually heals fast.406


Insect Diseases - In 1836, Agostino Bassi of Lodi, Italy first suggested liquids from putrefied cadavers of diseasedinsects could be mixed with water and sprayed on foliage to kill insects.Insect Extracts - “Bug juice”, etc. has been used for years to safely control insects. See above.Insect Growth Regulators - Insect growth regulators (IGR’s) are the insect hormones (or their synthetic substitutes)that supposedly interrupted only an immature or young insect’s maturation processes and other vitalfunctions. It was initially thought IGR’s would only affect the biochemical processes unique to arthropods, so thatthe potential negative effects on humans and other mammals would be minimized. Because mammals do notmolt or metamorphose as insects do, the chemical compounds in IGR’s were thought unlikely to affect mammals,but they still were and are pesticides, so we advised that everyone should use them only as a last resortaccording to the label and only after proper notification. Sumitomo developed Nylar, a photostable IGR calledPyriproxyfen. Methoprene - Methoprene impedes young insect maturation, causing “sterility” and death beforeinsects can mature. <strong>The</strong> primary hormone controlling molting is ecdysone. Methoprene is an altosid productmanufactured by Zoecon. According to Mary Pacholke, as reported in June, 1996 Our Toxic Times, people, petsand birds can be made ill and/or die from exposure to methoprene. Methoprene is suspected of causing all thefrog deformities in the Midwest - this has been replicated in lab studies. Hydropene - Hydroprene is marketedspecifically for cockroach control. After being applied to young roaches, this IGR eventually produces “sterile”adults with twisted wings. Fenoxycarb - Fenoxycarb also caused distortion of the wings and other parts of ayoung insect, which indicated that it had caused the insect to become “sterile.” Part of fenoxycarb’s molecularstructure resembles a carbamate, but it supposedly did not inhibit cholinesterase (nerve transmission) as docarbamate insecticides. It was labeled against cockroaches, fire ants, fleas and stored-product pests. It wassuspected of causing tumors and was removed from the market. Diflubenzuron, Hexaflumuron, Lufenuronand Cyromazine - <strong>The</strong>se materials inhibit the action of the enzyme, chitin synthetase. Chitin, a polysaccharidesimilar in structure to cellulose, is the main protein ingredient of insect skin. EPA has already restricted the useof IGR’s to licensed pest control “professionals”. We believe they all will be pulled eventually as they may bea real threat to humans and do not work. Home Guard’s Glenn Gordon has noted viable offspring can still begenerated from the twisted wing/deformed adults - 50% of the offspring are normal and 50% are deformed. <strong>The</strong>deformed species can cross Vaseline ® barriers the normal roaches cannot.Insect Pathogens and Nematodes - <strong>The</strong>re are more than 1,500 species of pathogens that include a widerange of bacterial viruses, fungi, microsporidia, protozoa and nematodes known to attack arthropods. Bacterialgroups have the most successful for cultivation and commercial use. Prime examples are the various varieties ofBacillus thurigiensis - Some Bt products contain live bacteria and associated toxic proteins. <strong>The</strong>re are about 30subspecies of Bt and more than 700 strains have been isolated. At least 16 families of viruses have been usedas pathogen insects. <strong>The</strong> majority of viruses used in pest control are either nuclear polyhedrosis or granulosisviruses; both are in the family Baculoviridae. Most fungi that attack insects are in the family Entomophthoraceae,with the subdivision Zygomycotina or in the Deuteromycotina. Various protozoa attack insects including themicrosporidians and the eugregarines. Nematodes that show the greatest potential for insect control are foundin the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae, which are mutualisitically associated with bacteria thatkill the nematodes’s host through septicemia.Insect Pests - are not the cause of plant disease or the real problem. <strong>The</strong>y are indicators that something iswrong with the plant or the natural controls and/or the soil. G-d has provided predators to remove the unfit.Insect Predators - In 1752, Carl Linnaeus wrote, “Every insect has its predator which follows and destroys it. Suchpredatory insects should be caught and used for disinfesting crop plants.” Predators generally consume severalor more prey to complete their development. True parasites harm but generally do not kill their hosts, e.g., fleas,ticks, mosquitoes, tapeworms, etc. Parasitoids are parasitic arthropods that kill their hosts. Parasitoids havebeen the most common natural enemy introduced for biological control of insects. At least 26 different familiesof parasitoids have been used. <strong>The</strong>re are between 100,000 to 1,000,000 species of parasitoids and at leastan equal number of predators to help us battle our pests, if we don’t pesticide poison them first! See Spiders.Insect Repellents - You can make an effective insect repellent using 75% coconut oil, 15% water, 4% soybeanoil, 3% geranium oil and 3% vanillin. You can also lightly rub Noxema ® , menthol, camphor, eucalyptus, cedar oil,lavender oil, pennyroyal oil, peppermint oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil or scented geraniums on your body andclothes. Dilute all fragrant oils in coconut oil, vegetable oil or almond oil first. A strong infusion of chamomile tea407


can be applied to the skin or fur to repel insects. Always test a small area of your skin (with a small amount)to see if you get a reaction before treating the entire area or body or your clothes with any substance.Insect traps - <strong>The</strong>se are the simplest, least-toxic way to control many insects; there are many different kinds,including our 2-liter bottle and/or sticky traps.Insecticidal Soaps or Enzyme Cleaners - Insecticidal soaps, which are sodium or potassium salts combinedwith fish or vegetable oil, have been used as registered insecticides since the late 1700s. A soap is a substancemade from the action of an alkali such as sodium or potassium hydroxide on a fat. <strong>The</strong> principal componentsof fats are fatty acids. When pesticidal soap washes away the oils, waxes and other debris and reaches thecuticle (outer body) of a susceptible insect, the fatty acids penetrate the insect’s covering and dissolve into themembranes around its cells, disrupting their integrity. <strong>The</strong> cells leak and collapse, resulting in the dehydrationand death of the susceptible insects. Soap can also penetrate the protective coating on plant tissue and fungi,causing dehydration and death. Soaps show relative selectivity in the range of insects they affect.Advantages: Rapid breakdown, rapid action, low toxicity to mammals and other animals; low toxicity tomost plants; selective, doesn’t harm most beneficial insects.Disadvantages: Rapid breakdown—effective only against insects that come into direct contact with thespray before it dries; phytotoxic to some ornamental plants and houseplants.Soft-bodied mites and sucking insects such as aphids, scale crawlers, white flies and thrips are the most susceptible.Slow-moving insects are more susceptible than highly mobile ones. Enzymes kill most insect pestssafely. Please note even beneficials die if they are sprayed with enzymes. Enzymes are what spiders inject intotheir prey to predigest them; when insects, fungus, molds and mildew are sprayed with enzyme cleaners theyare all quickly controlled. When dry, the enzymes are gone. Enzyme cleaners are also wetting agents - theymake water wetter - fish can drown in water with too much enzyme cleaner so be careful. Enzyme cleaner hasalso been called citrus wash or fruit and vegetable rinse; mixed at a rate of 1 part cleaner to 500 parts of wateryou can wash off (with mechanical scrubbing) powdery mildew and general fungus, bacteria, parasites (protozoansand worms) waxy coatings and surface pesticides. Enzyme cleaners are not sold as pesticides. Enzymecleaners with peppermint and sodium borate can be purchased from Safe Solutions, Inc. at 1-888-443-8738,http://www.safesolutionsinc.com.Insectisafe ® - 1 gal. warm water, 2 T. of vegetable oil, 2 T. dish soap and 1 T. cayenne pepper or peppermintoil. Mix ingredients and pour in spray bottles. Shake continuously as you use to spray and drench insect peststhoroughly. Normally this mix will not harm plants.Inspection - Inside: In order to do a proper inspection to ensure adequate control. Outside: Inspect the entiregarden at least weekly. Check the undersides of leaves and bark. Catch any problems when they first developso they can be more easily controlled. You will need an assortment of tools and equipment: magnifying glass,lights (regular, black and red), monitoring traps, investigative and communication skills, binoculars, mirrors,spatulas, flushing equipment (compressed air aerosol) and protective clothing. Remove and examine all goodsfrom cardboard and paper packages before bringing them inside. Bury, burn or return any infested materialsimmediately. Remember the old adage, “measure twice, cut once?” “Inspect twice; control once.” You willneed to bend, climb, kneel, crawl and think! Remember, 90% of your problem will be found in 10% ofthe area. Do not forget to write it down.Instant Grits - Put instant grits on ant hills and/or near ant path ways. <strong>The</strong> grits, if still dry, will expand in theant’s bodies and finish them off.Intelligence - You have an unfair advantage over the beasts of the earth, the fowls of the air and the creepingthings; you have greater intelligence. Use it and you win; use pesticides and you lose!Invisible Fencing - can be used to keep dogs contained in a grove, field or orchard so the dogs can chase outnuisance wildlife.Iodine - can be used as a disinfectant and to prevent fungal growth.IPM - True IPM stimulates the natural ecosystem so it takes care of itself.408


Irrigation Management - Improper irrigation can wash off your treatments and spread infections and createother pest prolems.Isolation - Immediately isolate infected plant areas, materials and supplies to stop the spread of the pest/disease.Isolate areas with dangerous pest problems to keep children and pets out of them.Japaca, Yellow Oleander (<strong>The</strong>vetia peruviana) - All parts, except the leaves and fruit pulp, can be used tomake cold water extractions effective against a number of pests, especially aphids.Japanese beetle traps - Cut the necks off of 1-gallon plastic milk jugs and fill 1/3 full with fermenting mixturesof water, sugar, crushed fruit and yeast. Strain out the beetles regularly and simply reuse your “beetle brew”.Jasmonic Acid - and other naturally occurring plant substances can induce resistance to plant pests.Jello Powder and Dry Milk - Mix any Jello powder with dry milk and lightly sprinkle this mix on the top of yourseeds and then lightly cover with dirt. Moisten the soil and then cover with damp newspaper for 4 days; thenremove the newspaper and watch your plants grow. You can also dust your plants with (lemon) Jello to helpfight fungal diseases; the gelatin holds moisture and the sugar feeds the microorgnisms.Jewel Weed (Impatiens capensis) - Crush a large handful of jewel weed and place it in a large glass jar with aplastic lid. Pour in 1 qt. apple cider vinegar and let steep for several days. Strain the brew and add ½ tsp. pennyroyaloil, 1 tsp. eucalyptus oil, 1 tsp. orange oil (or geranium oil) and 1 tsp. citronella oil and spray the mix onskin and clothing to repel pests. Do not spray your face. Spray your hat or cap or scarf. Do not use if you arepregnant because pennyroyal may increase the risk of miscarriage. As with all mixes, first test a small areaof skin and wait at least 15 minutes for any allergic reaction. <strong>The</strong>n, if everything is o.k., spray as needed.Jewel weed juice can also be used by itself to alleviate poison ivy, stinging nettle and/or insect bites.Jojoba Oil - Kills/repels whiteflies on all crops. Kills powdery mildew on grapes and ornamentals.Juniper - berries naturally contain antibiotic and detoxification properties.Kaolin - clay dust will suffocate insects. Kaolin particle film forms a protective, physical barrier on fruit trees.Keep On, Keep On Keeping On - e.g., Keep the plants growing vigorously. Rapidly growing fruits and vegetablescan better tolerate or outgrow damage from insects and diseases, but they also quickly use up availablenutrients. Applying fertilizer (and water) at critical times during maximum plant growth is essential for producingpest- and disease-resistant plants. Refer to the K-State Research & Extension publication, Fertilizing Gardensin Kansas. Keep it clean. Remove plants and debris after harvest to avoid harboring insects and diseases.Remove weeds which may provide shelter for pests. Dispose of or burn diseased plants, fruits and vegetables.Composting is seldom thorough enough to eliminate disease-causing fungi and bacteria.Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioica) - A large shade tree with long leaves that are pinkish in spring,green in summer and yellow in fall. <strong>The</strong> seeds can be roasted and eaten like nuts or made into a coffee substitute.<strong>The</strong> bruised foliage when sprinkled with sweetened water will attract and kill flies. Can be raised in containers.Kitty Litter - Well used kitty litter will repel skunks, woodchucks, squirrels, chipmunks and many burrowing creatureswho dislike the idea of a hungry cat waiting nearby for its next meal. Even geese dislike an area sprayedwith kitty litter tea. Unfragranced, fresh clay kitty litter put in a large bag or container can be used to removeodors from smaller objects that are off-gasing.Knotweed - Extracts and pharmaceuticals isolated from giant knotweed (Polygonum sachalinense) or its relativeJapanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) have been shown to protect against cancer, lower blood cholesterol,protect against diabetes, improve cardiovascular health and are anti-inflammatory. One of the extractsis reservatrol which has extended the average lifetimes of fish, nematodes, mice and yeast up to 58%! <strong>The</strong>seplants produce many defensive chemicals that help protect against disease, insects and other plant species.409


Know Your Enemy - To solve a pest problem you need to know everything you can about your enemy so youcan properly control it.Knowledge Drought - is worse than a water drought and is unnecessary. See Imagination.Knowing when to Ask for Help - An important skill is to know when to ask for help, education, advice, timeand/or support from other professionals and/or consultants.Label - When you use any alternative, be sure you follow all the precautions and/or warnings on thelabel and labeling.Lacewings - e.g., Green and Brown lacewings. Brown lacewings are smaller than Green lacewings and arepredacious as adults and as larvae; their larvae have been called “trash carriers” and/or “aphid wolves”. Onlysome species of Green lacewing adults feed on insects, but their larvae are always voracious aphid predatorsand have been called “aphid lions”.Ladybugs or Lady Bird Beetles (Hippodamia convergens) - Of some 300 species of lady beetle, the ladybugis found most beneficial in habit, number and adaptability. Attract them with dandelions, marigolds, angelica,tansy, scented geraniums, butterfly weed, yarrow, roses, goldenrod, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes.Pile dead leaves, straw, hay or other organic mulch at the base of plants or fencing in fall to serve aswinter lodgings to hibernate in. <strong>The</strong>y eat aphids, cotton-cushion, cornborer, roaches, scale, mealybugs, alfalfaweevil, Colorado potato beetles, spider mites, thrips and whiteflies. When there is an aphid explosion, you canexpect a similar ladybug explosion to follow. <strong>The</strong>y can eat 30 - 40 aphids per day. When wine grapes wereattacked by aphids in Europe, the farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary to save their crops. Shortly after theirprayer red beetles with black spots arrived and ate the aphids. In Mary’s honor the farmers named the beetles“Merienkafer” or “Mary’s beetles” which soon became “Ladybug”.Larinus minutus - Larvae of this weevil feed on knapweed flowers and seed to provide biological control ofthis weed.Larkspur (Delphinium sp.) - Powdered roots are toxic to bean leafrollers, cross-striped cabbage worms, cabbageloopers and melonworms. Some varieties produce a juice that will kill ticks, lice, mosquito larvae and maggots.Lasers - are very effective in dispersing birds.Latex Paint - can be used as a tree seal.Laundry/Drying - will kill more fabric pests and bed bugs and dust mites and ticks.Lavandin Oil - Repels clothes moths.Lavender (Lavendula augustifolia, formerly vera) - is a perennial herb 1’ - 2’ tall, purple flowers from Julyto November. Flowers have been used for relieving sprains or rheumatic pain. It has estrogenic and antiandrogenicproperties. Fragrant sachets used to repel household insects. Mosquitoes and midges hate thesmell of lavender, so plant these plants near windows and doors or spray the exterior decks, swimming poolareas or patio with lavender water or soap or dip pieces of cloth or cotton balls in lavender and carry them withyou on your hat, belt, etc., or hang them on patio chairs, tables and/or decks. Traditionally, lavender has beenused to balance the body; anti-infectious, anti-toxic, anti-depressant, anti-spasmatic, anti-inflammatory, etc., sotry using lavender soap!Lavender Oil - Dr. Gattefossé gave the research to Dr. John Valnet who was a medical doctor in Paris, France.Valnet did nothing with it until the post war years (World War II) when he was working with war victims fromshrapnel wounds and losing them to gangrene because the antibiotics wouldn’t work. Dr. Gattefossé senthim some [lavender] oils and said “try the oils”. He started using the oils and he saved every single patient.Lawn Mowers - Simply cutting with sharp blades at the right height and/or frequency of mowing and removingthe clippings and properly disposing of them will culturally control many weeds, fungus and pest problems, e.g.,410


lack cutworms.Laxatives - Chocolate laxatives, e.g., Ex-Lax ® , will totally destroy rats and/or mice. Put a strong laxative, intheir favorite food, and they will definitely defecate themselves to death.Leaf Mulch Compost - applied around cabbages, turnips and carrots, etc. will inhibit the root maggot pests.When the leaves fall, thoroughly mulch with your lawn mower right into your lawn. See Grass Clippings.Learn - Isa. 28:9-10 - Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine?(<strong>The</strong>m that are) weaned from the milk (and) drawn from the breasts. For precept (must be) upon precept, preceptupon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little (and) there a little.Leaves - Use them for green manure/compost, make tea. Mulched maple leaves will help prevent dandelions.Lecithin - can be used as a fungicide. Lecithin is a fat known as phospholipid, which is known to help preventthe formation of cholesterol gallstones.Lemon - Pour boiling water over a couple of sliced lemons with the peel and steep for 24 hours; place in a spraybottle and use to kill fleas and other pests. Spray dogs and allow to dry. Lemon peel will repel clothes moths.Lemon Basil (Ocimum) - An aromatic tender annual with small pretty flowers and lemony fragrance. An attractiveplant that is easy to grow. When planted in the garden close to tomatoes, it not only improves the taste ofthe tomatoes but deters white flies as well. See Basil.Lemon Juice - A high school student discovered straight lemon juice would kill plants like acid rain. When youput lemon juice squeezed on an area and leave the lemon peels there too, this will repel most ants. Straightlemon juice will help alleviate the pain and discomfiture of many bites and stings. CAUTION: Lemon juice willalso dissolve calcium so wash or rinse your mouth after using straight lemon juice. Lemon juice will also dissolvekidney stones. See Chapter 40.Lemongrass Oil - Repels dogs, cats and mosquitoes.Least toxic pesticides - Growth hormones, baits, fungus, salts, desiccating dusts and the like should be usedonly as necessary. Never use volatile, synthetic neurotoxins/pesticide poisons.Light Karo Syrup or Sucrose Water (1 cup sugar and 4 cups of water brought to a boil) - This clear sweetliquid is very similar to honeydew (and/or honey) and will lure ants, roaches and many sweet loving insectsincluding wasps to your bait station or trap as it is an attractant and a moisture source, so use it in your traps oradd a little borax or boric acid and make your own bait, but use less than 3% boron product and be careful tokeep any boron product away from kids and pets and wildlife.Light Traps - Put a light over a bucket of soapy water and leave on all night. Shut off all other lights and youwill attract flies, kissing bugs, swarming ants/termites and many other flying pests to their deaths.Lightning - provides the intense energy needed to combine atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen into nitrates.Nitrates enrich the soil as free fertilizer.Lights - Many mammals, insects and/or pests are attracted to or repelled by lights - change the lighting tocontrol pests. Blue-white lights attract the most insects; yellow is less attractive and red seems the least visibleto insects. Leave a small light or a strobe light burning in your attic and bats will leave in about 1 week; turnthem on when bats are hibernating and they will die. You can control cluster flies, flying ants, beetles, etc. withlights and you can repel other nocturnal invaders with different lights, e.g., strobe or motion detector lights. Hita hornet nest at night and they will fly to the (car) lights where you can spray them.Lime - (calcium oxide; CaO); can be used to disinfect outhouses, livestock facilities or to clean processing plantswhere adequate rinsing is provided. Sprinkle a little in the bottom of garbage receptacles. It can be used tocontrol fungus, insects, frogs, toads, mosquitoes, slugs, sowbugs, algae, duck weed, and as a repellent and a4<strong>11</strong>


desiccant. Be careful not to get burned!Lime Sulfur - (calcium polysulfide; calcium sulfide (Ca(Sx)); used as an insecticide, acaracide and fungicide.It will control anthracnose, peach leaf curl, Oriental fruit moth, brown rot and peach and cane borers, etc. It willalso kill crickets; contains citric acid and also is a deodorant and can be used to clean glass and remove stainson aluminum.Limonene and Linalool (Citrus Peel Extracts) - Contain insecticidal compounds that kill many insect pests,e.g., fire ants, and fleas, but may be of low toxicity to mammals. <strong>The</strong>re is some controversy as to their safetyand should, therefore, only be used with discretion and proper notification. <strong>The</strong> two most effective insecticidalcompounds are d-limonene, a terpene that constitutes about 90% of crude citrus oil, and linalool, a terpenealcohol. Terpenes are hydrocarbons found in essential oils. <strong>The</strong>y are used as solvents, fragrances and flavorsin cosmetics and beverages. Linalool can also be extracted from pine wood. Citrus oils have a fresh floral odorand an oil consistency. Limonene and linalool are contact poisons that heighten sensory nerve activity in insects,causing massive over-stimulation of motor nerves that leads to convulsion and paralysis. Some insects, suchas adult fleas, can recover from the initial paralysis unless limonene is synergized by pipernoyl butoxide (PBO),or formulated with sodium borate - not done commercially as yet. It has been determined that linalool is not acholinesterase inhibitor (a nerve poison), but it is when formulated with the questionable pipernoyl butoxide.Limonene and linalool are available in aerosol and liquid products. <strong>The</strong>y are currently marketed primarily asflea dips and shampoos but are also formulated with insecticidal soap for use as contact poisons. When appliedtopically to some laboratory animals both compounds can irritate the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Bothmoderate and high does of these substances can cause tremors, excess salivation, lack of coordination andmuscle weakness. However, the symptoms are usually temporary, lasting several hours to several days, andthe animals usually recover fully. Limonene has been shown to cause sensitivity in cats and some people,especially with repeated exposures, contact dermatitis and can promote tumor formation in mouse skin(carcinogenic), so use these products sparingly and with proper notification. Limonene and linalool arecurrently registered for use against fleas, aphids and mites, but, these compounds also kill fire ants, houseflies,stable flies, black soldier flies, paper wasps and house crickets. In a field test using grated limes, all the fruit flieswere immobilized in 15 minutes, and all were dead in two hours. Citrus oils (commercial or homemade), therefore,have the potential for much wider use, including treatments for livestock and human ectoparasites, fumigationof food handling and storage facilities and household pest control. Limonene is a terpene that dissolves thewax protecting the ectoskeleton. It is a GRAS product that also repels flies, dogs and cats. See orange juice.Linoleum - helps prevent and/or control microbial growth because of the ongoing process of linoleic acid oxidation.Linseed Oil - is a vegetable oil produced from flax seeds, but it is quite different from flax seed oil. Linseed oilis not safe to consume but it may protect you from poison ivy if you apply it heavily to all exposed skin prior toexposure.Lint Roller - quickly will pick up the stray ant, tick, earwig, pantry pest, flea, spider or “bug”.Listen - You will never learn anything if you do not learn to listen.Listerine ® Mouthwash - has been diluted and sprayed on the lawn to control insects and grubs. It will destroydandruff and some external parasites and will disinfect a broken blister; it is a powerful antiseptic. Listerinetherapy for toenail fungus: Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. Itwill leave your toenails looking healthy again.Locks - Keep all hazardous materials safely stored in locked areas.Low-till and/or Fallowing - lessens soil disturbance and promotes soil microbiotic and nutrient cycles.Magnesium - In early 2003, scientists with the U. S. Department of Agriculture isolated a virus that in tests killed95% of Culex mosquitoes after they added magnesium to the water. Hypo-magnesium or magnesium diemaycauses a decline in health that leads to cancer, heart attack and to a physiological decline in cells. Hundreds ofenzymes and ion transport systems require magnesium to work properly. <strong>The</strong> lack of magnesium will cause theheart muscle (and other muscles) to develop a spasm or cramp and stop beating. Without proper magnesium412


we die. Check out magnesium in Chapter 41.Magnifying Glass - Useful in inspections, diagnosis and bad boys use them for “burning ants.”Maintenance - Proper maintenance prevents pests from entering and removes conditions conducive to infestationinside and outside.Manage - Take charge; make a plan and then implement it to correct the problem(s).Manroot, Wild Cucumber (Echinocystis fabacea) - Powdered root is toxic to European cornborer larvae andother insects.Manual and/or Mechanical Removal - can be an extremely effective tool in your IPM toolbox. Remove pestsby hand. <strong>Control</strong> weeds by hoeing and/or mulching. Use vacuums to simply suck up pests.Manure - One of the oldest and most effective fertilizers known to man. <strong>The</strong> problem is not insufficient manure,but its misuse and/or contamination. See Composted Chicken Manure, Get Set Grow.Manure Tea - Healthy, well nourished plants resist disease and insects better than sick, hungry ones.Margosa (Azodirachta indica) - Roots of this plant are toxic both to soil nematodes and the larval hatch ofnematodes.Marigolds - <strong>The</strong> non-herb marigolds and African marigold (especially Tagetes patela, T. patula, T. erecta) rootsmay kill or repel (root lesion) nematodes, wireworm, verticullium wilt, potato eelworm and other pests. All marigoldsare excellent companion plants to repel insects, e.g., asparagus beetle and Mexican bean beetles, fromyour garden. <strong>The</strong> marigold blossoms attract hover flies which attack aphids and the blossoms are attractive. W.Coles writing in his book Adam in Eden or Nature’s Paradise published in 1657 noted the juice from marigoldflowers (Tagetes) “dropped into the ears, killeth worms.” When marigolds are planted as a rotation crop, theyleave secondary compound residues that act as phytoalexins. Plant marigolds around your home or in yourgarden and many flying insects will avoid these areas. See Calendula.Marshmallows - (Althaea officinalis) Any wild mallow flower is an excellent compress for a wasp sting. Marshmallowscan be used to trap armadillos.Mayonnaise Jar - use a large 1-gallon mayonnaise jar with a screw top lid; install/secure a 1/2” - 1” plastic orcopper crook neck pipe (an upside down j) through the top of the lid extending into the jar 2” - 3” and above thejar 5” - 6”; put 1 egg mixed in 1 cup of milk into the bottom of the jar - you will catch flies usually without odor.Mealy Bug Destroyers - Look like black, 1/8” ladybugs with orange-red heads. Adult mealy bug destroyers willeat certain stages of scale insects, aphids; they are very partial to mealy bugs.Measure - Do not simply pour out a “glug” or assume or guess - measure. Measure twice — cut once.Mechanical Barriers - can be used to prevent the access of many pest species.Mechanical Pest <strong>Control</strong>s - Use natural or physical controls first, e.g., hoes, swatters, traps, caulking, exclusion,repairs, decoys, sanitation, step on the bugs, birds, bats, toads, handpicking, fences, sanitation, screens,doors, doorsweeps, bacteria, mowers, fans, vents, predators, parasites, washing, drying, vacuuming, etc. tokill or remove pest problems. In 1763, Linnaeus won a prize for an essay he wrote under the name C. N. Neinon how caterpillars could be removed from orchards. He suggested both mechanical and biological controls.Medicated Body Powder - lightly sprinkled controls most crawling insects.Melaleuca (Melaleca alterniflora) - Melaleuca oil is anti-fungal and anti-microbial and gives relief to ache andinsect bites. This oil can cause stains, contact dermatitis and can harm cats.413


Menthol - can be used to kill mites and/or repel ticks. Put a line of Vapo Rub ® where you do not want mites orticks to cross. Renew as needed.Mescal or coral bean (Sophora secundiflora) - Powdered seeds of this flowering shrub are toxic to armywormsand other insects.Metal Nit or Flea Combs - and a little patience and baby oil or soapy water will safely control lice and/or fleas.Methyl Carbitol - Make a wax or paraffin slurry with 5% - 10% methyl carbitol to repel imported fire ants, otherinsects and vertebrate pests.Methylene Blue - C 16H 18CIN 3S.3H 2O used as a dye, as a bacteriological and biological stain will sterilize termites(and other insects) that eat it.Microbial Pesticides - are alternative control products whose active ingredient is a living organism, bacteria,viruses, fungi and nematodes; some 1500 such agents have been found, e.g.: Agrobacterium radiobacter -This bacterium is used to prevent the development of bacterial crown gall (Agrobacterium tummefasciens).<strong>The</strong> “good” microbe colonizes roots and steps, supposedly preventing infection for 1 - 2 seasons. Bacilluspopillae - (better known as milky spore) is a popular agent used against the larvae of Japanese beetle. Bacillussphaericus - is a microbe used for mosquito control in dirty water habitats. Bascillus subtilis - is used as a seedinoculant to prevent damping-off in cotton, peanuts and beans. Bacillus thuringiensis - is probably the oldestand best known of biological pesticides. <strong>The</strong>re are many strains of this bacterium. Beauvaria bassiant - Thisfungus is used to control aphids, leafhoppers, thrips, whiteflies and mealybugs. Collectotrichum gloeosporioidesspp. aeshynomene - This specie of anthracnose is used to control northern jointvetch. Collectotrichum gloeosporioidesspp. malvae - is used to control mallow in various field crops. Entomophaga maimaiga - This Asianfungus is used to control gypsy moth populations. Nuclear Polyhedrosis Viruses - This series of viruses is usedto control many types of caterpillars. Phytophthora palmivora - This water mold is used to control strangler vinein Florida’s citrus groves. Puccinia cannliculata - This rust species is used to control yellow nutsedge. Streptomycesgriseoviridis - This microbe, discovered in Finnish peat bogs, is used as a fungicide and try to preventseveral root diseases. Trichoderma harzianum - In the soil it colonizes roots and is used to control Pythium andPhytophthora rot. Verticillium lecanii - can be used to control aphids and whitefly.MICROBIAL INSECTICIDES Bacillus thuringensis, (Dipel, Thuricide, Attack, Catapiller Killer), M-OneAdvantages: Selective; non-toxic to wildlife and humans; may establish and provide control in the future.Disadvantages: <strong>Control</strong>s only one certain species or group of insects; broken down by the elements sotiming is critical; special storage or application procedures may be necessary.See Enzyme Cleaners.Microbial Plant Inoculants - including rhizobia bacteria, Mycorhizzae azolla, Axotobacter, etc. Make sure theydo not contain any prohibited substances.Microbes - Safe Solutions, Inc. microbes (liquid/freeze-dried) can be extremely helpful in controlling pest problems,removing muck and odors, but be careful when you mix them as they are easily killed by chlorine, flouideand other disinfectants.Microwave - Nuke ‘em. While this may seem very satisfying to us humans and is environmentally sound, themethod is not recommended. <strong>The</strong> reasons are as follows: <strong>The</strong> microwaves heat up the infested material andthe subsequent heat could damage the object. To kill an insect, there must be at least 75% relative humidity inthe oven. To increase the humidity to such a level would also risk severe damage to the infested article. Youcan sterilize fully soaked rags and sponges in a microwave for 2 minutes, but some sponges can burst intoflames. See Clothes Dryer.Milk - If you spray fresh milk twice a week, diluted one part milk to nine parts of water, it will stop powdery mildew,e.g., Sphaerotheca fuliginea, faster and better than “registered” fungicide poisons. Milk can also be usedto control various mosaic viruses, a broad spectrum of bacteria and fungi.Milk Jugs - <strong>The</strong> top half of a plastic milk jug makes a funnel or a scoop or use the top half as a mini-greenhouse;the cap can be removed to make a vent.414


Milk Thistle - is a proven detoxifier that guards against the deterioration of the liver and should be the first thingyou take if you are diagnosed with hepatitis C. <strong>The</strong> health benefits of Milk Thistle seed (Silybum marianum) havebeen known for more than 2,000 years. Milk Thistle is a herbaceous plant with a dense-prickly flower head andreddish-purple tubular flowers. It is native to the Mediterranean area and is now grown in Central Europe, Northand South America, and Southern Australia. Milk Thistle a/k/a Marian Thistle, Mary Thistle, and Lady’s Thistle,is a member of the Asteacea family. Historically, milk thistle was used for relieving congestion of the liver, kidneysand spleen and by lactating women to stimulate the production of milk. Currently, standardized milk thistleseed extract is used to maintain and regain liver health, especially those who consume excessive amounts ofalcohol. This use was validated by studies using between 200 mg and 420 mg of silymarin per day (usually inthree separate doses). Milk Thistle has an extensive history of use as an edible plant. In the 1st century AD,Pliny the Elder reported its use for supporting liver health. <strong>The</strong>ophrastus (IV century BC) and Dioscorides (1stcentury AD) also wrote of its value. <strong>The</strong> English herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper (1650) claimed it was effective forsupporting the normal functioning of the liver.Research suggests that this herb is beneficial in protecting, detoxifying and strengthening the liver. Certaindiseases that occur in the liver may also benefit from milk thistle seed. Those suffering from hepatitis and livercirrhosis may benefit from this herb. It also shows promise in improving overall liver function. Many clinical studieshave demonstrated that this herb supports healthy liver function and provides powerful antioxidant protection,particularly from free radicals and other toxins that normally enter into the liver and cause damage. A primaryconstituent of silymarin called silibinin also helps to support healthy liver function, encouraging healthy cholesterolsynthesis by the liver. In addition to its well-recognized role in promoting liver health, key constituents inmilk thistle also help to maintain normal kidney function and promote optimal immune function. Limited researchsuggests that this herb may also support healthy prostate function, and encourage a vital gastrointestinal tractby protecting it from free radical damage.Those who suffer from acne may benefit from milk thistle seed. <strong>The</strong> high level of antioxidants in this herb aregood for the entire cardiovascular system. However, research suggests that milk thistle seed may help to controlcholesterol issues. It may help to lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol. Resarch suggests that thisherb may help to control a person’s diabetes. It shows the most promise in those who are not insulin dependent.This herb is said to possess the most benefits for diabetes when combined with a healthy diet and exercise.Milk Thistle seed is said to possess many benefits for digestive system. It is said to help soothe some of thesymptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease. It may also be beneficial in treatingand preventing gallstones. Milk thistle seed is also said to be a power anti-inflammatory so it is said to be quitebeneficial to those suffering from intestinal inflammations. Milk thistle is also said to be beneficial to thosesuffering from certain types of cancer. It is also said to help the liver function “normally” when it is stressed outfrom medical treatments such as powerful drugs, chemotherapy and radiation. Milk thistle seed is an importantnatural treatment for COPD, or Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It counteracts much of the stress that’splaced on the liver as a result of the disorder, and is generally considered safe when used properly.How to use:Grind whole milk thistle seeds in a coffee grinder or spice mill. Add the freshly ground seeds to hot cereal,muffins, rice, or other grains. This is an easy way to consume milk thistle seed and can be supplemented withother milk thistle seed formulations.Caution:If you are considering adding this herb to your diet, you should consult a physician first. Some herbs will interactwith certain medications and medical conditions and this could be dangerous. Milk thistle may occasionally causea mild, transient laxative effect, which normally passes within 3 days of use.Milky Spore Disease - will control Japanese beetles.Milorganite - Composted Milwaukee sewage; the Author will not use nor recommend this product.415


Mineral Oils - can be used as insecticides and fungicides. A small amount will control ear mites in pets.Mineral Oil and Liquid Sulfur and Liquid Soap - Take equal parts to make a concentrate; then put 3 T. lessof the mix in 1 gal. water to control scale. You can use less mix to control other pests, e.g., aphids, zebraswallowtail, etc. Spray not less than once a week. Dip a Q-tip in mineral oil and gently insert n a baby’s rectumto cure constipation in about one-half hour Older folks should have the Q-tip inserted the full length 2 - 3 timesfor about a half-hour; this allows the oil to soften the stool.Mineral Oil and Vinegar - Solutions kill insects by preventing the development of the insect’s cuticle. Mineraloil, with or without vinegar, can be sprayed on corn ears as soon as the silks are out - will control corn ear worm.Mineral oil on water controls mosquitoes, but may kill fish and chronically may be considered a carcinogen.Mint - Plant mint around entrances, garbage cans, dog pens, dumpsters, etc. to help keep ants, cabbage pests,aphids and flies away on hot, summer days. A few stems of dried mint will keep many insects, e.g., flies andfleas, from invading doorways, kennels, seeds, beans and rice. In a blender mix 8 oz. mint leaves in 1 qt. water,strain, add a few ounces of liquid soap and spray every 10 days. Try just using a few ounces of peppermint(pure castile) soap or Safe Solutions Tweetmint Enzyme Cleaner with Peppermint in water and see how manyinsects quickly succumb to these Pestisafes ® .Mint Tea Bags - will repel ants. You can make mint tea and spray decks, porches, sidewalks and ant hills.Minute Pirate Bugs - are very small (1/8”) predators with tiny heads on black bodies with a very distinctive whitechevron pattern on their backs. It only takes one bug per plant to remove thrips, aphids, spider mites, corn earworms, leafhoppers, nymphs, whiteflies, insect eggs, etc.Mirrors - Useful for inspecting “hidden areas” and under things.Mites - Adults are only about 1/50” long; very tiny; some species of predator mites change color in responseto their prey that can range from spider mites to thrips to termites. Adults have tear drop-shaped bodies and 8legs. <strong>The</strong>y can go into places and kill pests where your sprays can not reach.Mixed Cropping - Plants have a better chance of survival if they are integrated into a wide variety of plant life.This reduces the signals to the pests and encourages a healthy variety of beneficial organisms.Modify the Environment - and reduce the pest population size so it is acceptable and/or more easily handled.Adding flowers to attract beneficials is one way to modify the environment, as is companion planting, mixedcropping, repellant planting, and the use of protective herbs and plants. Inside one can caulk, adjust thetemperature, practice proper sanitation, properly store food and garbage and control moisture.Moist - Keeping the hair moist for a half-hour or more causes each hair to swell and crack lice nit glue.Molasses - can be used to catch and kill cutworms, grasshoppers and other pests. Hanging containers half-fullof a weak mixture of molasses (½ c. per gallon of water) in plum trees will (virtually) eliminate black-knot. SeeChapter 37. Spraying 1 c. sulfured molasses in 1 gal. warm water will quickly destroy fungal diseases. <strong>The</strong>plants virtually absorb the molasses instantly.Mold - e.g., Metarhizium anisopliae, can be used to kill cockroaches and termites.Monitoring - for pest activity on a weekly basis quickly controls pest problems as they begin and not whenthere has been a population explosion and/or significant damage. Visual monitoring is supplemented with stickytapes, traps, dogs, etc.Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) - Processed glutamic acid is the neurotoxic component in monosodiumglutamate. Neuor-scientists have found in animal studies that both glutamic acid and aspartic acid load on thesame receptors in the brain, cause idented brain lesions and neuro-endocrine disorders and act in an addictivefashion. Try using them in your baits, but not in your food.416


Moon Flower (Datura ioxia) - Do not eat the seeds or drink tea brewed from the seeds or you risk anticholinergicsigns and symptoms, including dilated pupils, tachycardia, hallucinations and/or urinary retention. Signs andsymptoms last 24 - 48 hours with supportive care and benzodiazepine administration. Ipomoea muricata mightcause hallucinations and cholinergic health effects, e.g., diaphoresis, salivation, lacrimation and/or diarrhea.Mosquito Netting - has been used for years to keep mosquitoes and black flies off people. Solutions, 1-800-342-9988, http://www.solutions.com has a hat made in Canada with a full head covering insect net hidden in aspecial pouch on the bill. Hung over your bed and tucked in all around the mattress will also protect you fromstinging insects, kissing bugs, flies, spiders, ticks, centipedes, mosquitoes and bed bugs (if the mattress is notinfested).Mosquito Repellent - Mosquitoes are very sensitive to certain scents, chamomile and citriodora especially. Bothare easy to grow and both are used in dry flower arrangements. Citriodora is also used in potpourri. To makemosquito repellent, take 1 oz. of green leaves from both plants and boil in 1 gal. water. Strain and place in therefrigerator. Before going outside, splash the mixture liberally over your face and exposed parts of your body(test on a small area first to see if you are sensitive). You will enjoy the fresh, citrus smell but the mosquitoeswill stay far away. Sweet basil also repels mosquitoes. Try Bite Blocker ® made of soybean oil, coconut oil andgeranium oil. Scented geraniums and Noxema will repel mosquitoes. Try Safe Solutions Insect Repellentand see Chapter 42.Moth Crystals - placed in an attic or closet will repel brown recluse spiders and spread along a fence line or intunnels, etc., will keep out snakes, rabbits, skunks, woodchucks and pets - replenish as needed - but rememberif “pest” mammals are repelled by poisonous moth crystals - you and your pets may also be harmed. Mothcrystals or mothball odors can be reduced by first removing them all and then scrubbing every inch of the areawith equal parts of white vinegar or naptha or mineral spirits or lemon juice and rubbing alcohol - repeat asneeded, follow the label directions exactly and air out thoroughly. According to the manufacturer, moth balls areonly to be used a moth deterrent, and it is a violation of federal law to use these (registered) volatile, syntheticpesticide poisons in a manner inconsistent with their package labeling! See Napthalene. We do not use orrecommend these volatile materials that are registered pesticides.Mounded Soil - Mound soil over squash vines you think are infested with squash vine borer to control this pest.Mountain Dew - works great to attract yellowjackets to your trap.Mountain Mint - A natural tick-repellant herb; rub your legs and pets with the leaves in tick season.Mountain Tobacco (Attenuata) - A graceful and ornamental species with white inch long flowers flushed pinkoutside. It is a night blooming annual that grows to 4’ - 5’ with pointed leaves. A very popular tobacco with theNavajo Indians. It is an all purpose plant. You can use it as an ornamental, filler and pesticide base. To makegarden pesticide, mix 1 tsp.powdered dried leaves with 1 tsp. dishwashing detergent into 1 gal. water. Applywith sprayer. Remember nicotine is a deadly poison to people and pets.Mowing - Proper mowing decreases flower and seed production and controls many diseases and pests. Forexample, mowing poison ivy closed to the ground in midsummer, followed by plowing and harrowing and/or bygrazing will control this noxious pest. Mowing can remove over 90% of the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon, butremove the clippings and remember the cutworm larvae will survive about half of the time and crawl 75’ or moreto reinfest. Mowing before sunrise catches the peak cutworm activity and can remove 100% of cutworm larvae.Proper mowing also helps destroy ticks.Mulch - Nearly any organic material can be used as mulch. Mulch 3” - 4” deep will safely suppress and/orsmother many weeds, especially when used in combination with a geotextile fabric. Some mulches may beacid or alkaline, causing problems with the soil’s pH. Sawdust will use up nitrogen as it decomposes, so mix insome grass clippings if you use sawdust. <strong>The</strong> color of plastic mulch can affect plants. Basil developing abovered mulch had better succulence and fresh weight and greater area than basil plants grown above black mulch.When basil is grown above green or yellow mulches, the basil plant develops significantly higher concentrationsof aroma compounds and phenolics than basil plants grown above white or blue mulches. Red mulch produceslarger tomatoes and sweeter, tastier strawberries. Color can and does affect the roots, stems, leaves, seeds,417


fruits and/or vigor of many food and/or crop plants. Mulches help control weeds and reduce moisture evaporationfrom the soil surface. <strong>The</strong>y also help to prevent rot caused by fruit fruit coming in contact with bare soil. Whentilled under, organic mulches become valuable soil amendments.Multiple <strong>Control</strong>s - Often one control will not work, so use several in order to eliminate pest problems. To onlyuse one control is like a prize fighter only using one type of punch.Music/Noise - Loud music/noise will often repel bats, nuisance wildlife and/or birds until you have a chance topermanently exclude them. Birds singing or special music playing 20 minutes before a foliar nutrient applicationcan increase plant growth up to 400%! It is said the sound opens the plant’s pores. See Radios and Lights.Mustard - You can use a crop rotation of mustard as an alternative to chemical fumigants. Plant mustard aftera wheat harvest in August or September. <strong>The</strong> mustard will quickly give you a green and yellow crop in 2 - 3weeks. After 6 weeks of growth you incorporate the entire crop back into the soil. Mustard plants produce smallamounts of MITC, the same active fumigant which is produced when metam sodium reacts with water. <strong>The</strong>incorporated mustard plants give off small amounts of MITC over the entire (potato) growing season. MustardMITC curbs nematodes and the green manure helps hold soil in place, enhances soil percolation and helpsstop “early die” in potatoes.Mustard Oil (a/k/a allylisothiocyanate) - Repels dogs, cats, wildlife such as deer and raccoons. Repels andkills insects, spiders, centipedes, etc.Mustards - are known to kill or repel some pest insects while attracting beneficial ones. A poultice of mustardseeds is a time-honored cure for a congested chest. Seeds also relive arthritis, rheumatism, toothaches andsore muscles. That’s because mustard contains a number of healing chemicals that stimulate circulation.Myrrh - Anti-microbial, anti-fungal, antiseptic, astringent, disinfectant, promotes spiritual awareness.Napthalene - will repel birds, bats, squirrels, rabbits, and many other animals. <strong>The</strong> precautionary statementsand hazards to humans and domestic animals that this toxin is a registered pesticide that can only be used aslabeled. May be fatal if swallowed. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid breathing vapors and avoid contactwith the eyes. Rooms should be well ventilated before occupancy. Do not contaminate water by cleaning ofequipment or disposal of wastes. <strong>The</strong> Author does not use nor recommend this volatile poison.Nasturtiums - will repel/control cucumber beetles, cabbage moths, Colorado potato beetles, white flies, squashbugs, and woolly aphids. <strong>The</strong>y trap aphids who prefer to eat them than other crops. Put a few in your salad;they look and taste great.Native Species - Plant (resistant) native species and not exotics or you will increase your pest control problems.Natrum muriaticum - is the fancy schmancy way of saying sodium chloride, table salt. This simple product willkill lice and scabies. Common salt is one of the most important elements in the world. It occurs naturally, insea water, as crystals of rock salt and as large deposits formed by evaporating lakes and seas. It is the conduitin our body’s neurological system. Salt was a form of money to the Roman soldiers (Salarium) and the word‘salary’ was derived from this Latin word. Possible side effects include depression, irritability, congestion, lossof smell and taste, canker sores, heartburn, nausea, aches and pains, etc. An ounce of salt in a gallon of waterwill kill spider mites. A tablespoon of salt in 2 gallons of water will kill cabbage worms. For some pest controluses: See Sodium Chloride.Natural Enemies - <strong>The</strong> best control of pest populations are their natural enemies. In the Central Valley ofCalifornia, after widespread applications of DDT to citrus and other crops in 1946, the Vedalia beetle, which preyson cottony-cushion scale, was practically destroyed. <strong>The</strong> cottony-cushion scale was not destroyed by DDT andincreased greatly. Only after the DDT residues were no longer toxic to the Vedalia beetle and this beneficial wasonce again established in the citrus groves, was the natural balance once again restored.Natural Herbicides - Black walnut, tree of heaven, spotted knapweed, rye, sweet clover and sunflowers synthesizetheir own “natural herbicides” that help them decrease weed growth. This ability is called “allelopathy”. Note:418


Spotted knapweed begins producing catechin whenever you stress (tap on) the plants and will kill weeds; grassand wheat are resistant.Needs - All living organisms have 5 basic needs: air, water, temperature range, food and shelter. Deprive anyliving thing of 1 or more of these basic needs and it will die.Neem - Neem is a broad-leaved evergreen related to mahogany and has been worshipped as the goddessNeemari Devi in India. Neem has been used for over 4,000 years. Its medicinal qualities are mentioned in theearliest Sanskrit writings. It has been called the “village pharmacy” to treat a wide variety of disorders. Neemhas strong antiseptic, anti-viral and antifungal ingredients. <strong>The</strong> tropical neem tree (Azadirachta indica) has lacyGrevillea-like leaves, and is being spread to missionaries all over the world by ECHO located in Fort Meyers,Florida http://www.echonet.org/. Neem oil extracts (especially from the seeds) have been used as medicinalpreparations and pest control products in Asia and Africa for centuries. Neem oil is composed of a complexmixture of biologically active compounds. Neem has a strong, unpleasant odor and a bitter taste. Its variousactive ingredients acts as repellents, feeding inhibitors, egg-laying deterrents, growth retardants, sterilants and/or direct toxins. <strong>The</strong>se multiple modes of action make it unlikely that insects or pathogens will develop resistanceto neem compounds because they affect the pests in so many different ways. Neem has both contact andsystemic action in plants. Seed dust can irritate your lungs, but in most forms, neem is not irritating to humanskin. <strong>The</strong> active ingredients biodegrade rapidly in sunlight and within a few weeks in the soil. Neem oil is anexcellent registered insecticide and insect repellent and fungicide. Put 20 leaves and 5 slices of bread into ablender with 1/4 teaspoon of vegetable oil. Blend until you have a good mixture. Remove the mix and form intoballs 1” in diameter each. Place balls in corners and cupboards. Replace every month for best results of nontoxicroach control. You will initially see only small roaches produced which eventually die out. Neem is usuallyharmless to the natural enemies of insect pests, because the beneficials are not exposed normally the way thepests are. This has been attributed to neem’s requirements for oral ingestion, lack of toxicity to adult insects,systemic activity, limited persistence, and anti-infectant and/or repellent properties (Schmutterer, et al 1990).Neem Oil - Neem oil is considered to be non-toxic and yet it affects more than 200 species of insects. Neemrepels mosquitoes, biting flies, sand fleas and ticks and helps heal wounds, mange, poison ivy and poison oakand has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties.Negative Ions - in the air repel insects; in the water kill insects (termites) that are sprayed directly.Negative Ion Plates (including Earth Cards) - are made of anodized aluminum that is completely natural andnever need recharging - they can be effective for two years or more and when placed in a proper grid patternwill repel and remove many pests within 3 - 30 days. You may also notice the air is fresher and your plants willgrow better. Note: <strong>The</strong>re are several manufacturers (or providers) of purple anodized aluminum or negative ionplates that create or focus natural energy. Earthtek Corporation has the trademark names Earth Cards and BugBanishers and advertises these are useful in pest control. <strong>The</strong>re has been previous literature, e.g., VibrationalMedicine and Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs and Star Signs and studies that other anodized aluminum plates alsorepel insect pests and create useful natural energy. <strong>The</strong> other plates have been used in the space shuttle andelsewhere to reduce depression and create a feeling of well being and/or euphoria. Some doctors use them to“heal” people. Some of the literature states the plates usually contain fragmented granite and the reorientedcrystalline granules are embedded in a polyester resin sealed in plastic creating a single “crystal” that constantlyemits positive energy, capable of penetrating any material. <strong>The</strong> Advanced Level Urban and Industrial IPM - PurdueUniversity correspondence course (see pages 373 and 198) calls the use of Earth Cards “absurd”. <strong>The</strong> advancedcourse then goes on to discuss the use of various volatile pesticide poisons, etc. to control pests. Pesticideshave never truly controlled, much less eliminated, pests; they have, however, poisoned many people includingthis Author. Someone should tell these IPM experts that IPM does not mean “Include pesticides monthly” or“integrated pesticide management,” and that hundreds of schools and thousands of people have found these“absurd” devices work better than volatile poisons in controlling pests.Nematodes - are microscopic; pest nematodes attack plant roots; beneficial or entomopathogenic nematodes(depending on the species) attack soil-borne pests, e.g., cutworms, caterpillars, bill bugs, fleas, termites, grubs,iris borers, cabbage root maggots, strawberry root weevils, Japanese beetle grubs, etc. Commercially availablebeneficial nematodes - tiny insect-attacking worms - attack termites, fleas, grubs, and some garden pests; findthem in garden catalogues etc.419


Other safe controls for nematodes include:1. Root knot nematodes can be destroyed by planting a season-long “garden” of lana or hairy vetch seedand elbon or cereal rye seed. <strong>The</strong> seeds should be a few inches apart. <strong>The</strong>n just before the rye blooms,cut it down (letting it decompose) and let the vetch and rye grass grow together until the end of the season.2. Add compost to increase the organic matter content of the soil.3. Add sugar or molasses at a rate of 1 pound per 50 feet. (Also see: Mustard.)Neozygites fresenii - is an aphid-killing fungus and can be used on control cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii.Netting - will protect plant crops, trees, people, homes and animals from many pest attacks, e.g., cats, birds,deer, rabbits, chewing insects, and will prevent flyiing insects from laying eggs.Newspaper - wet several sheets to help them cling together, anchor the edges with rocks or soil - top with woodchips (for appearance sake) - the newspaper mat will smother weeds. Roll some up for a disposable fly swatter.Mix torn-up newspaper with water in a barrel or pail and stir it every day for a week or two. It becomes a slurry;pour the slurry around the base of plants, It hardens into a mat no cutworm can penetrate.Niacin - Vitamin B 3(nicotinic acid) mixed in a bait disorientates many insects. NIACIN FIGHTS CARDIOVASCULARDISEASE (January 2007) <strong>The</strong> New York Times reported (1) that inexpensive vitamin B-3, niacin, “can increaseHDL as much as 35 percent when taken in high doses, usually about 2,000 milligrams per day. It also lowersLDL . . . (and) triglycerides as much as 50 percent.” <strong>The</strong> Times quoted Steven E. Nissen, M.D., president of theAmerican College of Cardiology, as saying: “Niacin is really it. Nothing else available is that effective.” (Mostof the cholesterol in your body is made by the liver from the saturated fats you eat.) Niacin was first used tosuccessfully lower serum cholesterol in 1955. (2) Since then, placebo-controlled studies have confirmed thatniacin prevents second heart attacks, and niacin also reduced strokes. One study showed that after 15 years,men taking niacin had an <strong>11</strong> percent lower death rate. Although a warm “flush” is a common side effect of niacin,the vitamin is safer than any drug.Nicotine - Once a widely used insecticide, its high toxicity is proof that “natural” does not always mean “safe”.Some of our other more infamous poisons, hemlock and cyanide, also come from nature. Studies stress theneed to wash immediately after making any nicotine applications and require the use of protective clothing.Night Shade (Atropa belladonna) - commonly known as deadly night shade or belladonna is an extremely toxic,deadly killer, but atropine, an extract from the same plant, can be used as an antidote to nerve gas/pesticidepoison exposure.Night Vision Glasses - especially with infrared can be used to conduct nighttime inspection and control operationsfor nocturnal pests, e.g., bed bugs, roaches, rats, mice, carpenter ants, etc.Nitrogen - can be used in a controlled atmosphere storage and package flushing operations.Noise - <strong>The</strong>re are gas cannons, radios, 12 gauge shotgun scare shells, pistol launched pyrotechnics, electronicbird repellers, etc. that you can use to scare animal pests away from your property over to your neighbor’s.Non-target Species - <strong>The</strong> things you kill or injure other than the pest whenever you spray broad-spectrumpesticide poisons.No-stick cooking spray - stop grass build-up under your (clean) lawn mower by spraying food release orcooking spray there before you mow.Not Nice to Lice ® , Lice R Gone ® , Safe Solutions Pet Wash and Insect Repellent, Not Nice to Bugs ® , NotNice to Skin Irritations ® , Not Nice to Odors ® , Not Nice to Scabies ® , Not Nice to Dust Mites ® , etc. - are allperfect Pestisafes ® that quickly kill pest with EPA exempted ingredients, or microbes or with protease enzymesand surfactants and will never create pest resistance and are considered either to be non-toxic and/or GRAS(Generally Recognized As Safe) to people and pets. Call 1-800-221-6188 for a dealer or supplier near you.420


Nothing - Doing nothing is a choice. We have repeatedly proved that if you stop spraying pesticides for a fewyears there is less damage because the natural predators can reestablish themselves.No-till Farming - Leaving all crop residue on top of the field will stop year-round solar radiation from scorchingthe ground in tropical settings. No-till greatly minimizes soil disturbance and thereby greatly improves the healthof the soil and actually saves labor and costs. Without ground cover, up to 90% of rain can be lost. Decayingplant residue is green manure and makes excellent mulch to help suppress weeds and improve the soil structure.Noxema ® - Lightly cover exposed skin to repel biting insects, e.g., mosquitoes. Noxema ® will also repel somecrawling insects, e.g., ants, temporarily.Nutmeg Oil (Myristica fragrans) - Has caused some beetles and grubs to just stop feeding. Nutmeg topicallyalleviates muscle aches and arthritis pain. Never take essential oils internally. Ingestion can be toxic.Nutrasweet ® - See Aspartame.Nutrition - Proper nutrition protects plants from pests, diseases and viruses.Oak Leaves - repel insects in a green house by slow burning oak leaves in a large metal can punched withaeration holes - put can in a charcoal grill first - so you don’t burn down the greenhouse. Oak leaf mulch willrepel snails and cutworms.Oats - <strong>The</strong> oat plant is toxic to sawfly larvae.Observe - Many people see but they do not observe or look at something very carefully. You may have seensomething thousands of times, but you can not describe exactly what you have seen because you really werenot paying close attention. For example, how many steps are there to your own porch or front door? Start toobserve and not merely see.Occupants - Often your greatest source of pest control data and information; the occupants can tell you whatand where they are, where they have been, what they are in, how many of them you have to deal with, etc.Odors - can be used to attract or repel pests.Oils - Have been used for years as adjuvants and for pest control. In 200 B.C.E. the Roman, Cato the Censor,advocated oil sprays for pest control. Diluted oils that are plant-based (canola, castor, coconut, corn, etc.),mixed at a rate of 1 tsp. oil and 1 tsp. soap or Safe Solutions Tweetmint Enzyme Cleaner in 1 gal. water (Youcan add some chamomile or compost tea) will help prevent fungus and pest and disease problems. You lightlyspray daily for the first week; then weekly and/or as needed. DO NOT SPRAY ON FUZZY LEAF PLANTS ORTHEY WILL BURN!OILS: dormant oils, horticultural superior oils, VolckAdvantages: No residues on fruit when applied prebloom. Effectively controls many overwintering pests.Disadvantages: Must be applied while tree is dormant, though lighter weight oils are being developedthat can be used in spring and summer. Must be applied when temperatures are above 40° F but below80° F for several hours to avoid injury.Oils can be used to control insects, mites or plant pathogens. Oils are generally effective against soft-bodiedinsects such as aphids, scale crawlers, mealybugs, spider mites and whiteflies. Small larvae of some caterpillarsand sawflies may also be controlled with oils. Dormant oil sprays are also used against overwintering eggs andscales. Horticultural plants oils are commonly used to suppress certain fungal diseases like powdery mildewand black spot on roses. When applied to the plant, a thin film of oil must thoroughly cover the target insect ormite. <strong>The</strong> oil plugs the spiracles or pores through which the insect breathes and the insect dies by suffocation.Oils can also disrupt insect membrane function or structure and can also disrupt feeding by the insect . Whenused against plant pathogens, oils may smother fungal growth and reduce spore germination on treated surfaces.Apply dormant oil sprays only after winder hardening has occurred. Some neem oil products contain an additionalactive ingredient, azadiraction, which is an insect anti-feeding agent and insect growth relator. When applyingoils, it is best to agitate hand pump sprayers frequently and keep tank spray agitators running to reduce the421


isk of oil separation. Remember, oils can injure susceptible plant species. Symptoms include leaf scorchingand browning, defoliation, reduced flowering and stunted growth. Do not treat stressed plants and apply whenconditions are lower than 85 o F. and 90 percent humidity. <strong>The</strong> longer wet oil sprays remain on foliage, thegreater the chance of phytotoxicity.Olive Oil - Olive oil is known for its smothering abilities and it will kill lice and scabies and many other insectsand can be added to soap water solutions to help control pests. Olive oil heath benefits are: Reduces LDL (bad)cholesterol; lowers blood pressure; decreases blood sugar levels; increases the absorption of vitamins, e.g., A, D,E and K; stimulates the bladder to secrete bile, which helps prevent gallstones; promotes cellular growth; speedshealing and helps the metabolism. No wonder why olive oil is so present in the scriptures. Helicobacter pylori islinked to a majority of peptic ulcers and to some types of gastric cancer, and resistance of the microorganism toantibiotic treatment is now found worldwide. Virgin olive oil is an unrefined vegetable oil that contains a significantamount of phenolic compounds....that are stable for hours in this acidic environment. <strong>The</strong>y exert a strongbactericidal activity against eight strains of H. pylori, three of them resistant to some antibiotics. Among the phenoliccompounds, the dialdehydic form of decarboxymethyl ligstroside aglycon showed the strongest bactericidal effectat a concentration as low as 1.3 g/mL. So, virgin olive oil is a potential chemopreventive agent for peptic ulcer orgastric cancer, but this bioactivity should be confirmed in vivo in the future. Source: Journal of Agricultural andFood Chemistry Volume 55, Pages 680-686, “In vitro activity of olive oil polyphenols against Helicobacter pylori”Authors: C. Romero, E. Medina, J. Vargas, M. Brenes, A. de Castrohttp://www.healthsalon.org/69/helicobacter-pylori-is-linked-to-a-majority-of-peptic-ulcers-olive-oil-helps-2/Onion and Garlic (Allium cepa and Allium sativum) - Onion and garlic have significant blood sugar loweringaction. <strong>The</strong> principal active ingredients are believed to be allyl propyl disulphide (APDS) and diallyl disulphideoxide (allicin), although other constitutents such as flavonoids may play a role as well. Onion extract was foundto reduce blood sugar levels during oral and intravenous glucose tolerance. <strong>The</strong> effect improved as the dosagewas increased; however, beneficial effects were observed even for low levels that used in the diet (e.g., 25 to200 grams). <strong>The</strong> effects were similar in both raw and boiled onion extracts.Onion and Mint - are natural flea/beetle repellents.Onions - have historically been known to have antibacterial action and will also repel mites, borers and rosechafer. Onion sprays (simmered or juiced) control fungus and many disease organisms on plants. Stems ofwind onions tied to susceptible plants will control cutworms. If you plant onions around your cabbage, brusselsprouts, broccoli and cauliflower plants (as a companion planting), you will confuse cabbage lopers and cabbageworms. <strong>The</strong> sulfur in onions may be helpful in controlling some fungal diseases.Open-ended Coffee Cans - can be used to keep rabbits from destroying your seedlings. You can cover witha clear plastic lid on the top end until the plants get too tall.Orange Juice - 1 gallon of orange juice diluted with 2 gallons of water and a dash of soap will kill fire ant colonieswhen poured into the soil. Check our herbicidal qualities. See Vitamin C.Orange Oil - Repels dogs and cats and some insects. <strong>Control</strong>s many insect and fungus problems.Orange Peels - have pectin, a type of carbohydrate that has “prebiotic” properties. <strong>The</strong>se prebiotic carbohydrates,also known as oligosaccharides, are found in certain fruits and vegetables, and while they are nondigestible,they increase the growth of probiotic bacteria in the large intestine, which stimulate health and preventfoodborne pathogen growth.Orange Skins - Half an empty orange skin set out in the garden will trap snails and slugs.Oregano - A perennial herb used in cooking that is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, anti-microbial,immune stimulant, etc. Oregano is fairly volatile and can burn leaves if not diluted properly.Organic Fertilizer - Properly composted chicken manure like Get Set Grow ® rebuilds the soil. Increases microorganismsand naturally controls grubs, moles and weeds. Plants grown on rich, organic soil without synthetic422


fertilizers and sprays will normally not be attacked because most pest insects do not like their taste.Organic Gardening/Farming - Organic is defined by a list of “don’ts,” mainly the avoidance of chemical pesticides,herbicides and fertilizers. <strong>The</strong> “do’s” are more numerous and complex. <strong>The</strong>y include basic practices such ascompost-making and crop rotation as well as far-reaching efforts such as growing mixed crops, promoting adiverse ecosystem around the farm or garden, providing trace elements, and preventing erosion. Other effortsembrace philosophies as well as practices: maintaining healthy and contented livestock grazed outdoors onpasture rather than fed indoors on grain; using on-farm inputs or sourcing them locally; ensuring safe and fairlabor practices; preserving seed diversity; saving farm communities; and putting freshness, nutritiousness andflavor ahead of profit. This is true organic gardening or farming.Organic Mosquito Repellents - Buzz Away ® is a non-toxic, outdoor protection formula of natural ethyl alcoholfrom plants, pure essential oils of citronella, cedarwood, lemongrass, peppermint and eucalyptus. Kiss MyFace ® contains Citronella Oil and Rhodinol (from grasses grown in Sri Lanka) and Terpineol (from pine trees),along with moisturizers and botanicals. Neem oil/Azardirachtin are excellent insect repellents. Crushed leavesfrom scented marigold, lemon thyme, citronella grass, peppermint, eucalyptus, sweet basil, and/or sassafrasall have also been used to repel insects - but before you cover your body with these volatile oils - alwaystest a small area (1” square) to see if you too, are repelled (or allergic) to them. Try Safe Solutions InsectRepellent and read Chapter 42.Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera) a/k/a the hedge apple - A fast growing shrub often grown as a hedgebecause of its density and thorns. Pretty foliage with greenish flowers. Good as a background or border plant.<strong>The</strong> roots, wood and bark will repel insects and the wood resists rot. <strong>The</strong> crushed fruits of this plant are saidto attract and kill spiders and cockroaches and can be used to repel many arthropods, mice and other rodents.From the mulberry family.Overseed - Overseed the lawn and properly apply compost for healthy turf growth to prevent weeds.Oxidants - See spotted knapweed; these may be the quickest way to kill plants.Ozone - is a powerful oxidizer that can control spaces with mold contamination and second-hand smoke problems.Ozone in 30 minutes purifies the air and can also be used as a soil fumigant and for disease contol inorchards and greenhouses.. When used at high levels, ozone as been used to control bed bugs, but the bedbug control results vary.Paecilomyces fumosoroseus - is a fungus that is a biological pesticide, effective against spider mites, thrips,whiteflies and other insect plant pests. <strong>The</strong> fungus penetrates their bodies to feed and grow. New spores emergeto infect other pests, sparing non-host species.Painted Surfaces - are more resistant and/or repellant to cockroaches, powder post beetles and carpenter bees.Pantyhose - You can use pantyhose or nylon stockings to keep pests off almost every vegetable. Wrap cornand melons in “socks” made of pantyhose so that as they grow the “socks” expand with them. Cut a section,tie one end, and slip it over the plant, fruit, or vegetable and then tie the other end shut.Paper bags - Spray the inside with 3M Super 77 or Scotch 77 adhesive and drop in some roach feces and/orattractant and strategically place your large, disposable (pheromone) roach trap.Parrafin Oil - can be used as an insecticide and acaracide.Parsnip Roots - Make a diluted puree of parsnip roots to kill mosquito larvae, fruitflies, Mexican bean beetle,pea aphid, etc.Passion - Often was the only thing that kept the Author going.Patience - When the destroyer sends a pest to destroy the crops, e.g., aphids, G-d responds and sends beneficialorganisms, e.g., ladybugs, to control the pests. Sadly most people then complain about their free pest solution423


and ask me what to use to spray and kill their answer.Peace of Mind - <strong>The</strong> main ingredient in Pestisafes ® and Safe Solutions, Inc. products.Peach (Prunus persica) - <strong>The</strong> leaves and flowers are toxic to many insects. Note: A peach tree can grow froma nectarine pit and a nectarine tree can grow from a peach pit.Peanut Butter - attracts ants, crickets, squirrels and rodents and may also attract people seeking to avoid diabetesand/or heart disease. A great source of fiber and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that both improveglucose and insulin stability as well as protect against heart disease. But, remember, 1.5 million Americansare allergic to peanuts with over 100 deaths each year!Peanut Oil - Put ¼ cup in a hot bath; soak for 1 hour and keep the water moving. Dry off and put a light coveringof peanut oil on the skin to control scabies and other mites. Do not use if sensitive to peanuts.Peas - A diet of peas will sterilize mice. Pea protein is repellant, toxic and sterilizes some insects.Peat Moss - helps plants grow but could cause lung infections. Be careful.PEG - Polyethylene glycol comes as solid or oily liquid. <strong>The</strong> Author has worked with the oily liquid, which is veryeffective as a non-volatile solvent because of its high boiling point. Every PEG-type surfactant has excellenthygroscopic property and as the degree of condensation increases, the hygroscopic property is increased, and,therefore, is wonderful for killing insects and arachnids.Peladow ® - Sprinkled on ice will melt the ice, sprinkled on gravel or playgrounds will keep down the dust and killweeds and when sprinkled in crawl spaces, etc. will kill termites permanently or until flushed away.Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium [in Europe] or Hedeoma pulegioides [in the New World]) - A small leafedperennial herb that has spikes of lavender, fragrant flowers. Pliny the Elder named the plant because of thecommon practice of covering the floors to control “pulex” or “pulices” (fleas) (Stuart 1979). Pennyroyal relievestoothaches and is thought to heal the bites of snakes and serpents. <strong>The</strong> plant will repel many insects, e.g.,fleas, flies, ticks, mosquitoes, ants, kissing bugs, gnats and flies. Take some fresh leaves; crush them and rubthem on your skin and clothes. <strong>The</strong> oils have a minty fragrance that repels ticks, chiggers, flies, mosquitoesand gnats. Ground pennyroyal is one of the most effective tick deterrents available. Dust powder made fromthe leaves can be scattered around areas where the pet sleeps and plays. It can be used as a biting insectrepellent when rubbed on skin or clothes. It was used to cause abortions in the past and often killed themother. See if you react to a small amount first. It has often caused toxic problems in people and pets.Do not use internally!Pepper - Black pepper extracts discourage insect pests from laying eggs on leaves and will control many peststhat are soft-bodied in the larval state because the pepper extract can easily penetrate their bodies. Pepper oiland/or dust will protect grain supplies and dwellings from insect and some rodent pests.Pepper and Salt Water - Put 2 oz. table salt (sodium chloride) and 1 oz. white pepper in 1 pint water and spraythe mixture around areas inside the home wherever ants have been seen. This mixture is also very effectivewhen applied around the foundation walls outside to repel ants - you can add a little soap as a “kicker”.Pepper Sprays - work best when made from fresh or frozen peppers and can be used to control ants, mites,caterpillars and to control some plant viruses, e.g., ring spot and cucumber mosaic.Peppermint - Crushed dried peppermint leaves securely tied in small sachets or bags will make your summerhome/cottage smell better - toss them in closets, drawers, dishwashers, stoves, under crawls, beds and furnitureto repel mice. Peppermint inhaled or eaten will also keep you more alert. Peppermint soap diluted in watermakes an excellent insect spray. Peppermint is a natural hybrid of the garden spearmint and the water mint.<strong>The</strong> principle components of peppermint oil are menthol, menthone and menthyl acetate, although analysis ofpeppermint’s volatile oil will typically show more than 40 different compounds. Peppermint oil (and tea) havebeen used to fight the common cold and have demonstrated significant anti-viral activity. We have found when424


added to enzyme cleaners or when used alone peppermint oil and/or soaps are excellent pest control chemicals.All these natural components of peppermint oil give a wonderful wax stripping ability. Isn’t it interesting theoutside of insects is covered in wax, and peppermint soap quickly kills most insects. Crickets sprayed with 1oz. peppermint soap per 1 qt. water die in 75 seconds or less. Mice are repelled for months by a few drops ofpeppermint oil.Peppermint Oil - controls and/or repels many rodent and insect pests, e.g., lice. Peppermint oil is bacteriostaticand anti-spasmolytic. Put 1 - 3 drops in a glass of water and it can be used as an antiseptic mouth rinse and itwill relax breathing. It counteracts fainting and dizziness sensations. Add 2 - 3 drops of peppermint oil to yourtea or water and sip it during the day during flu and cold season.Peppermint Soap - especially with added enzymes, e.g., protease, quickly destroys even those insects, e.g.,yellowjackets that seem “immune” to enzyme cleaners and/or protease enzymes. Peppermint oil kills on contactand even has a fumigating-type action. Try using them to kill drywood termites, fleas, carpenter ants, andeven powder post beetles, because they penetrate deeply into the wood. Our laboratory tests show that 2 oz.peppermint soap per 1 qt. water kills crickets in 45 seconds. Fermented enzyme cleaners diluted at that ratiokilled the same number of crickets in 1½ minutes. Safe Solutions Tweetmint Enzyme Cleaner with peppermintand sodium borate diluted at a rate of 1 oz. per quart water killed them in 15 - 25 seconds.Peppers - One of the world’s hottest chili peppers, the red habanero pepper, is about 60 times hotter than itsfiery cousin, the jalapeno, and 10 times hotter than cayenne. Mexican and America’s southwest produce chilipiquin or bird’s eye peppers which have 140,000 heat units. Dundicuts from Pakistan have 55,000 to 65,000heat units. All of these peppery ingredients can be diluted in soapy water and sprayed or misted or the juice canbe mixed into caulk, paint, glue, Vaseline, honey, lard, oils and/or rubber coating materials, and any mammal ormollusk unfortunate enough to be sprayed or to take a nibble will get a burning surprise. Sprinkle some freshlyground hot pepper on ant hills or where you want nuisance wildlife to vacate. If you have any doubt these pepperswork, pick a few and then wipe the sweat from your eyes...you will be in absolute agony. Pepper sprays areeven used to stop people “dead in their tracks.”Pepsi ® - or another pop or beer will kill mice and rats if they drink it before it looses its “fizz” (it will blow up theirstomachs) - just one example of a Rodentisafe ® .Perfect Pesticide - http://www.thebestcontrol.com/ideal-pesticide.htm and/orhttp://www.safesolutionsinc.com/Enzyme_Cleaner_Pest_<strong>Control</strong>.htmPerfume - Apply perfume, aftershave or cologne to any entry point to stop ants.Perwinkle (Vinca major) - Perwinkle leaves are for stopping bleeding; simply crush the leaf and press it intothe wound or into your nose to stop a nose bleed.Persian Lilac or the Chinaberry Tree - Melia azedarach (Linnaeus) is a close relative of the neem tree andalso represents a promising source of natural/botanical pesticides or Pestisafes ® which offer safer, moreenvironmentally friendly and more efficient alternatives to volatile, synthetic pesticide poisons. This tree’s extractsmay even be safer than neem and equivalent to neem’s pesticidal qualities. Crushed rape fruits can be ethanolextracted and/or simply soaked in water for several days in the dark and then sprayed on plants.Persistence - What works in one situation may not work in another for some unknown reason, so be persistentand utilize an ever-changing variety of control or repellant strategies.Peruvian Ground Cherry (Nicandra physalodes) - <strong>The</strong> crushed leaves repel flies. Plant them near the barnto keep your animals free from flies. Plant in a green house to remove whitefly.Pesticides - Any poison capable of killing “pests” is capable of killing off all beneficial insects and you and yours.No synthetic insecticide poison has ever been (or ever will be) developed to which insects failed to developimmunity. Gloally, over $31 billilon is spent each year on pesticides. During 1998, approximately 1.1 billionpounds ($7.4 billion) of pesticides were sold in the United States. Unfortunately, pesticides do not control pestsand they pose formidable health risks for children, people, pets and wildlife.425


Pestisafes ® - Using a safe product to control pest problems. Normally, the Author believes, there is no needto register food and/or GRAS items or techniques that can not harm the public or the environment, but providesafe and far more effective pest control.Pest-proof Your Building - An enormous amount of time and money can be saved if you pest-proof your building.This preventative control is non-toxic, sustainable and very effective in reducing all pest invasions.Pest-resistant Plant Species - Use plants that the pests will not readily attack.Pest-resistant Trash Receptacles - help control insect and rodent infestations.Petroleum Jelly - Many insects are attracted to yellow, white, or blue colors - use an index card as a trap bycovering it with petroleum jelly or honey - other insects, e.g., roaches and earwigs are repelled by petroleumjelly. You can also use petroleum jelly to make your roach traps escape proof. Most insects and/or arachnidswill not cross over petroleum jelly barriers.Petunias - will repel aphids, leafhoppers and rose chafers.Pheromones - are volatile chemical odorants that are released into the air by insects to communicate information,often over large distances. Once emitted, a pheromone depends upon the wind for its transmittal. Insectsuse pheromones in many ways: for example, they may signal danger or they may attract male insects to matewith virgin females. This attractiveness is especially important for some insects like the gypsy moth becausethe female does not fly, and their procreation depends largely upon the ability of the female to “call” a male formating. Since many insect pheromones have been identified and synthesized by biochemists, the prospectof using synthetic pheromones to jam communications and thus disrupt insect mating is an attractive meansof biological control currently under study. Effective use of pheromones requires a basic understanding of thebehavioral responses of insects to the amount of pheromone as well as an understanding of the its physicaldispersion and dilution by the atmosphere. <strong>Control</strong> pests with their own perfume.Physical Barriers - Row covers, nettingAdvantages: Non-toxic, no residues. Allows water, air, and sunlight to pass through.Disadvantages: Row covers prevent pollination of fruits and vegetables by insects; durability varies from1 to 3 seasons; considerable damage may result from pests that emerge under row covers.Physical or Mechanical <strong>Control</strong>s - such as flyswatters, screens, doorsweeps, aerosol foam, insulation, ducttape, hot air dryers or guns, steam, rinse-and-vacs, vacuums, water-blasting cannons and/or guns, traps,caulking, cement, boiling water, hoes, rakes, flame weeders, mulches, sanitation, removal of infested items,geotextiles, hand pulling, mechanical cultivation, competitive and allopathic planting to control, displace and/orweaken weeds, etc. will keep many pests in check.Pictures - You need to compare your pest specimen with pictures so you can properly diagnose what you haveand to take pictures of damage so you can see if there is subsequent infestation.Pest pictures: http://www.ent.iastate.edu/list/directory/92/vid/4 orhttp://www.ivyhall.district96.k12.il.us/4TH/KKHP/1insects/bugmenu.html orhttp://www.lancaster,unl.edu/pest/resources/Pine Oil - Mix 1/8 oz. of essential oil of pine in a cup of liquid Castille soap and use as a flea shampoo for your pet.Piperine - an alkaloid found naturally in plants belonging to the Piperaceae family, such as Piper nigrum L,commonly known as black pepper, and Piper longum L, commonly known as long pepper. It can be used asused as flavoring, a medicinal and as an insecticide. Piperine is stimulates the body’s natural ability to generateheat and assists in the absorption of selenium, vitamin B, and ß-carotene. Piperine has been used to treatathletes and elderly people whose ability to absorb nutrients through their intestinal lining has been impaired.Piperine is the major pungent substance in these plants and is isolated from the fruit of the black pepper andlong pepper plants. Piperine comprises 1 to 99% of these plants. <strong>The</strong> term black pepper is used both for theplant Piper nigrum and the spice that is mainly in the fruit of the plant. Piperine is a solid substance essentiallyinsoluble in water. It is a weak base that is tasteless at first, but leaves a burning aftertaste. Piperine is a pale426


yellow to yellow crystalline solid with a pungent odor and a burning aftertaste. It is slightly irritating to skin andeyes. Piperine is structurally related to capsaicin, the chemical responsible for making chili peppers hot. Althoughthis active ingredient has been extracted from dried black peppercorns, it is manufactured synthetically forcommercial uses. It is often added to prepared food to enhance aroma and flavor. Black pepper and long pepperhave been used in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of various diseases. One such preparation is knownby the Sanskrit name trikatu and consists of black pepper, long pepper and ginger. Another preparation, knownby the Sanskrit name pippali, consists of long pepper. It is thought that piperine is one of the major bioactivesubstances of these Ayurvedic remedies. Black pepper has also been used in traditional Chinese medicine totreat seizure disorders. A derivative of piperine, antiepilepsirine, has also been used in China to treat seizuredisorders. Some recent research suggests that piperine may enhance the bioavailability of some drugs andnutritional substances. Piperine is contraindicated for those who are hypersensitive to any component of apiperine-containing preparation. Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid piperine supplementation.Pitch - Variable pitch ultrasonic and sonic sound waves can repel pests. Putting gravel around your home/garageand making sure your entire home/garage will help keep the soil drier and helps prevent termites from tunnellinginto your property. See Coal Tar Pitch.Pitfall or Blunder Traps - Any large container, 1 - 5-gallon size, with a hole in the bottom for drainage can besunk into the ground-up to its lip. Crawling insects, scorpions, spiders and other arthropods will fall into the pitso you can monitor their presence. Putting a cover over it (but not sealing it) prevents people from falling in andmakes the pit fall trap more attractive to pests.Plain Water - A strong stream is effective in destroying aphids, mealy bugs, mud dauber nests, and red spidermites. It also makes cats and dogs leave your yard quickly. Some city water is so toxic it kills sprayed cricketsin less than a minute.Plant Extracts - Plants produce extracts that repel insects and other pests, deter feeding and oviposition andhave delayed effects on growth and reproduction. Plants can not get up and run away, or swat their attackers,or even yell or scream for help. Plants in natural ecosystems are entirely dependent on these defensesto protect themselves against insects and other herbivores. Plants have survived quite well without syntheticpesticides since the beginning of time. <strong>The</strong> most effective control measures against plant pests and diseasesare natural and can be enhanced by proper selection and breeding of resistant plant species resistant to thevarious pathogens. Parts of plants can be used for pest control or to increase plant fertility, e.g., marigolds,sesame chaff and equisetum (horsetail). Companion planting also can be used to control or limit pest problems.Taking the extracts or juices or oils of a plant or weed not being bothered by a particular pest problem, e.g.,insect, arachnid, fungus, mold, disease, and then spraying a diluted preparation on plants you wish to protectoften will control the pest problem.Plant Product Fungicides or Insecticides - Any person who has studied plant-insect interactions knows howmany natural insect toxins and/or repellents are found in many plant species and how effective they are againstpests. Common sense will tell you that is why our plants survived in the natural world. Many of these naturaltoxins also are harmful to animals and people, e.g., poison ivy, so you must be careful with plant toxins.<strong>The</strong> following compilation represents a portion of the work under Project 999 of the Pennsylvania AgriculturalExperiment Station, begun during World War II in an effort to find new insecticides and fungicides to replace thosemade scarce by war restrictions on shipping and other disruptions of the normal flow of commercial materials.Covering as it does the results of biological testing on a group of approximately 10,000 materials, we have onlypicked out a few examples of natural controls. <strong>The</strong> abbreviations used for both plant fungicides and insecticidesare as follows: In Stating the results of the toxicity tests, ST, MT, HT and NT indicate slight toxicity (10-30%),medium toxicity (30-80%), high toxicity (above 80%), and no toxicity (below 10%), respectively. Where theauthors gave no indication of the degree of toxicity, T (toxic) has been used. <strong>The</strong> concentrations of chemicalstested have been given where known; thus “HT Sclerotinia at 1%” indicates that the compound when testedat 1 per cent concentration was highly toxic to Sclerotina. <strong>The</strong> Rigveda, an ancient Indian religious book, thecomposition thereof is conventionally dated before 1500 B.C.E. Some writers note astronomical references inthe Rigveda dating it as early as 4000 B.C.E. <strong>The</strong> Rigveda was the first book to mention the use of poisonousplants for pest control.427


Plant Product Insecticides and/or Fungicides - <strong>The</strong> 1948 edition of “A Catalogue of Insecticides and Fungicides”compiled by Donald E. H. Frear, Ph.D., Volume II noted these and others:Acacia catechu Willd. (Catechu; cutch).Exts. were not repellent to Japanese beetle; used as insect repellent in a paint or coating for applicationto underwater structures to prevent decay and ravages by marine life, insects, vermin, and rodents; oilof aromatic cachou “A” T. Lucilia cuprina larvae.Acacia longifolia Willd. (Sydney wattle).Commercial ext. was repellent to Japanese beetle.Acalypha indica L. (A. spicata Forsk.)In India the powdered leaves mixed with common salt were applied externally for scabies; powder ofdry leaves used in wounds attacked by worms; 5% alch. ext. of stem bark killed caterpillars.Achilles nobilis L. (Camphor yarrow).Flower heads have an action on insects similar to that of insect powder.Acorus calamus L. (Sweet flag; calamus).T as mothproofing agent. Oil T Lucilla cuprina larvae.Acorus gramineus Soland.In India the roots were stated to be used as an insecticide and insectifuge.Adina cordifolia (Roxb.) Benth. and Hood. ex. Brandis (Nauclea cordifolia Willd.)In India the bark, ground into paste with water, was considered to be antiseptic and prevented generation of worms in sores; juice used as insecticide.Aesculus pavia L. (Red buckeye).Bedsteads made of horse chestnut are said not to be infested by bugs.Aesculus pavia alba. (Dwarf buckeye).Flowers attract and kill Japanese beetle.Agauria salicifolia Hook. f. (Mgagana).Listed as insecticidal in East Africa.Agave americana L. (Centuryplant).Infusion of leaves can be applied as an insecticide.Ajuga bracteosa Wall.In India on the Salt Range it was used to kill lice; plant was known to have insecticidal or repellingproperties.Albizzia procera (Rosb.) Benth.Used as fish poison and insecticide in India.Aleurites fordii Hemel. (Tung-oil tree).Ext. of leaves 40% T mosquito larvae, ext of stems 5% and ext. of roots NT; used to trap stink bugnymphs in southern China by banding; oil T cockroaches, Colorado potato beetle, and Mexican beanbeetle eggs.Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum (L.) Regel. (Leek).In Belgium an infusion, made by keeping small pieces of plant for one week in water, was said torepel flies.Allium ceps L. (Onion).Odor of onions stunned mosquitoes in 4 to 6 hrs. but they recovered.Allium sativum L. (Garlic)Garlic bulbs stored with grain NT weevils; odor stunned mosquitoes in 5 to 10 min. and killed them in 5hours.Allium schoenoprasum L. (Chive.)Water ext. of whole plant 70% T mosquito larvae.Aloe ferox Mill. (Cape aloe).Bitter sap, used for dressing wounds, keeps off flies very effectively.Aloe succotrina Lam.In Germany a weak soln. of tincture of aloes recommended to rid plants of scale insects.Aloe spp.Strong decoction with soap added gave good results against certain lepidoperous larvae and aphids;T clothes moth.Althea officinalis.Acetone ext. of root T mosquitoe larvae.428


Aureolaria virginica (L.) Pennell. (Dasystoma flava).Plant was reputed to prevent attacks of flies on horses.Azolla caroliniana Willd.Recommended in Austria as good plant to raise in stagnant waters to prevent development ofmosquitoes.Balsamodendron playfairii Hook. f.Opaque, whitish gum resin, used by Arabs and Somalis as soap to kill lice.Bandeiraea simplicifolia Benth. (Kagyaw).Leaves used to kill lice in hen houses in Gold Coast, Africa.Baptisis tinctoria (L.) R. Br. (Sophora tinctoria L.; yellow wild indigo).Plants placed in harness keep flies from horses.Bark, unspecified extracts of.Injected into chestnut trees for blight control.Barringtonia acutangula (L.) Gaertn.Juice of leaves mixed with oil was made into an ointment for scabies.Berberis aristata DC.Bark used in India as fish poison and as insecticide.Berberis sp.Acetone ext. of root 70% T mosquito larvae.Blumes lacera (Roxb.) DC. (Numurdi).Natives of Konan, near Bombay, used plant to drive away fleas and other insects; it was suggestedas possible source of insect powder.Bocconia frutescens L.Juice effective against injurious insects and ticks.Brauneria sp. (Echinacea).Acetone ext. of root 100% T mosquito larvae.Brassica campestris L. (Rapeseed or canola oil).Oil T Sphaerotheca humuli at 0.5%.Brassica spp. (Mustard).Oil of mustard A NT at 0.25% but T at 0.5% Sphaer9otheca humuli; at 0.5% mustard B gave samefungicidal effect as with 0.5% oil of mustard A.Callilepis laureola DC.Powdered roots used as insecticide.Calopogonium vellutium Benth. (Catinga de macaco).Alch. ext. of this fish poison plant used in Brasil against lice and ticks.Capparis spinosa L. (C. murrayana Graham; common caper).In India juice of fresh plant was dropped into the human ear to kill worms.Capasicum frutescens L. (C. annuum; African pepper; chillies; bird pepper; cayenne pepper;common red-pepper).Acetone ext. of fruit T mosquito larvae.Carissa carandas L. (C. congesta Wight).In India used to keep off flies, and when pounded with lime juice and camphor as remedy for itch.Carum bulbocastanum (L.) Koch.Used in India to protect clothes and skins against ravages of insects.Carum carvi L. (Caraway).Ext. of seeds T ants and 90% T mosquito larvae; oil T Lucilia cuprina larvae.Carvone (oil ov carvol).Oil T. Lucilia cuprina larvae.Carya glabra Spach. (C. porcina Nutt.; Juglans glabra Mill.; Hicoria glabra (Mill.) Britton; pignut).Horses washed with infusion of leaves in water prevent the annoyance of flies.Cassia acutifolia. (Alexandria senna; senna).Acetone ext. of pods T mosquito larvae.Cassia angustifolia Vahl. (Congo senna).Acetone ext. of leaves and pods T mosquito larvae.Cassia stipulacea Ait.Leaves used as insecticide.429


Cassytha filiformis L.Used as insecticide in India.Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh. (American chestnut).Water exts. of bark and blight cankers used as tree injections for blight control.Castanes dentata (Marsh.) Borkh. (American chestnut).Commercial ext. effective repellent against Japanese beetle.Celastrus angulatus Max. (Bitter tree).Powdered leaves and root bark T cabbage beetle.Centaurium umbellatum Gilib. (Centaury gentian).Decoction of whole plant T lice and cured the itch.Centipeda orbicularis Lour.Used in Sind, India as insecticide.Ceratonia siliqua L. (Algarroba; carob bean).Used in Venezuela for killing insects.Cereus sp. (Cactus).Leaves, made into paste and spread over surface of water, kill larvae of mosquitoes by asphyxiation.Chara fœtida.T mosquito larvae.Chara fragilis Desv.T mosquito larvae.Chrysanthemum cinerariæfolium (Trev.) Vis. (Pyrethrum cinerariaefolium Trev.; Dalamationinsect flowers).When reduced to powder, all parts of plant are active; powders, used as dusts, T silkworms, flies,potato-beetle, larvae, aphids, grasshoppers, and tent caterpillars.Chrysanthemum frutescens L. (Marguerite).Flowers can be substituted for insect powder.Chrysanthemum majus. (C. balsamita L.; costmary).Acetone ext. of leaves and stems T mosquito larvae.Chrysanthemum marschallii Aschers. (Pyrethrum roseum Bieb.; caucasian insect flowers).Produces genuine insect powder.Chrysanthemum myconis L.T dog fleas.Chrysanthemum sp. (Azaleamum).Acetone ext. of leaves, stems, and flowers T mosquito larvae.Cimicifuge fœtida L. (Fetid bugbane).Root said to be poisonous; used in Siberia to drive away bugs and fleas; used in India as insecticideor repellent.Cinnamomum camphora. (Camphor tree).Oil of camphor 99-80% T Lucilia cuprina larvae; wood T clothes moths.Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees. (Cinnamon).Oil considered on of best repellents against screwworm; acetone ext. of bark T mosquitoe larvae.Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. (Cucumis colocynthis L.; Colocynthis vulgaris Schrad.; colocynth; bitter apple, gourd, and cucumber).T as mothproofing agent.Citrullus vulgaris. (Watermelon).Acetone ext. of seeds T mosquito larvae.Citrus medica L. (Citron).Fruit was put among clothes to keep away moths.Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck. (Orange).Orange poultice recommended in some skin affections, such as psoriasis; oil strongly attractive tooriental cockroach.Claviceps purpurea (Fries) Tulane.Water ext. T aphids, psylla, thrips, also other sucking insects, and those unprotected by hairs.Cleistanthus collinus (Roxb.) Benth. and Hook.Used for fish poisoning; inner bark placed on sores of sheep and goats is efficacious in healing themand in destroying maggots.430


Clematis vitalba L. (Honduras fish poison).Repellent to weevils in France; efficient against silkworms.Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt. (Comandra).Exts. from entire plant were repellent to Japanese beetle.Commiphora myrrha and species. (Myrrh gum).Acetone ext. of gum NT mosquitoe larvae; myrrhic acid T as mothproofing agent.Commiphora sp.Used as insecticide in Sind, India.Conium maculatum L. (Poison-hemlock).Infusion of flowers, leaves, and stems T various insects.Convolvulus arvenis L. (Sap from bindweed).T downy mildew of hops.Coptis Trifolia. (Alaska gold thread).Acetone ext. of whole plant T mosquito larvae.Coriandrum sativum L. (Morocco coriander).Acetone ext. of seeds T mosquito larvae.Croton spp.Croton used in China as insecticide; T aphids; croton resin more toxic to goldfish than rotenone.Cucumis sativus L. (Cucumber).Juice was said to banish wood lice and kill cockroaches; acetone ext. of seeds T mosquito larvae.Cucurbita maxima Duchesne. (Turks’ turban gourd).Acetone ext. of seeds T mosquito larvae.Cucurbita moschata. (Striped cushaw pumpkin).Acetone ext. of seeds T mosquito larvae.Cucurbita pepo L. (Pumpkin).Acetone ext. of seed 100% T mosquito larvae.Cucurbita pepo L. var. ovifera Bailey. (Gourd).Acetone ext. of seeds T mosquito larvae.Cuminum sp. (Also oil of cummin Eng.).Acetone ext. of seeds T mosquito larvae; oil T Lucilia cuprina larvae.Cupressus sempervirens L. (Cypress).Oil (50 p.p.m.) 90% T mosquito larvae.Cydonia sp. (Quince).Acetone ext. of seeds T mosquito larvae.Cynanchum macrorhizon Carr.Blossoms contain a viscous substance in which all visiting insects are unable to extricate themselves.Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (Capriola dactylon Kuntze; Bermuda grass).In India fresh juice was applied for scabies.Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link. (Scotch broom).Infusion made from fresh crushed tops T larvae of cabbage butterflies, also effective for removingCochylis larvae from vines and various caterpillars from apple trees.Daphne mezereum L. (Spurge laurel).Plant is well known in medicine; frequently dead beetles, flies, and wasps were found beneath it.Datura inoxia. See Moonflower.Datura metel L. (Angel-trumpet).Used in Sind as insecticide; commonly pounded and used to smear floors of houses to kill lice andother vermin, especially “jiggers.” in Gold Coast, Africa.Datura stramonium L. (Jimsonweed; thornapple).Leaves, used as fumigant, T bedbugs, roaches, etc.Delphinium ajacia L. (Rocket larkspur).Acetone ext. of seeds T mosquito larvae.Delphinium brunonianum Royle. (Musk larkspur).Juice used to destroy ticks on animals.Delphinium coeruleum Jacquem.Roots T maggots.Delphinium consolida L. (Field larkspur).Tincture T lice on human heads; effective poison on insects.431


Delphinium elatum L.Used to destroy maggots in wounds.Delphinium staphisagria L. (Stavesacre larkspur; lousewort).Acetone ext. of seeds T mosquito larvae; T lice and itch mite.Delphinium vesticum Wall.Used to destroy maggots in wounds.Delphinium sp. (Larkspur)T shortnosed ox louse; ext. of ground seed T fly larvae.Derris sp.Exhausted roots, powdered, T black scale; emulsion T Mediterranean fruit fly; mothproofing agent;commonly used insecticide.Dichapetalum toxicarium (G. Don) Engl. (Wet African ratsbane).In Sierra Leone used to destroy head lice.Digitalis ambigua Murr. (D. grandiflora Lam.).Leaves T aphids and flea beetles; used as substitute for nicotine in France.Digitalis purpurea L. (Foxglove).Decoction T aphids on nut trees.Dioscorea cylindrica Burm. (D. hispida Dennet.; nami).Roots used for killing maggots infesting wounds of animals.Diospyros malacapai A. DC.Wood used as insecticide.Diospyros sp.Wood used as insecticide.Dolichos pseudopachyrrhizus Harms. (Mhayo).In East Africa roots listed as insecticidal; in Kenya roots of this fish poison plant used for removingticks from sheep and goats; alch. exts. T bean aphid.Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott. (Aspidium; A. filixmas (L.) Sw.; male fern).Acetone ext. of rhizome 100% T mosquito larvae.Duranta repens L. (Dplumiera Jacq.).Berries, when macerated, exude juice lethal to all anopheline and culicine mosquito larvae in dilutionsup to 1 in 100.Echniops echinaturs Roxb.Roots T head lice, also powdered roots applied to wounds in cattle destroy maggots.Erigeron canadensis L. (Horseweed).Exts. of fresh leaves and heads were repellent to Japanese beetle.Eriosema psoraleoides Don. (E. cajanoides Hook. f.).In tropical West Africa leaves used to rub on dogs as remedy for or preventative of lice, etc.Erythronium americanum Ker. (Trout lily; deer’s tongue).Powdered leaves considered one of best repellents against screwworm.Erythroxylum coca Lamarck. (Coca).Folia coca and hydrochlorax cocaini (10% in flour) NT caterpillars; in Brazil tincture of coca leavesrecommended as remedy for lice on poultry; spray solns. of cocaine hydrochloride against bean aphidrequired a concentration greater than 1 gm. to kill 95%.Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (Blue gum; Australian fever tree).Branches T mosquitoes and other insects; oil T gnats and Lucilia cuprina larvae.Eucalyptus spp.Smoke from burning fresh leaves stunned mosquitoes in 3-5 min. and killed them in 3 hrs.Euonymus americana L. (Brook euonymus).Seeds used to destroy vermin in hair.Euonymus europea L. (Spindle tree; European burning-bush).Berries when powdered and dusted into hair of sheep, destroyed lice; fruit, made into ointment, usedfor destruction of Pediculidae; listed as insecticide.Eupatorium hyssopifolium L. (Thoroughwort).Exts. of leaves and flowers were repellent to Japanese beetle.Euphorbia antiquorum L.Juice used to kill maggots in wounds.432


Euphorbia bicolor Engelm. and Gray.Juice of plants used to brand cattle in Texas as screwworms would not infect the fresh scar and spothealed readily.Euphorbia biglandulosa Desf.Decoctions recommended as insecticides.Euphorbia cyparissias L.In Crete plants were collected, crushed, and expressed juice, and then diluted with water to make a2 to 4% soln. After an hr. liquid used for watering gardens in which melons, cucumbers, etc. wereplanted, in order to destroy mole crickets.Euphorbia dendroides L.Decoctions recommended as insecticides.Euphorbia thymifolia L.Used as insecticide in India.Excœcaria agallocha L. (Blinding tree; babooter).Malays used sap to kill maggots infesting sores on buffaloes.Exogonium purga. (E. jalapa; Ipomoea j. (L.) Pursh; jalap).Acetone ext. of root T mosquito larvae.Ferula assafœtida L. (Asafetida).Strongly repellent to cornfield ant; oil 100% T Lucilia cuprina larvae.Fœniculum vulgare Miller. (French fennel).Acetone ext. of seeds T mosquito larvae; oil T Lucilia cuprina larvae and codling moth.Gardenia companulata Roxb. (Bihomna).This fish poison plant grows profusely to in Assam; juice was evidently an efficient larvicide in dilutionup to 1 in 80; larvicidal action due to a saponin.Gardenia gummifera L. f.In India the gum was used to keep insects from sores on cattle; strong-smelling gum resin usedextensively in European hospitals and veterinary work to keep flies from sores.Gardenia lucida Roxb.Strong smelling gum resin from wounds in the bark and from leaf buds of this tree was used in cutaneous diseases and to keep off flies and worms.Gelsemium elegans Benth.In China this plant was used against all kinds of insects.Gloriosa superba L.Juice of leaves used in India for destruction of lice in hair.Glycine soja. (G. hispida; Soja max (L.) Piper; soybean).Oil, crude and refined, T cockroach, Colorado potato beetle, and Mexican bean beetle eggs; eggsimmersed in oils for prolonged periods collapsed, apparently through loss of water.Gossypium spp.Oil (soluble) T cockroach, Colorado potato beetle, and Mexican bean beetle; oil (sulphonated) T asmothproofing agent.Gossypium spp. (Cottonseed oil).Oil T Sphaerotheca humuli at 0.5%Grewia carpinifolia Juss.Women in west tropical Africa used sap in washing the hair to remove or prevent lice.Gymnocladus dioica (L.) Koch. (G. canadensis Lam.; Guilandina dioica L.; Kentucky coffee tree).Leaves and fruit pulp, when rubbed with milk, T flies.Gymnosporia montana Benth. (Celastrus montana Roxb.)Bark, ground to a paste, applied with oils to the head to destroy Pediculidæ.Gymnosporia senegalensis (Lam.) Loes.Bark, ground to a paste, applied with oils to the head to destroy Pediculidaæ.Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq. (G. pentaphylla (L.) DC.).Used in India as insecticide; seeds, rubbed with oil, used as vermicide in dressing the hair.Haplophyton cimicidum A. DC. (Cucaracha).T several species of insects.Harshara.Only vegetable insecticide found in Madagascar; decoction from roots were stated to be an excellentinsecticide and much employed by the natives to destroy parasites of the scalp.433


Hedera spp.In India ivy leaves have, from remote antiquity, been reputed to possess remedial virtues, especiallyas dressing for ulcers and to destroy vermin on the body.Hedychium spicatum Hamilt.In India this plant was said to protect clothes from insect attacks.Helenium sp. (Yerba de la pulga).Plant possesses exceptional insect-repelling qualities, and not only contains but actually exudessufficient quantities of rotenone to make a single growing specimen of the plant repellent to practicallyall forms of insect life in an area of some 15 to 23 sq. feet.Hibiscus vitifolius L.In Africa a preparation from roots used to kill head lice.Hoorooasha.Decoction of bark was employed to destroy pediculi.Hydnocarpus anthelminthica Pierre.Seeds used as insecticide.Humulus sp. (Hops).Sap T downy mildew of hops.Hydnocarpus venenatus Gaertn.Fruit used as fish poison and as insecticide.Hydrangea aborescens. (Hydrangea).Acetone ext. of root 90% T mosquito larvae.Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal).Water ext. of root 70% T mosquito larvae.Hyoscyamus albus L.Decoction recommended as insecticide in Germany.Hyoscyamus alger L. (Henbane).T aphids.Hyptis spicigera Lam.In Africa plant is burned in rooms to get rid of mosquitoes, and is placed in layer below bundles ofmillet to keep away termites.Hyssopus officinalis L. (Hyssop).Acetone ext. of flowers and stems T mosquito larvae; ext. of whole plant T mosquito larvae.Inula helenium (Elecampane).Acetone ext. of root 100% T mosquito larvae.Inula viscosa (L.) Ait. (Erigeron viscosus L.).Fumes of burning plant has stupefying effect on mosquitoes.Ipomœa hederacea Jacq.Decoctions of fresh leaves and young shoots used against aphids, scale insects, caterpillars and fleabeetles.Ipomœa muricata Jacq.Juice used to destroy bugs. (See Moonflower note.)Ipomœa purpurea (L.) Roth.Decoctions of fresh leaves and young shoots used against aphids, scale insects, caterpillars and fleabeetles.Juglans nigra L. (Black walnut).Infusion from leaves used to kill plant lice and certain caterpillars; decoction of leaves poured onwoolly aphis and in soil about roots of orchard trees gives good results; acetone ext. of bark Tmosquito larvae.Juniperus oxyedrus L. (Cade oil)Oil T as mothproofing agent; cade oil T Lucilia cuprina larvae.Juniperus sabina L. (Sabina officinalis Garcke; savin).Aqueous exts. of young shoots used for mothproofing.Juniperus virginiana L. (Red cedar and other species of cedar).Aroma from volatile oil contained in wood is the insecticidal principle; cedar dust, leaf oil, and wood oilT as mothproofing agent.Juniperus sp.Acetone ext. of berry 70% T mosquitoe larvae.434


Justicia adhatoda L. (Adhatoda vasica Nees.; malabarnut).T flies, fleas, mosquitoes, and pupae of aquatic insects.Justicia gendarussa L. f. (Gendarussa vulgaris Nees.).5% Ext. 100% T caterpillars of Prodenia litura and Euproctis fraterna; leaves scattered among clothespreserve them from insects.Karaya gum.T red spider, thrips, mealy bug, and aphids.Koelreuteria apiculata Rehd. and Wilson.Ext. seeds T mosquito larvae.Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm.Ext. of seeds and leaves T mosquito larvae.Laburnum anagyroides. (Cytisus laburnum L.; laburnum).Too toxic to human skin to be considered as practical louse remedy.Lactuca virosa. (Bitter lettuce).Ext. of leaves T mosquito larvae.Lagendandra ovata (L.) Thw. (L. toxicaria Dals.).Used as in insecticide in India.Lasiosiphon eriocephalus Decaisne.Bark used as fish poison and as insecticide in India; exts. of fruit in Mysore had varying toxic propertiesagainst aphids.Lavandula officinalis Chaix. (L. angustifolia Mill.; L. spica L.; L. vera DC; true lavender).Oil 51-80% T Lucilia cuprina larvae, T clothes moth, and strongly repellent to cockroach.Lavandula spp.Used with success in war time against infestations of lice and mites; in Belgium use to repel mosquitoes.Ledum groenlandicum Oeder. (L. latifolium Ait.; Labrador-tea).T lice, insects, etc.Ledum palustre L. (Crystal-tea).Leaves and twigs used as insecticide.Lepidium ruderale L. (Peppergrass).Recommended against flea beetles in Austria; used as insecticide in Japan; used as fumigant againstaphids and mites in hothouses.Leucas cephalotes (Roth) Spreng. (L. capitata Desf.).Used in India as external application for scabies.Leucas martinicensus R. Br.In Nigeria plant is burned for purpose of driving away mosquitoes.Linum usitatissimum L. (Flax).Linseed oil is derived from flax seeds which are nonpoisonous, although when oil is properly used ithas some insecticidal properties; boiled linseed oil is attrahent for Lasioderma serricorne; sulphonated linseed ol T as mothproofing agent.Linum usitatissimum L. (Linseed oil).Oil NT at 0.5% but T at 1% to Sphaerotheca humuli.Litsea glaucescens H. B. K.Powdered leaves used against ants.Litsea guatemalensis Mez.Powdered leaves used against ants.Lomatis silaifolia (Sm.) R. Br. (Parsley fern).Reported in New South Wales that flowers were poisonous to flies, the number in room being greatlydiminished when a bunch of flowers was put in fireplace.Lupinus spp.Used as mothproofing agent.Lycium balimifolium Mill. (Common matrimony-vine).Used as dust T roaches; used as stomach poison T grasshoppers.Lycopersicum esculentum Mill. (L. lycopersicum Karst.; Solanum lycopersicum L.; tomato).Tomato foliage may be placed round fruit trees to prevent access of insects; infusion of herb servesas insecticide for syringing.435


Lycopodium complanatum L. (Ground cedar).Decoction T lice.Lycopus virginicus L. (Betony; bugle weed).Acetone ext. of leaves T mosquito larvae.Lysimachia nummularia L. (Moneywort).Leaves and flowers, steeped in oil, destroy insects and worms which infest granaries.Mace oil.Effective attractant for codling moth.Macleaya cordata. (Bocconia cordata Willd.; pink plume-poppy).Decoction used in Japan as insecticide.Maclura pomifera (Raf.) Schneid. (Toxylon pomiferum Raf.; Osage-orange).Commercial ext. was repellent to Japanese beetle.(Editor’s note: <strong>The</strong> fruit has been used as an insect repellent for years. Pioneers used it in their cupboardsto repel cockroaches and other insects. <strong>The</strong> wood resists termite attacks and is antifungal. <strong>The</strong>fruit also has antimicrobial activity.)Madhuca butyracea (Roxb.) Macbride. (Bassia butyracea Roxb.).Bark used in India as fish poison and as insecticide.Madhuca longifolia (L.) Macbride. (Bassia longifolia L.; mowrah meal; mowa-mahua tree).Decoction of bark used as remedy for itch; T earthworms.Mallotus philippinensis (Lam.) Muell. Arg. (Kamala tree; monkeyface tree).Acetone ext. of hairs of capsules T mosquito larvae.Malus sylvestris Mill. (Apple).Oil strongly attractive to cockroaches and is attractive bait.Mangifera indica L. (Mango)Gum resin, mixed with lime juice or oil, used as cure for scabies and powdered flowers used forfumigating mosquitoes.Meibomia laburnifolia (Poir.) Kuntze. (Desmodium laburnifolium DC.).Leaves used as insecticide.Malaleuca leucadendron L. (Also other species of Melaleuca, oil of cajuput).Oil T Lucilia cuprina larvae.Melia azadirachta L. (Azadirachta indica Juss.; Azedarach deleteria Medic.; nin tree).Furniture made from its wood is not attacked by insects.Melia azedarach L. (Azedarach commelini Medic.; A. odoratum Noronha.; chinaberry).Decoction of berries prevents depredations of black grub or cutworm; poultices of flowers T lice.Melia dubia Cav. (M. superba Roxb.; M. robusta Roxb.).Juice of green fruit, with sulfur and curds, used as application for scabies and sores infested withmaggots.Melilotus altissima Thuill. (Clover).Mosquitoes in Egypt fed on juice of highly scented blossoms which contain coumarin. This might beresponsible for immunity from malaria in these areas.Melinis minutiflora Beauv. (Molasses grass).Whole plant reported insecticidal in East Africa; fresh leaves are covered with glandular hairs, whichexude viscid oil, said to repel mosquitoes and tsetse flies; probably useful as tick eradicator.Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds. (M. sylvestris L.).Tested in Russia against red spider and cotton aphid. Toxicity increased with concentration, and oilwas repellent to aphids.Microsechium helleri (Peyr.) Cogn.Useful in destroying lice and underground insects.Millettia suriculata Baker.Root used as insecticide.Millettia nitida Benth.Leaves and seeds used for insect control.Millettia piscidia (Roxb.) Wight.Powder of bark and flowers used as fish poison and insecticide in India.Mollugo cerviana Ser.Plant mixed with oil made into ointment for scabies and other cutaneous diseases.436


Momordica charantis L. (Balsam-pear).In India whole plant mixed with cinnamon, pepper, rice, and oil of Hydnocarpus inebrians used asointment for psora, scabies, and other cutaneous diseases.Momordica schimperiana Steud. (Iuru).Fruit listed as insecticidal in East Africa.Mundules serices (Willd.) A. Cheval. (M. suberosa Benth.; “Supli”).Bark, debarked stem, leaf, and root 100% T chrysanthemum aphis; stems (bark) reported to containrotenone.Musa supientum L. (Banana).Oil attractive bait and attractive to cockroaches.Myrica gale L. (Candleberry myrtle).<strong>The</strong> Swedes employed strong decoction to kill bugs and lice, and to cure itch problems.Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Common nutmeg).Oil T Lucilia cuprina larvae; odor of nutmeg fatal to mosquitoes if air is saturated.Nelumbo lutea (Willd.) Pers. (Nelumbium luteum Willd.; American lotus).T cockroaches.Nerium indicum Mill. (N. odorum Soland; sweet oleander; kaner).Water exts., macerated juices, and dusts of leaves tested against citrus psyllas, aphids, lucerne weevilgrubs, and adult beetles. Ext. roots more poisonous than leaves; 5% alch. ext. leaves 80% TProdenia litura, Euproctis fraterna, and Pericallia ricini, and 70% T Crocidolomia binotalis.Nerium oleander L. (Common oleander).Bark used for the destruction of rats and insects.Nicandra physalodes Pers. (Atropa physalodes L.; Physalodes peruvianum (Mill.) Kuntze;P. physalodes Britton; Peruvian groundcherry).Used as fly poison.Nicotiana rustica L. (Aztec tobacco).Effective stomach poison against Malacosoma neustria.Nicotiana sylvestris Speg. and Comes.This weed contains nornicotine, an alkaloid of proved insecticidal value and of greater potency thannicotine for control of certain insects.Ocimum basilicum L. (Sweet basil; common basil).Oil 95-100% T mosquito larvae; acetone ext. of leaves and stems T mosquito larvae; acetone ext. ofleaves and stems T mosquito larvae.Ocimum gratissimum.Used in Haiti as general insecticide.Ocimum sanctum L. (Sacred basil).Dried leaves were effectual means of dislodging maggots in India.Oldfieldia africana Benth. and Hook. f. (African oak).Bark and leaves used in Liberia as remedies for hair lice and crab lice.Olea europæa L. (Olive).Oil recommended in elimination of head lice; sulphonated olive oil T as mothproofing agent.Olea europaea L. (Olive oil).Oil T Sphaerotheca humuli at 0.5%.Opomœa purpurea (L.) Roth.Decoctions of fresh leaves and young shoots used against aphids, scale insects, caterpillars, and fleabeetles.Oryza sativa L. (Rice).Oil was attractive to oriental cockroach in 35 counts and repellent in 40 counts.Ostrya virginiana. (Ironwood).Acetone ext. of wood 65% T mosquito larvae.Ostryoderris gabonica Dunn. (Bolemba).5% Exts. of stems and roots paralyzed 100% of bean aphid.437


Pachygone ovate (Poir.) Miers.Used as insecticide in India.Pachyrhizus tuberosus (Lamb.) Spreng.Tubers and beans contain poisonous resin which is active fish poison; seeds, in decoction or powderform, T vermin.Pandanus tectorius Parkins. (P. odorifera (Forsk.) Lyons; breadfruit tree).Flowers placed among clothes to repel moths and similar insects, as well as perfume them.Papaver spp. (Poppy).Acetone ext. of flowers and stems T mosquito larvae; acetone ext. of seeds of Dutch poppyT mosquito larvae.Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. (Hedera quinquefolia L.; Vitis hederacea Willd. (Kew);Virginia creeper).Leaves rubbed on infested area of apple tree, a week later tree was entirely free of woolly aphids.Peganum harmala L.Roots used to kill lice in hair in India.Pelargonium spp. (Geraniums).Rose geranium oil repellent to screwworms; flowers more attractive and more toxic to Japanesebeetle than foliage; 2% concentration 51 to 80% T common red spider and cotton aphids.Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton. (Perilla).One of constituents of a patented insecticide was dried ground parts of this plant.Petiveria alliacea L.Used in Haiti, Nicaragua, and Central America as insecticide against bedbugs and plant lice.Phellodendron amurense Rupr. (Amur cork or velvet tree).Fruit T mosquito larvae, housefly, and codling moth.Phellodendron lavalli.Fruit has insecticidal properties.Phyllanthus niruri L.Leaves (bruised) were applied for scabies in India.Physostigma veneosum Balf. (Calabar bean).Eserine (physostigmine), alkaloid in calabar beans, very poisonous to higher animals; physiologicalaction similar to that of nicotine; 0.2 and 0.1% emulsion 100% and 56.6% T bean aphids.Picramnia pentandra Swartz.Used in Haiti as general insecticide.Picrasma excelsa Planch. (Aeschrion exelsa (Swartz) Kuntze; Simaruba excelsa DC; Quassiaexcelsa Swartz; Picraena excelsa Lindl.; Jamaica quassia; bitterwood).Wood used as insecticide.Picrasma napalensis Benn.Powdered leaves and twigs used to kill mosquito larvae in Assam, India.Pieris jamponica (Thumb.) D. Don. (Asebo; asemi).Used as insecticide in Japan.Pimenta racemosa (Mill.) Moore. (P. (Myrica) acris; bayrum tree).Oil of leaves (50 p.p.m.) 100% T mosquito larvae and (25 p.p.m.) 55% T; 99-80% T Lucilia cuprinalarvae and other insects.Pimpinella anisum L. (Spanish anise).Acetone ext. of seeds T mosquito larvae; oil T Lucilia cuprina larvae and gnats.Pinus sp. (Pine oil).T cockroach, Colorado potato beetle, Mexican bean beetle eggs, and as mothproofing agent.Pinus spp. (Pines).Exts. from needles were repellent to Japanese beetle; certain combinations of fractions of pine oils,when sprayed on bark of rustic furniture and log cabins made of white cedar, were very effective inkilling larvae of wood borer.Piper aduncum L.Used in Haiti as insecticide, particularly T ants in seed beds.Piper cubeba L. fil. (Cubeb).Acetone ext. of berries T mosquito larvae.438


Piper nigrum L. (Black pepper).Strong ext. T cotton caterpillars; acetone ext. of dried berries T mosquito larvae; alch. ext. blackpepper, used as repellent.Piscidia piscipula Sarg. (P. erythrina L.; Ichthyomethia piscipula (L.) Hitchc.; Jamaica fish poison).Powdered bark T fly larvae; roots and stems (inner bark) contain rotenone.Pistia stratiotes L. (Waterlettuce).In India plant was reported to destroy bugs that infested a jail.Plantago sp.Acetone ext. of seeds T mosquito larvae.Plectranthus regosus Wall.In India plant used as bedding to keep off fleas.Plumbago roses L. (P. coccinea (Lour.) Boiss.).Used for ulcers and scabies.Plumbago zeylanica L. (P. auriculata Blume).5% Alch. ext. of roots 100% T caterpillars and 80% T beetle grubs; 5% ext. of stem bark 100% Tcaterpillars and beetle grubs.Pogogyne pariviflora Benth.Indians placed culled plants about their houses to drive away fleas.Pogostemon heyneanus Benth. (P. patchouli Pellet; patchouli).100% T (100 p.p.m.) mosquito larvae and 85% T (50 p.p.m.); oil 19-0% T Lucilia cuprina larvae, andlisted as insecticide, particularly to exterminate moths.Polygonum hydropiper L. (Persicaria hydropiper Opiz.; water-pepper).T flies.Prangos pabularia Lindl.Roots remedy for itch; decoction of fruit employed as wash to cure “rot” in sheep.Prunus amygdalus Batsch. (Amygdalus communis L.; A. amara Hayne; bitter almond).T head lice and a twig of tree kept in a room was said to dispel flies; oil 100% T Lucilia curpina larvae,strongly repellent to oriental cockroach.Prunus spinosa L. (Blackthorn).Insects are not liable to attack this species.Prunus spp. (Peach).Peach-kernel oil T Sphaerotheca humuli at 0.5%.Ptelea trifoliata. (Wafer ash).Acetone ext. of root bark T mosquito larvae.Pterocarya stenoptera C. DC.Used in control of insects; used as dust.Pterospermum acerifolium (L.) Willd. (P. aceroides Wall.).In India flowers used as disinfectant and to keep away insects from bed clothes.Pueraria yunnanensis Fr.Used in control of insects.Pulicaria dysenterica (L.) Gaertn. (Inula dysnterica L.; fleawort).Herb insecticide.Quassia sp.T mosquito larvae and as mothproofing agent.Rauvolfia obscura K. Sch.Decoction of leaves used in West Africa as remedy for parasitic skin diseases, yaws, and hair lice.Rauvolfia vomitoria Afz.Decoction of leaves used in West Africa as remedy for parasitic skin diseases, yaws, and hair lice.Rheum officinale Baill. (Rhubarb).Water ext. of root 70% T mosquito larvae.Rheum rhaponticum L. (Garden rhubarb).Water ext. of root 70% T mosquito larvae.Rhododendron hunnewellianum Rehder and Wilson. (Nao-yang-wha).Plant g½ rows in China, and the compounds (andromedotoxine and an unidentified substance)present in it are effective as insecticides; recommended especially as stomach poison for insects.Ricinus communis L. (Castor oil).Oil T Sphaerotheca humuli at 1%.439


Ricinus communis L. (R. vulgaris Mill.; R. medicus Forsk.; castor-bean plant; castor-oil plant;Turkey red oil).Powdered beans and husks, free of oil, T bees; acts as mosquito repellent; T when used in combinationwith pyrethrum against flies; castor oil, hydrogentated, T as mothproofing agent; sulphonatedcastor oil used to increase floatability on water of Paris green for killing Anopheline larve and as mothproofingagent.Rotenone.T as mothproofing agent and will kill fish.Roylea elegans Wall.Leaves used as insecticide.Ruta graveolens L. (Common rue; oil of rutae).Strong decoction obtained by macerating leaves of plant in soap and water, stated to be successfulremedy for American blight; oil 99-80% T Lucilia cuprina larvae.Salvia bicolor. (Oil of Spanish sage).99-80% T Lucilia cuprina larvae.Salvia sclarea L.Oil applied in 2% emulsion sprays, 51-80% T red spider and cotton aphid.Salvia sp. (Sage).Odor of sage had no effect on mosquotoes, but smoke from burning leaves stunned them in 8 to 10min. and killed them in 36 hours.Sambucus nigra L. (European elder).Acetone ext. of flowers T mosquito larvae; leaves are noxious to insects, moles, etc.Santalum album L. (Santal; sandalwood).Oil ext. 100% T (50 p.p.m.) and 65% T (25 p.p.m.) mosquito larvae; oil T Lucilia cuprina larvae;acetone ext. of wood T mosquito larvae.Santolina sp.Small quantities of plants put in containers holding herbarium collections were reported to kill theinsect pests.Sapindus marginatus Willd.Repellent to grain weevils and other insects.Sapium ellipticum (Hochst.) Pax. (Msharaka).Branches used on maggot-infested wounds.Sapium indicum Willd.Seeds used in India as fish poison and as insecticide.Sarcostemma brevistigma Wight and Arn. (Asclepias acida Roxb.).In India water passed through a bundle of these plants and a bag of salt is used to extirpate whiteants from a field.Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees. (S. officinale Nees. and Eberm.; S. sassafras Karst.;S. varifolium (Salisb.) Kuntze; Laurus sassafras L.; sassafras).Powdered bark T chicken lice and dog flea, but not recommended against these insects; oil pluspetrolatum one of best repellents against screwworm and is attractive to cockroaches.Satureia hortensis L. (Summer savory).Oil repellent to cotton aphids; smoke from burning dried leaves stunned and killed mosquitoes.Sauromatum guttatum Schott. (Arum venosum Ait.).Plant was observed during blooming period to attract in 2 days more than 100 flies which were founddead in bottom of flowers.Saussurea lappa (Decaisne) C. G. Clark. (Aucklandia costus Falconer; costus root).Insecticide for moths.Schkuhria abrotanoides Roth.Flowers used in Peru for same purpose as genuine insect powder.Schoenocaulon officinale (Schlect. and Cham.) A. Gray. (Veratrum officinale Schlecht. andCham.; Helonias officinalis Don; Asagraea officinalis Lindl.; Sabadilla officinarum Brandt andRatzed.; sabadilla).Used as dust, T grasshoppers, roaches, etc.; used as insecticide against lice; T mosquitoes.Selanginella scandens Spring.Leaves were put on fires to keep ticks away from houses in Gold Coast, Africa.440


Sesamum indicum L. (S. orientale L.; sesame; benne or teel oil).Acetone ext. of seed T mosquito larvae and houseflies; acetone ext. of flower tops and leaves T mosquitolarvae.Sesamum indicum L. (Sesame oil).Oil T Sphaerotheca humuli at 0.5%.Sesbania aculeata Poir.In West Africa natives claimed that animals washed in water in which leaves of this shurb had beenpounded could safely traverse a tsetse fly belt.Sesbania punctate DC. (Sabral).Natives in Africa used decoction of leaves for washing animals to prevent bites of tsetse fly.Simarauba vesicolor St. Hil.Bark reduced to powder used as insecticide.Solanum tuberosum L. (Potato).Concentrated potato water T lice on animals.Sophora flavescens Ait.Decoction of stems and leaves used in Japan as insecticide.Sophora griffithii Stocks (Keyserlingia griffithii Boiss.).Powdered seeds mixed with oil T lice in hair.Sophora mollis R. Graph.Used as insecticide in India.Spilantes acmella (L.) Murr.Fruit used in India as fish poison and as insecticide.Squash, blue hubbard.Acetone ext. of seeds T mosquito larvae.Squash, Connecticut straight-neck.Acetone ext. of seeds to mosquito larvae.Squash, golden summer crook-neck.Acetone ext. of seeds to mosquito larvae.Squash, winter.Acetone ext. of seeds to mosquito larvae.Strychnos ignatii.Seeds used in mothproofing.Strychnos nuxvomica.Seeds used in mothproofing.Styrax officinalis L. (Storax tree).Solution of styrax containing sulfur or tar recommended as remedy for mites on man and animals.Synandrospadix vermitoxicus Engl.Poisonous bulbs serve for destruction of injuriuous insects.Syzygium armoaticum. (Eugenia caryophyllata Thumb.; E. aromatica Baill.; Caryophyllusaromaticus L.; clove tree)T chicken lice, dog fleas, body lice, and clothes moths; oil of clove buds and powder strong repellentsagainst screwworm and attractive to codling moth; powdered cloves T carpet beetle larvae; acetoneext. of flower buds T mosquito larvae and ants.Tamus communis L. (Black-bryony).Powdered root T hair lice.Tanacetum vulgare L. (Tansy).Flowers have stupefying effect on insects; acetone ext. of whole plant 10-30% T mosquito larvae; oil99-80% T Lucilia cuprina larvae.Tectona grandis L. F. (Teak).Tar extracted from wood was applied to sores of draft cattle to destroy maggots; teak-wood tarremedy for white ants.Tephrosia ambigua M. A. Curtis (Cracca ambigua).Insecticidal content found in roots.Tephrosia diffusa (E. Mey.) Harv.Zulus used decoction of roots to destroy head lice.Tephrosia heckmannia Harms.Infusions of fresh leaves were reported to be toxic to bedbugs and larvae of maize stalk borer.441


Terminalia catappa L. (T. moluccana Lam.; Indian almond).Juice of young leaves was employed in Southern India in anointment for scabies; commercial ext.effective repellent to Japanese beetle.<strong>The</strong>obroma caco L. (Cacao; cocoa).A chocolate manufacturer mentioned an odd experience in connection with disposal of cocoa shells.Some shells were used as bedding for dogs, later the keeper credited the shells with having causedthe disappearance of fleas infesting the dogs.Tilia tomentosa. (Silver linden tree).Powders and volatile constituents of flowers T ants.Tragia sp.Insecticidal plant occurring in Nicaragua.Trichilia cuneata Radlk.Infusiuon of leaves T itch mites and other parasites of skin.Tripterygium wilfordii. (Chinese thunder god vine).Roots T codling moth and several other lepidopterous insects.Triticum sp. (Wheat).Used as insecticide against red spider.Tropæolum majus L. (Common nasturtium).Acetone ext. of leaves and stems T mosquito larvae.Tylophora fasaciculata Ham.Leaves and roots T rats and other vermin.Umbellularia californica (Hook. and Arn.) Nutt. (Orodaphne californica Nees.; California laurel).Leaves appears to be valuable repellent to fleas.Urtica lyallii (Wats). (Sap from nettles).Vanilla planifolia Andrews. (Vanilla bean).20% T body louse.Vateria indica L.An efffective and cheap viscous adhesive for banding to prevent ants from reaching crowns of treeswas prepared with 10 oz. powdered Manila gum copal (gum of this species), 1 pt. castor oil, and 1 oz.beeswax.Veratrum album L. (White false-hellebore).T roaches and silkworms. This plant is a hardy herbaceous perennial of the lily family. Early Greeksused to mix with milk to kill flies. Early Romans used this plant against mice and rats. It controls leafeatinginsects.Veratrum viride Ait. (V. album viride Baker; American false-hellebore; green hellebore).This species contains alkaloids which are very toxic to a number of insects.Veratrum spp.Powdered roots (V. album and V. viride) have been proved to prevent the emergence of housefliesfrom horse manure, being 95.5% T maggots exposed to its action. See tobacco note in this Chapter.Verbascum phlomoides. (Clasping mullein).Acetone ext. of flowers T mosquito larvae.Verbascum thapsiforme. (Wool mullein)Acetone ext. of flowers T mosquito larvae.Vernonia anthelmintica (L.) Willd.Bruised seeds employed as means of destroying pediculi.Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash. (Andropogon zizanioides Urb.; cuscus grass; vetiver).In Gold Coast, Africa, dried roots of grass when placed among clothes, prevented insect attack; anointment prepared from oil was employed in removing pediculi from hair; roots used as insecticide.Vitex negundo L. (Negundo chaste tree; nochi).Leaves scattered among clothes are said to preserve them from attack by insects; 5% alch. ext. ofleaves 90% T Plutella maculipennis, 50-75% T Prodenia litura, 20% T Crocidolomia binotalis, and100% T Euproctis fraterna, Pericalia ricini, and Achaea janata.Walsura piscidia Roxb. (Trichilia trifoliata Wall.).Arabs used fruit in hair wash to kill vermin and in an ointment to cure itch.Weeds. (Species not stated.)Powder kills mechanically rather than by poisoing larvae of mosquito.442


Xanthorrhoea hastilis R. Br. (Black-boy tree).An Australian patent recommends washing sheep with mixture of 100 parts oil obtained by destructivedistillation of black-boy or yacca-gummi, and 50 parts of fish oil.Ximenia americana L. (X. inermis L.; X. spinosa Salisb.; tallow-nut; tallowwood).Applied to sores of domestic animals to keep off flies.Zanthoxylum americanum Mill. (Prickly-ash).Exts. from dried bark were repellent to Japanese beetle; acetone ext. of berries 60% T mosquito larvae.Zanthoxylum clava-herculis L. (Z. carolinianum Lam.; Z. frazinifolium Walt.; Z. tricarpum Michx.;Fagara clava-herculis Small; hercules-club).Acetone ext. of bark T mosquito larvae; HT houseflies; powdered leaves obnoxious to cotton caterpillars.Zanthoxylum hamiltoniamum Wall. (Tez-moora).Roots used as fish poison; boiled fresh solution of roots T mosquito larvae.Zea mays L. (Indian corn).T downy mildew of hops. 1051.Zea mays L. (Maize or corn oil).Oil T Sphaerotheca humuli at 1%.Zingiber officinale. (Jamaica ginger).Acetone ext. of root T mosquito larvae; oil MT Lucilia cuprina larvae.Note: Virtually all plants produce chemicals insects do not like. In 1964 Gardening without Pesticides by BeatriceTrum Hunter noted: “<strong>The</strong>re are more than three thousand known species of plants which have insecticidalproperties. While there have been plants used for pest control for centuries, that does not guarantee they aresafe. Plants contain many toxins, some of which can harm non-target species like people and/or animals. Evenso, most plants are toxic to mammals only when ingested.In January 2001 the FDA office in Washington, DC threw out the 1948 catalogue which listed the abovementionedplants. <strong>The</strong> Author would like to point out that there are many safe and effective alternativesin the partial list to the dangerous, volatile pediculicides, e.g., pyrethrin, pipernoyl butoxide, permethrin,lindane and/or malathion. Obviously, FDA knew for over 50 years there were safer, more effective alternativesfor lice and other pest problems and did nothing to promote their use. All he can ask is, “Why?”Plant Flowers - This will help encourage many beneficial insects, e.g., flower flies and parasitid wasps.Plant Oils - e.g., mint oil, pine oil, caraway oil, act as an insecticides, acarcides, fungicides and sprout inhibitors;they work because they are neurotoxic to insects, targeting octopamine receptors in their brains, so theinsects become hyperactive, erratic, stop eating and/or convulse. People and animals do not have receptorsor a system octopamine, so most plant oils do not harm most of us.Plant Resistance - Pick a variety of plant that not only is a native species but resistant to disease and pest attackand then keep it healthy.Plantain (Common) (Plaintago major) - Use the bruised/chewed leaves to relieve the itch, burn and/or painof bee, wasp and hornet stings, stinging nettle and poison ivy. You can also chew up some leaves and placethem around a toothache to alleviate pain. Chewing a leaf also may stop the effects of a bee sting or a splinter.A plantain oil infusion is a handy aid to have when suffering from hemorrhoids, bruising, splinters or minor woundsbecause of its ability to staunch blood flow, soothe and repair damaged tissue. If you want to make an oil to usefor salve, pick some fresh leaves and either hang in a breezy spot out of the direct sun, or place on a screen todry. Turn daily until moisture is gone. Place crushed leaves in a clean jar and cover with oil. Most oils are suitablefor ointments and salves. Olive or sesame oils are well suited for skin products and readily available. <strong>The</strong>n youget to be a medicine maker extraordinaire. Strain your infused oil into a large glass measuring cup. For eachcup of oil you will need ¼ c. grated beeswax and 1 T. vitamin E oil as a preservative and skin enhancer. Placeyour measuring cup in shallow water in a pan and heat gently. Add the grated beeswax, stirring until melted. Stirin the vitamin E oil after removing from heat. Wipe all water off cup before pouring into sterilized containers foryour salve. Allow to cool before capping, then label, date and voila - your wild foods garden medicine is made.Congratulations on your dedication to your own natural healing.443


Planting Times and Spacing - can be used to environmentally control and/or prevent insect pests.Plants - Garlic, spurge, tansy, pennyroyal, eucalyptus, peppermint, yarrow, wormwood, southern wood, lavender,sage, marigolds, scented geraniums, fritillaria, etc. are all known to have animal and/or insect-repelling qualitiesand have been used in companion planting or by themselves to control pests.Plastic Sheeting (Black) - Covering the soil surface under the hot sun will sterilize the soil and kill plantsindiscriminately.Plowing - Simple plowing helps control many kinds of weeds, diseases, insects and other pests.Poison Ivy - If you know you just brushed up against poison ivy and can get to cold water within three minutes,wash away the nasty stuff. But don’t use soap - it may seal in the poison-ivy oil. If the three-minute clean-upwindow is over and the itching is unbearable, reach for some Not Nice to Skin Irritations ® or a slice of watermelon.Eat or cut off most of the fruit, leaving about a half-inch on the rind. Rub the rind over your rash-ridden bodyparts. Let dry naturally. Or you can try plaintain balm; juice 1 c. plaintain leaves in a blender or food processorwith 3 - 4 c. water to make a slurry; then dab it on the affected areas. Dilute 1 part of the slurry with 3 parts wateror apple juice and drink it. <strong>The</strong> leaves of the plaintain can be used internally and externally to draw out toxins.You can also freeze the slurry/juice in an ice cube tray for emergencies. Add the slurry to a warm bath and soakfor ½ hour. Place the juice on any remaining problem areas. You can also use the juice of a jewelweed stemto alleviate poison ivy. Once again, you can take a pot of jewelweed stems, leaves and flowers and cover withwater; simmer for 30 minutes; then freeze into cubes. You can use the cubes directly on the skin to relieve poisonivy, stinging nettle and/or insect bites. You should be considerably better the next day; if not, see a doctor.Poisonous Plants - Four - o’clocks, Jimson-weed (Datura stramonium) dwarf and red buckeyes and delphiniumsattract and kill pests like Japanese Beetles, but they are toxic to humans and pets as well.Polaroid Glases - Allow you to see into the water and in white-out snow conditionsPolice Tape - “Do not cross” tapes can be used to keep most people out of an area; they do not work on childrenor pets.Polycultures - Nematodes, weeds, insect pests and diseases are generally less abundant in polycultures thanmonocultures. Even if some plants die, they all will not die. Plant a variety of crops with different growth habits.Polyethylene Terepthalate Sheets - Sheets of this material and other plastic surfaces can be used to preventbeetle larvae, e.g., lesser mealworm and hide beetle larvae, from climbing. <strong>The</strong>se barriers can be used to preventpassage of emerging beetle larvae.Polymers - have been used for years in aquatic pest control, primarily for drift control because of their longchaincarbon molecules (up to 40,000 per polymer strand). Polymers like nitrile which kills cells by continuallyreleasing a toxic substance into the culture medium. <strong>The</strong> toxicity of polyurethane varies considerably due to themanufacturing process. <strong>The</strong>re has been research on the emission of toxic sulfur gases from polymers comingin contact with food products and infants, so “we” stopped all further research on polymers early in 1998.Polypropylene Bird Netting - will keep birds out of fruit trees and many other areas. Span bat entry wayswith netting (several feet on each side) and allow the netting to taper and hang down at least 3 feet below theopening(s); using staples and duct tape secure the tops and sides (be sure to taper the sides) of the netting tothe building. Be sure to leave an (unfastened) opening no more than 15” wide at the bottom. After several daysthe bats will leave and you can permanently seal all of the openings.Polysorbate 80 - is a nonionic surfactant and emulsifier and dispersant that is relatively inert and is readilyabsorbed by the skin, it is derived from sorbitol, which comes from fruit and berries used as a dispersing agent- mixes oil and water, stabilizer and lubricates. Polysorbate 80 is known to increase the absorption of drugs,vaccines, mineral oils and other fat soluble materials. Personal note: You may want to compare the effectivenessof glyceryl cocoate, which is derived from coconuts.444


Pomander - Repel moths and other insects with a clove petard by studding an orange, apple, lemon, lime orkumquat with the aromatic buds from the evergreen clove tree, then place it in cupboards, drawers and closets.Population Prevention - One female aphid can produce 6 billion in one summer. One female flea can lay 5,000eggs in her lifetime. One female tick can lay 7,000 eggs at a time. One female fruit fly can lay 800 eggs in herlifetime. Early reduction of even one pregnant female pest can substantially effect future population densities.Potassium bicarbonate - 1 T. mixed in 1 gal. water controls fungal diseases like black spot and powdery mildew.Potato - Trap wire worms which are the larvae of click beetles by scooping out several small holes in the gardensoil. Toss in sliced potato and cover with boards - the “nests” will attract wireworms - collect the infested potatoesevery other day and drop them into soapy water to kill the pests safely.Potato Starch Spray - Mix 2 T. - 4 T. of potato flour and a dash of liquid soap in 1 qt. water to safely contrtolfungal diseases and insects.Potato Water - Concentrations of potato water have been rubbed on cattle, and clove on chickens and dogsto repel lice.Power Dusters - impart an electrical charge to talcum powder, food-grade DE, boric acid, humates or any dust,making them excellent pest control devices.Powdered (Non-fat dry) Milk - Lightly sprinkle on tomato plants and on the ground directly underneath toprevent many diseases.Powdered Sugar - Dusted on wet cabbages will repel worms.Power Washers - are tremendous tools, especially when used with Safe Solutions Tweetmint Enzyme Cleaners- do not use cleaners that contain active bacteria or unknown quantities of protease enzymes. Follow the label.Prayer - Prayer changes things.Praying Mantids - should be called preying mantids because they will eat just about any insect including eachother.Predator Urine - will repel many herbivores and come carnivores. A drop or two of fox urine (on a cotton ball)will often cause raccoons and squirrels to vacate your attic space.Predators and Parasites - Without these beneficial insects (the most populous form of life on this planet)nothing man could possibly do would stop the pests from taking over this planet. At least 65% of all pests arecontrolled by other insects.Predatory Arthropods - Linneaus wrote about controlling pest problems using predatory arthropods in 1752.Insects have been controlled since the beginning of time by other insects, arachnids and/or diseases of insects.See Spiders.Predatory Mites - can be used to control pest mites.Preformed Enzyme Cleaners - or salmonella-free enzyme cleaners are what we previously recommended beused as an all-around cleaner, insectisafe and fungisafe or Pestisafes ® ; now we only recommend Safe Solutions,Tweetmint Enzyme Cleaner is used at 1 oz. per quart to control pests and 1 oz. - 2 oz. per 3 gallons of water toclean and/or flood ant colonies - you may add a “kicker” of a teaspoon of vegetable or canola oil, a tablespoonof borax, ½ of a grated lime, a few drops of liquid soap or garlic oil, 1 teaspoon of alcohol or hydrogen peroxide,a few drops of glycerin per quart of mix for quicker or better control of virtually all insects, fungus, mold and/ormildew. Unlike volatile, synthetic pesticide poisons, you can adjust the enzyme (pest-killing) application rate. A1 to 500 ratio kills garden, lawn, orchard, grove and field pests, e.g., mites, aphids, leaf miners, etc. but leaves(harder-bodied) biological/beneficials, e.g., ladybugs and Aschersonia, a beneficial fungus (that destroy white445


fly nymphs) intact. <strong>The</strong> content of the performed enzyme cleaners varied greatly each batch and had a 3.5 pHand no one knew the ingredients. http://www.licergone.com/Lice-R-Gone_Ocular_Sensitivity.pdfPreparation H - relieves chigger bites and puffy eyes.Preservatives - Some natural preservatives are thyme and/or tea tree essential oils, grapefruit extract and D-Alpha tocopherol acetate (vitamin E).Prevention - is the best control and your first line of defense. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”Probiotic Microbes - or bacteria in the large intestine stimulate health and prevent chronic stess-inducedabnormalities, e.g., foodborne pathogen growth; these probiotic microbes also remove odors and help healskin irritations.Propane - Propane is a gas that is heavier than air, unlike natural gas that is lighter than air - that means propaneseeks out the lowest areas. Propane does not kill vegetation like natural gas does - so if you take a propanetorch on top of a small canister of propane and gently push the tip into pest, e.g., ant, wasp, mole, runways andtunnels and turn on the gas so it comes out slowly and leave it on until you smell propane permeating out ofnearby runs - you will have flooded the tunnels with gas - do this to all tunnels and runways and you will havekilled all tunnel occupants. Don’t smoke or light any fires around this area for a week to be safe. You can alsouse propane torches to control weed and roach problems with the flame. Be extremely careful!Proper and Thorough Inspection - If you do not find the cause, location and problem, you have already lost.Proper Nutrition - Healthy plants and animals resist pest damage. Remember, too much fertilizer/nutrient canbe as harmful as too little. You can often encourage fruiting by cutting back on fertilizer “use”.Proper Plant Choice - Choose native species; place them in their natural preferred location, e.g., in shade orsun; plant them properly - at the correct depth, in the right soil, remove burlap, fertilize and water properly anduse proper landscape design to decrease maintenance, moisture loss and stress.Proper Pruning - will open up the tree to allow sunlight in and air movement and proper drying conditions andremoval of diseases and spot pest infestations.Proper Sanitation - Start your control programs with this simple procedure.Proper Selection - Select a control that harms the pest and not the beneficials or natural enemies.Proper Soil Nutrition and pH - is essential for healthy plants. Healthy plants naturally fight off diseases andpests. Adding soil inoculants, organic fertilizer, compost, aeration, earth worm castings, colloidal minerals, greenmanures, etc. all help build healthy soils.Proper Time - Seeds planted too early will rot. Plant too late and you will not harvest. You need warm soil forrapid germination and growth of young plants.Propionic Acid - are being reviewed as mold inhibitors in hay.Propylene Glycol - is being reviewed as a treatment for ketosis.Protease Enzymes - Safe Solutions Tweetmint Enzyme Cleaners contain protease and are virtually non-toxic - yetthey quickly and safely destroy insect exoskeletons - when insects molt they inject a very tiny amount of proteaseinto the “seam” of their exoskeletons - creating a “zipper” - so they can “step out”. Obviously, protease enzymeswill never create immune or resistant insects like synthetic pesticide poisons do. If you were to describe theperfect pesticide you would want an inexpensive chemical, that left no poison residual, created no contamination,was non-toxic to people and pets, was broad-spectrum and controlled virtually all insects, fungus, mold, mildew,bacteria, plant diseases, would not create resistant species and could be applied in numerous ways - you havethus described Safe Solutions Tweetmint enzyme cleaners and shampoos - which are sold as non-toxic cleaners446


y Safe Solutions at 1-888-443-8738 or 1-616-677-2850, http://www.safesolutionsinc.com - you can also adda “kicker” with their peppermint soap or alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, garlic and other essential oils. <strong>The</strong> Authorhas a patent in Australia and the U. S. A. and several patents pending on the use of protease and other enzymesand surfactants for use as pesticides, fungicides, etc. According to the 1994 Journal of Clinical Epidemiology,the enzyme protease, found naturally in raw pineapple, papaya and other unprocessed and unheated foods, hasalso been shown to prevent cross-linking. Cross-linking is a process that occurs when collagen becomes hard,cross-links with other collagen fibers and prevents the skin from holding water and remaining elastic. YoshihideHagiwara, M.D. has said, “Enzymes are involved in moving our hands and legs, and even in the process ofthinking. If enzymes were lost, all the functions of our (human) body would fail.” Remember, protease enzymesshould never be more than 1% of a product or you risk causing occupational asthma problems and/oranaphylactic shock. (See enzyme cleaners and Safe Solutions Enzyme Cleaner.)Pruning - Simply cut off any infested, dead, dying, winter-injured and diseased branches, leaves, stems, shoots,limbs or plants and then burn, bury or remove them from the yard, field, lawn or garden. Prune properly and atthe right time.Pumpkin Seeds (known as pepitas) - can be eaten raw or roasted or ground up and made into a tea and eatenor drunk to remove tapeworms and other parasites in animals. Winter squash, e.g., butternut or other squash,seeds share the same qualities and are high in zinc and omega-3 fatty acids..Purification - is the opposite of intoxification or self-poisoning. See the detox chapters 40 and 41.Purple Plates - will safely repel many insect pests until they need to be replaced with fresh plates.Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) - is an edible (vitamin rich) weed that can be used to control other weeds. Munchon the leaves to rehydrate and re-mineralize your tired body.PVC Pipe - Sections of PVC pipe can be used to make permanent termite bait stations; to enclose rodent glueboards and/or catch armadillos.Pyrethrum - is one of the most important botanical insecticides ever developed; it is made from flower headsof chrysanthemum species. Only a specific variety of this flower can be used to yield the desired commercialgrade of the material. Pyrethrins are a combination of 4 different chemical constituents (pyrethrums) derivedfrom this process. <strong>The</strong> pyrethrins cause rapid knockdown (unconsciousness) in insects. <strong>The</strong>y will also causedeath in some insect species. <strong>The</strong>ir usage is very limited though due to the rapid degradation of the materialwhen exposed to ultraviolet light. Pyrethrum was first used in the U.S.A. in 1858. Pyrethrum refers to thedried, natural powdered flower heads of the plant. Pyrethrin refers to the active ingredient compounds thatoccur in the flowers. Pyrethroid refers to synthetic compounds that resemble pyrethrins in chemical structure.Some synthetic formulations persist in the environment longer than either pyrethrum or pyrethrin, often lasting10 days for more, compared to a few hours or days for the natural botanicals, so be very careful. In general,we do not recommend the use of any aerosol formulations; the mist created by an aerosol is composed of veryfine particles that stay suspended in the air, causing unnecessary respiratory problems and human exposure.And the “unknown volatiles” and the repeated contact with dusts may cause skin irritation or allergic reactionsin humans. Pyrethrin can be toxic to cats at any dose above 0.04%. CAUTION: Some commercial pyrethruminsecticides also contain organophosphate or carbamate insecticides and/or pipernoyl butoxideall contain “inerts” - Don’t use them. <strong>The</strong>se inerts are included because the rapid paralytic action/effect ofpyrethrum on insects is not always fatal. (EPA 3/89 540/9-88-001 pg. 25). Pyrethrin and pipernoyl butoxideare now considered to be carcinogenic. Many people are sensitive or allergic to these sprays. Pyrethrumis a registered pesticide.Pyrethrum plant - A beautiful daisy that is hardy and blooms throughout the spring and summer. It’s dried andcrushed flower heads are used to make probably the best natural pesticide available - that instantly kills flyingand crawling insects on contact but should do no harm to mammals or birds. This brown powder will kill or stunthe insects the moment it touches them but no harm to pets when sprinkled on their coats. This member of thedaisy family is a beautiful ornamental and will compliment any garden or flower bed. While very effective, thedried powder only lasts for a few days. You can prolong its use throughout the year by freezing fresh flowerheads in zip-lock bags and drying and crushing them as needed or encapsulating the oils in sodium borate.447


You may be highly allergic to this plant.Quaker Oats - for past pain relief. Mix 2 cups oats and 1 cup water in a bowl; warm in the microwave for 1minute. Cool slightly and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.Quarantine and Exclusion - Quarantining materials in an area to exclude unwanted pest organisms is an IntelligentPest Management® concept of long standing. Quarantining pest infested areas until you can deal withproper control is a vital tool.Quartz Sand - can be used as a repellent.Quassia (Quassia amara) - Used as an insecticide and/or repellent. Boil ¼ cup quassia clips in 1 gal. water for2 hours; cool and use as an insecticidal spray; it will kill mosquito larvae and can be used a moth-proofing agent.Radiant Heat Weeders - Radiant heat or infrared weeders have a lethal head capable of reaching temperaturesof 1800 degrees. Some models use combinations of air, water and radiant heat. <strong>The</strong> most common setup usesa ceramic heating element capable of reaching extremely high temperatures. When you direct the heat towardsthe weed, the intense heat boils the liquids in the plant’s/pest weed’s cells causing them to literally burst. <strong>The</strong>weeds do not even need to be scorched. <strong>The</strong> leaves wilt immediately. <strong>The</strong> element needs to be ½” above theweed and will kill not only the weed but wind-borne seeds and bacteria on or just below the soil’s surface. <strong>The</strong>time to kill is generally 1 - 2 seconds. You can see when you are through, the leaves wilt and turn a darkergreen. <strong>The</strong>y run on propane and weed control costs about 2¢ to 7¢ per 100 sq. ft. <strong>The</strong>re are no open flames,but you must be extremely careful.Radio Waves - May repel some pests initially, but may also be harmful to humans and pets.Radios - can often keep many mammals away from specific areas. See music/noise.Radishes - Plant radishes or nasturtiums with your cucumbers to control cucumber beetles. Pliny in his Book 19emphasized the “great antipathy between radishes and vines, which shrank away from radishes planted near them.Note: Grape vines will also not grow near cabbages. Radish juice in the soil completely inhibits some species.Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) - <strong>The</strong> pollen causes allergies, but if you chew on a leaf it may alleviate yoursymptoms instantly. If it does not stop the symptoms immediately, do not continue chewing.Rape Seed Oil - See <strong>The</strong> Great Can-ola. Rape seed oil is toxic because it contains significant amounts of apoisonous substance called erucic acid. Canola oil is a poisonous substance, an industrial oil that does notbelong in the body. It contains “the infamous chemical warfare agent mustard gas,” hemagglutinins and toxiccyanide-containing glyocides; it causes mad cow disease, blindness, nervous disorders, clumping of blood cellsand depression of the immune system. This is what detractors say about canola oil.http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyourfats/conola.htmlRat-proofing - In 13 B.C.E. the first rat-proof granary was built by the Roman architect, Marcus Poliio.Rattlebox (Crotalaria spp.) - Plants will reduce the numbers of a wide number of parasitic nematodes in the soil.Rayless Chamomile (Matricaria matricarioides) - <strong>The</strong> powdered heads are fairly toxic to diamondback moths.Read the Label - Read the label. Read the label and then know all of the information before you use any product.Record Keeping - is essential to monitor trends and patterns in pest problems.Red - Some insects avoid the color red because it registers as a black void in their field of vision.Red Croquet Balls - coated with Vaseline ® or STP or Tanglefoot or a commercial insect adhesive hung at eyelevel just within the apple tree canopy but not totally obscured by the leaves will trap egg-laying female applemaggots. Use one ball per dwarf apple and/or 4 - 8 per full-size apple tree. Paint old burned-out light bulbs448


ight red and cover them with petroleum jelly.Red Food Dye - Will kill many insects including medflies when they ingest leaves and other food materials thathave been sprayed with diluted dye. <strong>The</strong>y die from the ammines.Red Lights - let you get close enough to roaches, carpenter ants and other nocturnal pests to “pet” them, sosimply vacuum them up. Put corn starch (1 tablespoon) in a dry vac or 4 oz. of enzyme cleaner in a quart ofwater in a wet vac to kill the pests you vacuum up.Red Packing Envelopes - with glue on the back can be stuck on a wall and/or behind an appliance, etc. on a45 o angle. Stick open and baited with light Karo syrup and a ½% sodium borate bait.Reflective Tape - will scare away birds.Refuge Habitats - Just one more alternative pest management practice. Allows for growth of beneficial organisms.Registered Pesticide (Poisons) - is just another oxymoron for many reasons. Often only 1% or less of the poisoncompound/formula is tested or extended rather than registered. Other times different federal agencies lookat the poison from far different perspectives and issue completely opposite “warnings” and “directions”. Oftenthe exact same product is a poison for one use and a non-poison for the next use, e.g., disodium octoboratetetrahydrate or sodium borate; when sold as a wood fire retardant, Poly-bor ® , it is not a registered pesticide;when it is sold as a wood treatment for wood destroying organisms, Tim-bor ® , it is a registered pesticide; whensold as a fertilizer, Solu-bor ® , it is not a registered pesticide; when it is sold to mop floors, Mop-Up ® , it onceagain magically becomes a registered pesticide poison. Confused? <strong>The</strong> Author is too; there, obviously, is nologic behind registration.Regular Maintenance Checks - Walk around the entire area to inspect previous infestation sites and to ensureall pest-proofing measures are still intact. Reduce moisture and many pest problems are also reduced.Relative Humidity - Reduce the relative humidity and you control many pests, e.g., dust mites, roaches andbed bugs. Reduce moisture and many pests problems will also be reduced.Remove Plant Debris - and you help to remove disease and pest problems.Repair and Replace - Preventative and ongoing maintenance programs prevent future pest invasions and, ifdone properly, prevent costly major repairs.Repellent and/or Deterrent Chemicals - can be used to protect people, plants and/or animals from parasitesand predators.Repellent Planting - Many plants naturally repel pests. Put some in a blender with some water and some soapto make your own repellent spray or scatter their leaves around to repel pests. Garlic repels most insects.Research - Every day the Author learns another alternative contol; research must be constantly performed.Resistance - <strong>The</strong> ability of the pest to become immune to a particular pesticide poison or microorganism to becomeimmune to an antibiotic. At some point all synthetic pesticides/medicines will fail to control pest/infectionproblems. Resistance is the natural, inherited ability of a living organism to adapt in order to survive a particularpesticide/mrdicine that would normally give effective (but not safe) control. As early as 1993 greater than 504insect species were known to be resistant to at least one formulation of insecticide and at least 17 species ofinsect species are resistant to all major classes of insecticide. 150 fungi and other plant pathogens are resistantand several plant pathogens are resistant to nearly all systemic fungicides used against them. Five kinds ofrats are known to be resistant to the chemicals that are used against them. Resistance to herbicides have beendocumented in over 100 weed biotypes and 84 species (Cate and Hinkle 1994).<strong>The</strong> green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphidae), is resistant to more insecticides than any otherinsect. Two other agricultural pests that are notoriously resistant, the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa449


decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera:Plutellidae), are strong runners-up. Resistance to synthetic pesticide POISONS will continue to increase inpest species, but not in people who are exposed to these dangerous toxins. At some point, resistance makesfarming uneconomical. Eventually, in order to survive, man will have to think rather than apply ever-increasingamounts of pesticide POISONS and use the safe and far more effective controls in this free IPM manual and/or find other alternatives. See also Immunity. A Friend of the Author in an Israel kibbutz said when he beganfarming he had to spray maybe once after planting before harvest; now he has to spray over 40 times! In January2010 the Grand Rapids Press noted Norway had controlled MRSA (see Chapter 41) by simply not routinelyprescribing antibiotics.Resistant Species - Often increase the quality of the crop. <strong>The</strong>se species can even decrease insect populationsin adjacent fields or yards. When insect pests feed on resistant species of plants they are often less vigorousand are more easily killed by natural controls, e.g., beneficials and adverse weather and/or other environmentalstresses.Resistant Varieties - You can simply avoid many plant diseases and pest species by growing only resistantplant species.Resolve to Persist until You Succeed - Never, never, never give up; unleash your stamina and mind andcreatifvity. Continue on!Results never lie.Review - Never stop reviewing your IPM strategies, especially your failures to see how you can better and moresafely control various pest problems.Rhubarb - Soak 3 pounds of rhubarb leaves in 1 gallon of water (in the dark) for at least 24 hours. Bring thewater to a boil, let simmer for 30 minutes - add 1 oz. of liquid soap and/or soap flakes - cool and spray therhubarb mix - it’s fun to see how many different pests, e.g., aphids, Japanese beetles, June bugs and fungaldiseases, this natural spray will control. Be careful; oxalic acid is harmful to you, too! If ingested, yourheart will stop and you will die!Right Stuff ® - Clean per the label with this stuff and insect pests die quickly.Rinse-and-Vacs and or Vacuums - <strong>The</strong> quickest and most effective way to remove pests, debris and food isto vacuum or rinse-and-vac. Do not forget to put Safe Solutions Tweetmint Enzyme Cleaners in the water and/or dust (corn starch or talcum powder) in the dry vac to kill the captured insects.Risk - Always consider the risk to non-target species; everything you do creates some degree of risk.Road Dust - will kill insect pests, e.g., striped cucumber beetles and cabbage worms.Robber Flies - Maggots live in soil or decaying wood and feed on beetle larvae. <strong>The</strong> adults come in variousbody styles and are voracious predators that catch flies, beetles, bees and grasshoppers by dropping down onthem from above. <strong>The</strong>y usually have bearded faces and are very strong.Rodent Baits - See baits containing artificial sweetners/pain killers.Rodent Traps - <strong>The</strong>y can be used to control rodents without resorting to the use of dangerous poisons, but still,be careful.Roofing Paper - Sticky bands of roofing paper wrapped around trees will prevent the ascent of ants, worms,caterpillars and other pests or will allow you to remove or turn the paper and control any pests hiding under theroofing paper.Rooibus - (pronounced “Roy-Bose”), a plant native to South African plant, has started to gain popularity throughoutthe world for its significant health benefits. From 1999-2001, consumption increased by 500%. Rooibos contains450


a wide variety of antioxidants called aspalathin, chrysoeriol, orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin, quercetin, isoquercetrinand rutin. It is thought that these components of Rooibos tea are responsible for its growing eputationas an “antiaging tea” as well as promoting cell health and helping maintain healthy blood sugar and inflammation .Research has found that Rooibos tea helps with irregular heartbeats, colic and diarrhea . Now a new study hasbuilt upon previous research showing that Rooibos may be effective for asthma and high blood pressure byhelping decrease muscle spasms in blood vessels and lung airways.Rosary Pea - called Black-eyed Susan, Weather Plant, Precatory Bean, Crab’s Eye Vine or Jequirity Bean; thescientific name is Abrus precatorius, and is found growing all over Florida on Sabal palms, shrubs, fences, andundisturbed areas. <strong>The</strong> seeds contain abrin, one of the most toxic principles known. Less than one masticatedseed can kill an adult human - Abrin is a thousand times more toxic than arsenic. Be very careful!Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) - Evergreen aromatic shrubs from the Mediterranean. Grows 2’ - 6’ withpale blue ½” flowers and attractive foliage. Powdered Rosemary leaves are used as a flea and tick repellent.Simply dust the powder onto the pet or areas where the pet sleeps. Rosemary oil will control lice. An effectiveand safer repellent. Rosemary is one of nature’s most powerful anti-oxidants and is helpful with memory lossand cancer prevention. You can also bring a quart of water to a boil and add 4 teaspoons of rosemary; let soakfor 20 -30 minutes . Drain and cool the solution and then spray your pets with the herbal rinse. Keep the petinside until the spray has dried. Use as needed to repel ticks and fleas.Rotation - Developing a good crop rotational plan is the first and most important step in the transition to IntelligentPest Management ® , sustainable agriculture, low-input or organic farming. Certain crops, like tobacco, potatoesand corn, are heavy feeders and should not be grown too often on the same soil, yet the Author has watchedfarmers ignore this sage advice year after year after year. This literally mines the soil rather than husbandingit. Planting the same crop in the same place year after year invites losses due to soil-borne diseases and overwinteringpests. Follow a crop rotation of at least 3 years for the four major vegetable plant families—Solanum(tomato, potato, pepper, eggplant); Cucurbit (melons, squash, cucumbers); Cruciferous (broccoli, cauliflower,cabbage, Brussels sprouts); and Allium (onion, garlic, leeks).Rotenone - extracted from Derris spp., Lonchocarpus spp. and/or Terphrosia spp. can be used as an insecticide.derris roots contain rotenone and crushed roots will kill fish when rotenone is thrown into the water. Rotenonehas been used since the 18th century.Rove Beetles - Most rove beetles and their larvae prey on aphids, fly eggs and maggots, mites, nematodes,springtails, etc.Rubbing Alcohol - will instantly kill most insects on which you spray it, including stinging insects, but be verycareful of your eyes and keep out of the reach of children and pets. You can also mix 1 T. - 3 T. of rubbingalcohol in a quart of water to kill most weeds, but put in 5 T. - 6 T. to kill poison ivy.Rue - Plant Ruta graveolens as a garden border or scatter shredded leaves to deter Japanese beetles. <strong>The</strong>oils from the leaves can be extracted and used as a spray to control or repel many insects. Rue is a flea andinsect repellent. It has been used to treat rheumatism, epilepsy and skin disorders. Caution: <strong>The</strong> oils givesome people a rash similar to that of poison-ivy and are toxic in large amounts!Rust <strong>Control</strong> - Take ¼ cup of shredded paper and place a thin layer of this paper at the base of the plant, e.g.,roses, snapdragons, hollyhocks, etc. and light the paper with a match; the quick flame will last 5 - 10 seconds andthen can be extinguished if necessary. Check again in a few weeks and repeat the fire treatment only as needed.Ryania - Puts insects into a state of “flaccid paralysis”. Roots and stems can be used to make a botanicalinsecticide.Rye Flour - Sprinkling rye flour over and around plants wet with dew will cause the resulting dough to cling tothe bodies of moths and worms so that they will bake in the sun and die.Sabidilla - Seeds are toxic to houseflies. It has been used as an insecticide since the Sixteenth Century. <strong>The</strong>451


entire plant, except the mature seeds, is non-toxic. When heated or treated with alkali, the seeds become toxicto many insects, but the dust is very irritating to mucous membranes.Safe Solutions Tweetmint Enzyme Cleaner (with or with peppermint) - is formulated to exact specificationswith a normal pH and always less than 1% protease.http://www.safesolutionsinc.com/Enzyme_Cleaner_Pest_<strong>Control</strong>.htmhttp://www.safesolutionsinc.com/Non-Toxic_Pest_<strong>Control</strong>.htmhttp://www.getipm.com/thebestcontrol/ideal-pesticide.htmSafety - should be the first and last thing you apply!Sage (Salvia officinalis) - Every garden should have a little sage. It’s used as a food seasoning, and its medicinalvalues have been known for centuries. Sage can improve memory. In 1597 John Gerard wrote aboutsaying, “It is singularly good for the head and brain and quickeneth the nerves and memory.” It may be used totreat Alzeheimer’s. In the garden, it should be planted next to cabbage as it will improve the taste of the plantand repel cabbage worms, maggots and/or moths. Scarlet sage repels nematodes.St. Johns Wort - Induces a whole family of enzymes in the liver. <strong>The</strong>se enzymes break down prescribed drugs,including the birth control pill, anticoagulants, anti-rejection drugs and possibly toxins. Serves as an immunesystem and mood booster, especially for those who suffer from lack of sunshine (SAD). See Herbal Remedies.Salt - Put some in your vacuum to desiccate pests you vacuum. Salt sprinkled on weeds that sprout in pavedareas, along fence lines, driveways or wherever you want - salt will kill all plants including “weeds”; salt or saltwater sprays will also quickly kill snails and slugs. Salt will kill many insects, e.g., fleas and termites in protectedareas, e.g., crawl spaces, or directly on the wood or it can be sprayed as salt water to control numerous pests- but check a few leaves first to see how badly it will damage plants. Many salts can be used to pretreat soiland wood for termite control, but some salts will also destroy ferrous metals. Salt poured on wine stains in thecarpet will absorb the wine. When Imperial Rome wanted to punish its enemies, it plowed salt into the groundand no plants grew in that soil for years. We could have killed all the vegetation in Vietnam with salt that wouldnot have hurt the people. Instead, we used/misued herbicides that sickened our own troops, harmed their futurechildren and still are destroying the people of Vietnam. Now we are spraying the people of Columbia ratherthan just saying, “No!”Salt Water - Zapping salt water with low voltage electricity a couple of powerful, nontoxic cleaning agents. Sodiumions are cnverted into sodium hydroxide, an alkaline liquid that cleans and degreases like detergent withoutsudsing. Chloride ions become hypochlorus acid, a potent disinfectant known as acid water which 10 times moreeffective than bleach. This electrolyzed water can treat wounds, kill microbe spores, anthrax spores, bacteria,foot fungus, bed sores, etc., all without harming people or the environment. To read more, see the ElectrolyzerCorporation at http://www.electrolyzercorp.com.Sand - sand blasting sand will provide a permanent termite barrier when properly applied. Sharp sand will repelcutworms and other insects. Putting clean sand under lettuce plants will help prevent rot.Sanitation - Improve your sanitation; store food and garbage properly; use heavy-duty trash bags; move dumpstersaway from buidlings; refrigerate trash and recycle rooms; steam clean garbage receptacles routinely; removeall debris, garbage, spilled food, garden refuse, trash, boards, branches, wood piles, lumber, weeds, rocks, etc.and you can virtually eliminate most pest problems inside and outside. This is usually the number one problem.Saponins - Saponins are found widely in plants and they have detergent properties that cause them to foamwhen shaken in water. <strong>The</strong>se same detergent properties can be used to help control insects, mites, variousfungi and molds and plant diseases.Sassafras and Sweet Basil - Plant them to repel mosquitoes. Sassafras oil will attract the codling moth.Sauna - Dry saunas may be used to safely kill or control lice, scabies and bed bug infestations and many otherinsect infestations. Saunas can also be used to detoxify people. See Not Nice to Toxins at Safe Solutions, Inc.452


Sawdust - Sawdust can be treated with sodium borates to be used as termite bait, or mixed with 10% molasses(or aspartame) and a touch of corn or sardine oil to control rodents. Traps, e.g., pots, bags or boxes, filled withsawdust will be filled with earwigs in a few days if placed where you see these creatures. Some sawdust isvery toxic. Check with your doctor or veterinarian before using any sawdust.Scarecrows - old fashioned straw people in clothes with shiny or reflective streamers, still work at keeping birdsaway - if you frequently change their position, location, pose and clothing.Scented Geraniums, Sassafras, Sweet Basil Plants and/or Eucalyptus Trees - planted near doors, windows,gardens, decks and patios all help keep mosquitoes away, especially when the leaves are crushed. Eucalyptustrees will even dry up boggy areas.Scent Trails - Remove these with Safe Solutions Tweetmint Enzyme Cleaner and/or cover them with medicatedpowder, food-grade DE, vinegar, bleach, essential oils, smoke and/or fragrances (if no one is chemically sensitive)and you will totally confuse and demoralize ant colonies.Scentless False Chamomile, Mayweed (Matricaria indora or M. chamimile) - <strong>The</strong> flower heads are effectiveas commercial pyrethrum in controlling face flies; may well have applications in the garden.Scillas (sometimes called Squills) - Gophers shy away from plantings of scilla bulbs.Scotch Guard - Very lightly spray Scotch Guard (used for exterior purposes) on cardboard and feed it to termites.<strong>The</strong>y quickly die. If you spray it on wood (per the label), termites are repelled and will not eat it (for someindefinite period of time), so use a very small amount for a “bait”.Screens - Properly installed, self-closing screen doors and window screens will safely and effectively keep outmany insect and rodent pests.Seeding - Proper seeding is your lawn’s best defense against the invasion of weeds and other pests.Seeds - Rats and mice prefer seeds over pellets, especially large pellets, so remember this when you makerodent baits.Seltzer Water - can be used to moisten termite baits; the carbon dioxide will attract termites to your baits.Sesame (Sesamum indicum) - This is an effective synergist for pyrethrins. Acetone extracts of seeds are toxicto most mosquito larvae and houseflies. An acetone of the leaves is toxic to mosquito larvae.Shaking and Beating - Starting in the Renaissance, professional shakers and beaters were employed to beatand shake furs and woolen carpets and drapes to control fabric pests, e.g., moths and carpet beetles. Periodicshaking bean seed containers will control the weevil Acanthoscelides objectus. Mechanical agitation, disorientatesand/or destroys the weevils. Shaking works to control several other pests.Shingles - Roofing shingles can be cut into 3 (1-foot) pieces, folded into “tents” and used to cover jar lids filledwith beer to trap slugs and snails.Shock - Electric fencing keeps nuisance wildlife out. Invisible fencing keeps dogs in. <strong>The</strong>re are electronic pettraining mats, e.g., Scat Mat ® that keep animals off any restricted area. <strong>The</strong> Rat Zapper ® will electrocute ratsand mice. Mammals learn very quickly to avoid any electrical shock!Shoes - can be used to simply step on “bugs” and/or if smelly enough repel many mammals from a small area.See Smelly Sneakers.Shoo-fly plant (Nicanda physalodes) - A vigorous bushy annual, 2 - 5 ft. tall, with sky-blue bell flowers an inchwide, followed by unusual, papery 5 wing pods that are excellent for dried arrangements. A beautiful ornamentalthat is raised around greenhouses for its possible fly repelling and killing properties. Said to attract and kill flies,e.g., white flies.453


Shower - Fewer mosquitoes attack a person after a shower, especially one with anti-bacterial soap.Silica Aerogels - Amorphous silica gel is a dust made from sand used as a registered insecticide, effective formany household pests and stored grain pests. <strong>The</strong> primary mode of action is as a desiccant. Silica aerogelsare formed by a reaction of sodium silicate and sulfuric acid to form fluffy aerogels, whose small particles, andlarge, porous surface can absorb three times their weight in linseed oil - a substance similar to the waxy materialon the exoskeleton or cuticles of insects - and 5% to 100% of their weight in water. <strong>The</strong>se aerogels absorblipids, the waxy protective coating on an insect’s exterior surface, causing the insect to lose vital moisture,dehydrate and die. Silica aerogels, particularly Drione (silica aerogel impregnated with pyrethrum or pyrethrin)are particularly useful against pests in confined areas, including cockroaches in sewers and wall voids, drywoodtermites in attics and adult and larval fleas on pets. It also works around the yard. Because the formulatedproduct is toxic to fish, it should never be used where it can contaminate air, aquariums, lakes, streamsor ponds. Silica aerogels may be eaten without toxic effect, but prolonged breathing of these substances arenot recommended without respiratory protection. Some plants, including rice, absorb soluble forms of silicafrom the soil and convert it to amorphous silica in their cells. Silica gel is routinely added to our flour productsas an anti-caking agent. <strong>The</strong> various forms of silica differ in their oil absorption capacity and are produced usingdifferent industrial processes, though they all start with sand as the raw material. Silica gel works best whenmoisture and humidity are relatively low and control is more complete when food is not available to the targetpests. Crystalline silica is a mineral dust. In laboratory animals, inhalation of crystalline silica induced significantincreases in the incidence of lung cancer. Injections induced lymphomas in the thorax and abdomen. In humans,a number of studies have shown that lung cancer occurs more frequently in workers who are exposed to silica,so use these materials with great caution. This synthetic has yet to be added to the National List of ApprovedSynthetics before it can be used in organic agriculture - and it is rated as a foreign substance by governmentgrain inspectors - USDA states diatomaceous earth (DE) is not considered to be a foreign substance. Silica(crushed sand) in the lungs will not dissolve and may harm like asbestos. <strong>The</strong> Author does not use orrecommend silica aerogels.Silicon Dioxide - Also called diatomaceous earth; the Author only recommends the use of food-grade DE.Silicone Caulk - Use the one with a scent rather than the low odor version (if no one is chemically sensitive).<strong>The</strong> odor confuses insect pests, e.g., ants and most pests are unable to chew through the silicone.Skin-so-soft ® - can be used as an insect repellent. It helps relieve itching caused by insect bites and dry skin.Mix 5 parts water and 1 part Skin-so-soft and mist on show animals, then brush - it makes their coats gleam andit repels insects and/or fleas. Mix in your pet’s bath water to remove fleas. Sponge it around doors, windows,and on screens to help keep bugs outside. After you remove a hornet nest - keep the area sprayed with Skinso-softto keep them from rebuilding in that area. Mix in water and spray to keep ants away.Skunk Odor - Remove it with 1 c. water, ½ c. baking soda, 1 tsp. dishwashing soap and 1 qt. 3% hydrogenperoxide or use Safe Solutions Tweetmint Enzyme Cleaner with Peppermint or their Pet Wash.Smelly Sneakers - an old pair of smelly sneakers (strategically placed) will often repel (nocturnal) mammalinvaders.Smoke - In the 16th and 17th centuries orchard pests were fumigated with smoke from fires built on the windwardside of the trees. Smudge smoke from burning mango leaves or from rice straw greatly reduces fruitlfly populations.Greenhouses can be safely fumigated by taking a pail, putting newspaper at the bottom of the pail, thena metal grate and a layer of straw; then wet oak leaves, the stems and leaves from canna plants, or the leavesof peppergrass. Light the newspaper and the damp material will smolder rather than burn, producing a thicksmoke. Close the greenhouse door and smoke for a half-hour; then ventilate. This treatment will kill aphids,ants and mites. Be careful the fire does not get away from you.Smoke Bombs (Revenge ® Rodent Smoke Bombs) - will kill gophers, moles, rats, snakes, skunks, woodchucks,and/or ground squirrels, but are not for mole use in Indiana and North Carolina. Light one of these sulfur,potassium nitrate, or charcoal smoke bombs and slip it into the pest’s burrow. Smoke and carbon monoxidedisplaces air in the tunnels destroying the pest. <strong>The</strong> animal dies underground. <strong>The</strong> Author would like to note that454


lit charcoal in the tunnels would also kill pests, but check with the authorities first. See http://www.modfarm.com.Smothering - Smother poison ivy and other weeds under black visquine, heavy straw or mulch, tar paper,plywood or cardboard.Snails - Issac Kanoa on Maui is using black ducks from Cayahoga Lake in Washington to eat snais, slugs,antsand bugs in his organic gardens because they do not eat his plants.Snakes - <strong>The</strong>y help keep many insects, gophers, moles, mice and other rodents in check.Snow Fence - <strong>The</strong> plastic kind can be used to catch and kill or exclude snakes. Snow fencing, wood or plastic,will also exclude many mammals.Soap - Soaps are also surfactants, but they are made with natural ingredients; they may be used as insecticides,algicides, de-mossers, large animal repellents and herbicides. Soap kills insect pests because of theinsecticidal power of fatty acids, which destroy cellular membranes and the soap solution creates a film thatprevents the insect from breatghing through its spiracles. Soft-bodied insects are most susceptible. Mix 4ounces of virtually any soap - mild (unregistered) dish soap or a natural soap or a commercial cleaner or adegreaser or better yet an eucalyptus or citrus oil or citronella or lavender or peppermint soap (with or withoutprotease enzymes) in 1 gallon of water and spray as an insecticide to quickly control most insect pestsor use an (registered) insecticidal or herbicidal soap, e.g., Safers ® or Ringer ® . Be sure your cleaner does notcontain alkylphenol polyethoxylate - which is a hormone disrupter. Spray floors and yards to control ants andfleas. This mix will also control many insects, e.g., white flies, mites, aphids, etc. Spray a few leaves andwait at least 48 to 72 hours; if there is no ill effect, then spray your plants (treat the bottom as well as the topof the leaves) every 2 - 3 days for several weeks. Some plants are sensitive even to mild/diluted soap.Mix 1 cup cooking oil with 1 tablespoon non-detergent liquid soap as an alternative “brew” - use 1 tablespoonof this “brew” for each cup of water and spray to control aphids, spider mites, scales, some caterpillars andmealy bugs - this “brew” is effective against eggs as well as adults. If the temperature is over 85 O F. the oilwill damage some foliage. Deodorant soaps, especially Dial ® , can repel deer and other animals. Sprinkle drysoap into garbage cans after they have been washed and allowed to dry; it acts as a fly repellent. Sprinkle orspray Tide laundry soap around the foundation of your home to keep ants out. At 40 O F. or less spraying birdswith soapy water will quickly kill them. Soap as it melts adds alkalinity to the soil. <strong>The</strong> “original” Pestisafe ® .Sopas act by impairing the waxy coveriing of insect and arachnid exoskeletons; this results in desiccation anddeath of the pest.Soap Plant, Soap Root (Chlorogalum pomeridianum) - Grows from California north to Oregon. Powderedbulbs are toxic to armyworms and melonworms.Soap and Water - Soap and water beat all of the various anti-bacterials. When Grandmother finished washingthe dishes she threw the soapy water on her plants and flowers controlling most insect pests quickly and safely.Fill a quart sprayer with water and a tablespoon of soap and try it yourself - you can add a “kicker” by includingenzyme cleaners, garlic, alcohol, mineral oil, vegetable oil, hydrogen peroxide, glycerin and/or borax to your mix!Compare various types of soaps for differing control results e.g., dish soap; degreasers; commercial cleaners;natural soaps; peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus or citrus oil soaps; insecticidal soaps; neem soaps; strippers; ortry various combinations with or without a “kicker”. Be sure you use a salmonella-free enzyme cleaner. Remember,even natural soap burns the eyes and may also burn squash, cauliflower, cabbage and other leaves.Socks - Stretch a darkly colored (red) man’s sock over the exterior of a quart mason jar to assist the roachesand other pests in climbing up the exterior to enter your trap.Soda Pop Bottles - 2-liter clear soda bottles can be cut at the curve and the tops can then be inverted andtaped back so the top is now a “funnel”. You can use various attractants to lure stinging insects, flies, slugs andmice to their deaths. See photo - Chapter 39.Sodium Bicarbonate - (baking soda) works very well as an alternative pest control chemical. Arm and Hammerhas a good grade Rumen Buffer 460<strong>11</strong>. Bicarbonate occurs naturally in saliva, but occasionally when acidsincrease in stomachs or swimming pools, sodium bicarbonate rapidly lowers the acid. When sprinkled about,455


this Pestisafe ® quickly controls ants, roaches and many other pests. Baking soda also has fungicidal qualities,especially with black spot and powdery mildew.Sodium Borate - Works as a dust, liquid and/or foam. Boron in the form of sodium salt has been used as anembalming agent by the ancient Egyptians, and as a flux for welding gold. Boric acid and borax have been usedas mild antiseptics, especially for burns and the eyes. For the last 200 years boric acid was used to preservefood, but this use has been stopped because it could be used to “cover up” food unfit for consumption. Boricacid has been used to alleviate burns and stings and as a powder to prevent rash. Patients have been given 10gm. per day for extended periods, and then excreted boron after 7 weeks. <strong>The</strong> acute boron dose for an adultis 20 - 60 mg. in a single dose and infants have died with 5 gm. In many countries, boron is given as a foodsupplement with the claim it heals 80% - 90% of all arthritis, cardiopathiesis have been corrected, vision hasimproved, balance has been restored, cases of psoriasis have also been improved. Dogs, horses, cattle, deerand goats have all been healed of arthritis. Today western societies (like the U. S. A.) ingest about 2 mg. borondaily; early in the 1900s we ate about 8 mg. boron per day. It is thought 5 - 6 mg. boron per day will preventarthritis, but a higher dose may be needed for treatment. It is a registered (non-volatile) pesticide and a lumberpreservative and as a micronutrient. <strong>The</strong> disodium octaborate (Na 2B 8O 13.4H 2O) product (DOT), e.g., Tim-bor ® ,has been used by Stroz Services, Inc., Get Set, Inc. and many countries for years as a wood preservative and asa remedial control of wood destroying pests. Boric acid (H 3BO 3) and its salts, the borates, borax (Na 2B 4O 7.10H 2O)and disodium octoborate tetrahydrate (Na 2B 8O 13.4H 2O), DOT, have been used for wood protection in Australiaand other countries since the 1940s. Liquid borate sprays protect the wood against decay, carpenter ants, woodboring beetles and termites. Sodium borate is currently coming into wide use as a wood preservative herein the U. S. <strong>The</strong>se compounds make wood permanently resistant to fungal decay and insect damage, and alsoact as fire retardants. Borates are slow-acting stomach poisons to insects and contact poisons to wood destroyingfungi. Borates are not directly lethal to an organism. Borate reduce the intestinal flora which allow insectsto digest food. Borates deactivate enzymes by cross-linking the enzyme’s hydroxyl groups. Although boratesare highly toxic to insects, they are less toxic to mammals because mammals excrete boron faster than insects.Borates are biostats rather than biocides. On fungi borates work on contact, since disrupting the enzymes infungi make them stops them from extracting nutrients in the wood. Sodium borates inhibit necessary oxidativemetabolic activity at the cellular level - a constant energy-producing process necessary for life. Over timeinhibition of fundamental biochemical activity results in death. Tests for termite control in the 1930s had shownpromise, but more toxic chemicals were introduced and these naturally occurring controls were simply ignoredby the poison applicators here, in favor of the extremely dangerous and carcinogenic termiticide poisons, e.g.,chlordane, aldrin and heptachlor. To apply Tim-bor as an aqueous solution, use two applications of 10% Tim-borsolution or a single application of 15% Tim-bor, the 15% solution is created by mixing 1½ lb. of the insecticideper gallon of water and applying immediately and/or a surfactant/foaming agent can be added to create a dryfoam. <strong>The</strong> Tim-bor foam may be applied directly to wood surfaces or injected into insect galleries or wall voids.Sodium borate may be applied in two ways for general control of roaches, silverfish, ants and other insects: (1)in powder form to insect harborage areas or as a crack and crevice and void treatment, or (2) as an aqueoussolution for crack and crevice treatment only. <strong>The</strong> product is highly toxic to both wood-destroying organismsand general insects but has low acute mammalian toxicity and is normally excreted quite rapidly. It is environmentallysound and can be used around children and pets, with no need for evacuation. It is easy to handleand mix, requiring no harsh chemical solvents. TIM-BOR® is not absorbed through unbroken skin and washesoff easily with soap and water. It is also odorless and non-flammable. When you use/substitute sodium borateto create baits, use about 1/2 the amount you would with boric acid. If you mix a tablespoon of sodium borate,1/8 teaspoon of tea tree oil or emu oil and 1/2 teaspoon of fish oil with a capsule of Not Nice to Arthritis in a cupof body lotion. Stir and heat ingredients in a microwave oven for 25 - 30 seconds until thoroughly mixed; thismix will greatly help as a topical treatment for arthritis.456


Active IngredientGeneric Name Trade Name LD 50Valuesodium octaborate Tim-bor 2,000boric acid several products >3,160silica aerogel Tri-Die >3.160limonene & linalool several products 4,000insecticidal soap Safer Insecticidal Soap >10,000neem oil Margosan-O >13,000Bacillus thuringiensis several products >15,000pyrethrum many products >18,000avermectin Avert >75,000> = greater thanCaution: While borates are not known to bio-accumulate in humans or pets, and are not absorbed throughintact skin, all dusts should be applied using adequate personal safety protective gear. A dust maskshould be worn to protect the applicator from inhaling dust, especially in areas of poor ventilation. Rubbergloves and long sleeves are also recommended to prevent skin abrasion and dermatitis. When applyinga dust, care should be taken to apply only a thin layer of the material on the surfaces being treated.When completed, the areas treated should look as if they are in need of a dusting. Dust applicationsshould be done only in wall voids, under cabinets and shelving units and in other dead air spaces whereit will not be contacted by people or animals. If you can get any insect to ingest DOT you will kill them. <strong>The</strong>dead sea will always be the dead sea - salts do not break down but they keep on killing - Death Valley is deathto all because of the Borax. So use sodium borates to permanently control wood destroying insects, fungus,termites and molds. Caution: sodium borate’s LD 50is more toxic than boric acid, but remember boron (assodium borate) is also a food supplement, e.g., in Chroma Trim Gum ® . We, like many people, believe that baitsmade with 3% or less sodium borate work better than baits made with boric acid. Sodium borate can be usedfor “pretreatment” baits to pretreat or control termites. In order to ensure the best control - make them at½% to 3% and monitor them yearly. When sprayed on concrete we believe DOT becomes calcium boronand will not leach - killing many pest, e.g., roaches, termites and fungus permanently. <strong>The</strong> same sodium borateformula is also sold as Solu-bor ® , a fertilizer (or as an essential micronutrient to plants) and as Poly-bor ® , a fireretardant. DOT also will “microencapsulate” some pesticides, e.g., pyrethrum, and keep them around in crystalsfor generations. When any insect rests on them it quickly dies. <strong>The</strong> Author knows of route men in Florida whoroutinely add sodium borate to their sprayers, that already contained (several) volatile, synthetic pesticide poisons,and have all reduced the use of volatile, synthetic pesticide poisons up to 75% the first year and up to 90% thesecond year. See Caution in Chapter 36. U. S. borates were being tested for termite control at least sinceCel Cure® was patented to protect wood in 1933, but research was shelved in favor of more toxic substanceslike the cyclodiene chlorinated hydrocarbons, e.g., chlordane, heptachlor, aldrin and dieldrin. Already in the1940’s borax and boric acid and sodium borate were routinely being used to protect wood in Australia, NewZealand and Europe. Lumber was protected on a commercial scale by the dip-diffusion method in Australia inthe mid 1940’s and sodium borates with greater water solubility were being used in Australia and New Zealandin the 1950’s. By the 1970s hundreds of research papers noted how great borates protected wood. Only afteraldrin, dieldirn, chlordane, heptachlor and mirex were banned or removed in the U. S. in the 1980s did the U.S. allow these wonderful U. S. Pestisafes ® to be used here. As of this writing, several states still will not allowthem to be legally used to protect wood safely; these regulators still insist that the maximum rate of far morevolatile and, therefore, more dangerous/toxic termiticide poisons, that do not last (any where as long) or workas well (even when they are contaminating us), still be “used” to protect people and their property - no matterwhat the people want! It is a sad fact that most U. S. homes treated with volatile, synthetic termiticide poisonsor fumigants have to be routinely monitored and retreated. Not only do the volatile termiticide poisons not work,they are killing us. <strong>The</strong>se regulators did not learn anything about safe termite control - now about 75% of all U.S. homes built before April, 1988 are permanently contaminated with significant levels of chlordane! When youcompare this simple fact with another one - that with no contamination problems, borate-treated constructionlumber in New Zealand has “effectively eliminated damage caused by all wood destroying organisms” in homesbuilt there since the 1950s when standards for non-volatile borate treatments were first developed - you must457


ask the obvious question - Who is getting paid off there? Sodium borate or borax will completely denude aforest and kill any rodent or insect that eats it.Sodium Chloride - Common table salt will kill weeds, ants, fleas, termites and most other pests; it can besprayed directly on the pests or on the ground and wood, etc. <strong>The</strong> Dead Sea will always be dead because ofits (non-volatile) salt. See Natrum muriaticum.Sodium Chlorite - at 0.17% (0.0017) by weight, kills bacteria, mold, mildew and odors.Sodium Hypochlorite (in chlorine bleach) - if mixed with ammonia, releases toxic chloramine gas, causingasthma symptoms and even death.Sodium Laurel Sulfate - is on the EPA exempt list. It kills insects in 30+ seconds at a 1% rate and in 10 - 15seconds at a 3% rate all by itself. It kills/repels ticks, fleas and lice, and can be blended to help kill weeds.Sodium Silicate - Is the simplest form of glass and can be used as a fungicide.Soft Coal or Humates - are registered for foliar fertilizers. Apply them with an electrical charge and they willnot only cover all of the plant’s surfaces, they will suffocate any insect that is in the area at the time.Soft Drink Bottles - have been set in mole holes with the top left above ground to make a “whistle” as the breezepasses over the mouth, sending vibrations through the mole’s chamber. Use them as wasp, slug, roach traps, etc.Soil Amendments - An agricultural IPM technique to help reduce the need for pesticides.Soil Improvement or Fertility - Improving the soil produces vigorous plants with increased resistance to pestsand diseases. <strong>The</strong> less fertility in the soil, the more insect pests.Soil Quality - <strong>The</strong> first control for all plants is to improve the soil quality — organically!Soil Sterilization - Try a combination of brassicas tilled into the soil and then cover the freshly tilled soil withclear polyethylene plastic to trap solar radiation and heat the soil. You can also pasteurize soil with applicationsof hot water into the soil to a depth of 12” and using a rotovator to distribute the heat through the top foot ofsoil - this procedure not only manages pests but irrigates the field. Cover crops can be used to reduce soilpathogens (mainly nematodes), and to provide organic matter that will lead to improved yields (Peacock 1995).You can also kill weeds, nematodes and many insect pests when you cover the soil for several days in the sunwith black polyethylene plastic.Soil Tests - Use a soil sampler and conduct proper soil tests before you fertilize. Use organic fertilizers.Soil <strong>The</strong>rmometer - Use this to test soil to see when it is best to plant and/or to release nematodes.Solanine - is a steroidal glycoalkaloid (C 45H 73NO 15) naturally found in nightshade plants including the green inpotatoes; it is very similar to malathion. On hydrolysis it yields solanidine and 3 sugars. Its aglycone portion isconsidered most toxic; it is a naturally occurring insecticide poison - use only with great caution.Solar Treatment - During warm summer days insects, e.g., bed bugs, can be solarized outdoors to kill them all.Solvents - quickly kill insect and arachnid pests but, if they are volatile, they can also harm people, pets and plants.Soot - Old soot and agricultural lime, which has a strong, repulsive smell, can be placed in containers set onthe ground to keep flea beetles from the crops.Sound or Sound Waves - can be used to repel pests. When sounds 50,000 cycles per minute were broadcastover a corn field, the number of cornborer moths infesting the crop was cut in half. Ultra sound vibrations 200,000per second passed through water suffocated mosquito larvae by shattering their windpipes.458


Sour Milk - sprays will loosen scale on small trees and plants so you can wash them off with water later.Sour Sop (Annona muricata) - Powdered seeds are toxic to armyworms and pea aphids.Southernwood - will repel ants (and the aphids they carry), cabbage moths and fruit tree moths.Soybean Oil - Kills mites. Kills beetles and other insect pests. Repels mosquitoes.Spanish Dagger (Yucca shidigera) - Powdered leaves are toxic to melonworms, bean leafrollers, celery leaftiersand other insects.Spearmint - will repel ants and mice.Sponges - Compressed sponge pieces with an attractant will kill any rodent that eats them. Caution: this mayalso harm other mammals and kills slowly, so use only when safe and legal.Spot Treatments with Pesticide Poisons - <strong>The</strong> only suggested (non-volatile) pesticides we “recommend” beused as a last resort - usually we will not apply even least-toxic pesticides unless it has an LD 50value of over5,000 and does not volatilize! While I know it is against the federal law to compare a pesticide’s LD 50value withany food product, I do believe that you as a reader should be aware some materials we daily ingest do have anLD 50value; for example, table salt has an LD 50value 3,500. <strong>The</strong> only reason I mention this is that just becausea product has an LD 50value for its active ingredient does not in and of itself indicate the danger or risk you areass/u/ming when you use that product:Registered Pesticide Poison Note: It is O.K. to say a generic (unregistered) product will control pests - but, ifyou say your product controls pests - it “magically” becomes an unregistered pesticide! When pepper spray usedto discourage muggers (people) was used to successfully ward off bear attacks - EPA classified it as a pesticidepoison. Apparently unregistered products or Pestisafes ® that control pests better and safer than registeredpoisons are an embarrassment not only to the poison “industry” but also to the “regulators”. Use registeredtoxins only as a last resort and, by law, only according to labeled directions! Never use the volatile ones!Intelligent Pest Management ® (IPM), prioritizes any treatment methods by always using the least hazardousand least intrusive means first, in order to effectively eliminate pests indoors, at the lowest possible health risk tothe customer and the applicator. It is always best to error on the side of safety rather than on the side of control.Before you agree on even a spot treatment; thoroughly review the pesticide and application method with thecustomer to be sure he or she understands the entire process. Be forthright about any conditions or problemsthat might result due to a treatment, including lingering odors. Always inquire about heart or respiratory problems,allergies, pregnancy and other medical conditions and/or medications that may prohibit treatment.When in doubt, provide the homeowners or other occupants with the current pesticide label and material safetydata sheet (MSDS) and let them decide. You should suggest that they consult their physician if they have medicalquestions relating to the treatment.SAFETY FIRST. Safety guidelines should always permeate every aspect of pest control - especially anypesticide (poison) applications. You should always inspect and troubleshoot before each job in order to protectyourself and your customers. Whether the treatment is inside or outside, all possible alternative Intelligent PestManagement ® techniques should always be attempted before making any pesticide poison application.Spray Bottle Cures - Non-toxic “pesticide” sprays that can be made from ingredients readily available in thehome. See also old fashioned spray mixes under Ants and/or Roaches in <strong>The</strong> <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Control</strong> © and also in thischapter, e.g., apple cider vinegar, castor oil, buttermilk, eggs, hydrogen peroxide, rhubarb, stinging nettles, sugar,urea, vinegar and wormwood. <strong>The</strong> Author prefers to call them Pestisafes ® .1. All-purpose - Take an empty spray bottle and fill about 3/4 of the way with water, then add a fewdrops of Ivory liquid soap, some hot peppers or hot pepper sauce and some garlic. This works well,but needs to be reapplied after every storm and/or every couple of weeks.459


2. All-purpose - Grind together three hot peppers, three large onions and at least one whole clove ofgarlic. Cover mash with water and place in a covered container. Let container stand over night.Strain mixture through cheesecloth or a fine strainer and add enough water to make a gallon ofspray.3. All-purpose - Mix one tablespoon of a mild dish washing detergent plus one teaspoon of a vegetablecooking oil with one quart of water. This can be sprayed on all plants. Remember to spray both thetop and the underside of the leaves. You can also add 1 teaspoon (rounded) of baking soda if youhave fungus problems.4. All-purpose - Finely chop 10 to 15 garlic cloves and soak in 1 pint of mineral oil for 24 hours. Strainand add enough water to make a gallon of spray. Test on a few leaves to see if the plant is damagedand spray as is, or add a few drops of soap for extra stickiness.5. All-purpose - Blend ½ cup of hot peppers with 2 cups of water. Strain and spray.6. All-purpose - Combine 1 to 2 cups of rubbing alcohol with 1 quart of water. Test spray and let standovernight to see if damage occurs to plant.7. Orange trees and rosebushes - Soak macerated tomato leaves in water and apply as spray ontoleaves and branches. Do not allow any pet or person to drink this spray.8. Red spider mites, spiders, cabbage worms, and weeds - An ounce of table salt to a gallon ofwater has been shown to stop these pests. Use a tablespoon of salt to two gallons of water for theworms. Be careful salt damages plants! Straight salt, especially in non-garden areas can stop weedsand termites in protected areas, e.g., crawl spaces.9. Species specific - Collect ½ cup of a specific pest and mash well or blend. Mix this with two cupsof water and strain. Mix ¼ cup of this “bug juice” with 2 cups of water and a few drops of soap andspray. Whether the soap or the dead bugs are killing the pests, the Author can not tell, but the mixworks very well.Caution: Some sprays can damage, discolor, kill or scorch foliage - always test a small,inconspicuous area first.Spiders - <strong>The</strong> weight of insects eaten by spiders every year is greater than the total weight of the entire humanpopulation.Spindle Tree (Euonymus europaeus) - <strong>The</strong> fruit has paralyzing action on aphids and will kill lice.Spotted Knapweed - uses a l-catechin stereo-isomer to establish its dominance as a weed so quickly. Whiled-catechin is a well known antioxidant, in some fruits its mirror image, l-catechin, is a potent oxidant that cankill off whole roots in an hour and most plants in days. This l-catechin will probably also act as a fungicide andsoil sterilant.Spray Starch - Some of the ingredients in spray starch may include phenol formaldehyde and penta-chlorophenol.Spring Cleaning - When the Author was a young man, he and his Mother would clean every surface, everycrack, beat every carpet and rug and clean everything else in their home every spring, and they never saw anyinsect or arachnid pests.Sprinklers - If a neighborhood dog or cat frequents your yard - turn the sprinklers on - or spray them with a hoseor Super Soaker ® - most animals quickly become “trained” to leave your yard alone. Sprinkle ground pepper torepel them or plant common rue (Ruta graveolens) anywhere dogs are a problem - but, remember rue can alsocause human allergenic (skin) reactions.Spurge - will repel moles and the decorative plant is self-sowing.Squirt Guns - will safely deter cats and a super soaker will even deter dogs from entering your space. SeeSuper Soaker.Stalking the Enemy - Who is really guilty? Holes in tomatoes may house earwigs, sowbugs and cutworms,but the holes were found during a nighttime inspection to be caused by slugs and the others were there hiding.<strong>Control</strong>ling the slugs solved the holes in the tomato problem.460


Stay Calm - Take a deep breath amd refuse to become upset or angry. You can’t fight properly if you let youremotions run wild. Listen and think. All stress is self-created.Steam Iron - Don’t have a steamer? Use a steam iron to steam/kill your bed bugs and then iron the mattressto help dry it out.Steam Vapor - Steam vapor too hot to touch will kill bed bugs and their eggs, bacteria and many other insectand arachnid pests. Use a large brush head or attach a small towel to the steamer head.Steamers - can heat water up to 265 o F.and will kill roaches, bed bugs, fruit flies, etc.on contact.Steel Wool - Use coarse steel wool to exclude mice and rats in interior voids and openings. If mice eat steelwool and peanut butter they will die. Use copper mesh as an exterior tool in rodent exclusion work. See CopperGauze.Steinernema carpocapsae - A beneficial nematode that destroys immature fleas.Steinernema feltiae - <strong>The</strong>se nematodes are very effective at infecting and killing fly maggots.Steinernema spp. - Many beneficial nematodes can be used to control pests, e.g., termites.Sterility - Releasing sterile insect pests or specimens with genetic defects can safely control many pest species.Gamma radiation is used to sterilize the males who are then released.Stethescope - Can be used to hear many different pest infestations.Sticky Tape - Double-sided sticky tape, e.g., Mr. Sticky ® , can be used to make traps, escape-proof barriers ormake a pest-proof area. See Duct Tape.Sticky Traps - <strong>The</strong>re are all kinds of commercial sticky traps available and more are always coming. <strong>The</strong>reare small sticky traps, large sticky traps, blunder traps, rat traps, rat mats, mouse traps, sticky tapes, fly paperand tapes, white or blue or yellow colored sheets or rolls of sticky traps - elm bark beetle pheromone traps,roach pheromone traps, wing trap kits, sticky red spheres, sticky cards, duct tape, etc. - for use in the home,orchard, forest, field, crops, green house, etc. In addition to the sticky traps, you may add an ever-increasinglist of pheromone lures, food scents, and other attractants to the “regular” sticky traps monitor or control flies,scale, borers, loopers, weevils, worms, moths, beetles, roaches, rodents, caterpillars, leaf rollers, etc. You canalso make your own sticky traps from wood, cardboard, or stiff plastic. Paint the base with a coat of primer andtwo coats of bright yellow or medium blue paint. Coat with a sticky compound using a paintbrush, or spread it onwith a knife. Use stiff adhesives like Tanglefoot ® for large insects and thinner glues such as Stiky Stuff ® or STPoil treatment for small insects. Scrape off insects and recoat as needed. Croquet or plastic balls or light bulbscan be painted red to make apple maggot traps. Plastic soda bottles make good cherry fruit fly traps - paint theshoulders of the bottle yellow and fill the bottle with lure. A partial bottle of syrup will catch ants.Stinging Nettles (Urtica dioica) - Wear leather or rubber gloves and pick up the leaves from the bottom of thestem upwards - steep 1 pound of nettle leaves in 1 gallon of water for at least a week - strain and water or sprayplants with the solution - it is a rich fertilizer and a natural pest repellent, but it will also give you a burningsensation.Storage Pest <strong>Control</strong>s from India -1. Custard Apple (Annona reticulata) leaves have insecticidal and antifeedant properties. Fresh or dried leavesmixed with the produce or placed in layers between the produce gives effective control against rice mothand bruchids for 3-4 months.2. Finger Euphorbia (Euphorbia tirucalli) provides protection against a wide range of grain pests. Branches ofthe plant are burnt to obtain its ash. One tea cup full of ash is mixed with 20 litres of grains. This providesprotection against grain pests.3. Coconut oil, peanut oil and sesame oil can be used for protection from bruchids.5 ml of the oil is mixed with461


1 kg of grain legumes. This provides protection upto six months from bruchids.Store Food - in air tight containers or in the refrigerator. Never allow any food to remain in the open.STP ® - Oil Treatment or Vaseline ® can be used to trap small insects.Straining Mixtures - Strain any of these mixes through multiple layers of cheesecloth and/or a disposablecoffee filter.Straw Mulches - Putting straw mulches under plants like watermelon and muskmelon prevents the fruit fromrotting from ground contact. <strong>The</strong> mulch also retards weed growth.Straws - Blowing through a straw will make roaches run from a crack. Straws can be used to make bait stationsand to trap earwigs.Stream of Water - will wash off aphids and spider mites from plants.String - Properly positioned - string (wire or dental tape) will keep birds off an area or roof. Most birds hate tohave anything rub against their legs when they are roosting. So nail two end brackets on either gable end (orwherever you see birds roosting) and string a piece of wire or waxed twine about 4” above the ridge. This simplecontrol works for most birds an is non-toxic and inexpensive.String Trimmers - mechanically manage weed problems and kill or injure some trees.Stripper - A little floor stripper in water provides quick insect control.Strobe Lights - Place a bright strobe light in dark areas where you have bats, birds, rats, squirrels, feral cats,raccoons, skunks, etc. in attics, storage buildings, barns, crawl spaces, etc., and watch them all leave in a fewhours or days. <strong>The</strong> pupils of their eyes can not tolerate that much exercise. <strong>The</strong> strobe light is also highly annoyingto people and pets, so make sure you can turn it off before you re-enter these areas. Caution: Strobe lightscan trigger seizures in people with photo sensitive epilepsy.Structural Heating - can be used to kill drywood termites, roaches, bed bugs and many other pests.Sugar - High concentrations of sugar, e.g., honey, will not allow the growth of bacteria. Cane sugar incorporatedinto soil at a rate of 5# per 100# of soil will kill all nematodes in 24 hours. (Some plants do not like sugar, soyou may need to flush the sugar out before planting.) Cut the top off a 2 liter plastic pop bottle, invert it insidethe bottle to make a “funnel” (secure it with duct tape). Pour sugar water, fruit juice or pop 2 - 3 inches in thebottom (with a few drops of soap or enzyme cleaner) to attract and kill hornets and wasps. Sprinkle fly paperwith granulated sugar and hang in trees, dumpsters, or wherever you want to trap hornets and wasps. Dissolve ateaspoon each of lemon juice, sugar and jam in a glass of water - pour the mixture in a can, with 2 - 3 (half-round)openings on each side - push the sharp edges inward - attracted to moisture and sweets, slugs will crawl in andbe killed by the acidic lemon juice. Half upturned grapefruit rinds will also kill slugs - the juice is acidic. Mix: 1part active yeast, 2 parts molasses and 1 part sugar. Mix the ingredients well. Drop a teaspoonful on severalsmall squares of white paper. Place the paper squares along ant trails where they will not be disturbed. Howdoes it work? <strong>The</strong> ants are attracted to the sugary feast and will consume it readily. <strong>The</strong> action of the yeast,however, will produce gas in their bellies which they cannot rid themselves of. <strong>The</strong>y essentially will pop. <strong>The</strong>best part of this method of pest control is that it utilizes no volatile poisons which could harm you or your family.A fruit tree spray can be made by dissolving 2 pounds of granulated sugar in 5 gallons of warm water. Let themixture stand for several hours and spray any fruit tree or grape or rose plant after a dormant oil spray. Mix 1/4cup of confectioner’s sugar and a tablespoon of borax with 2 tablespoons of water. Soak cotton balls in mixtureand place on low lids. Or mix 2 tablespoons boric acid, 2 tablespoons sugar and a cup of water. Soak papertowels, place on dishes (or in shallow screw-top jars with 6 - 8 holes punched in the lid), and set out for ants.Keep any and all borax controls out of reach of children and pets. Mixing baking soda with powdered sugarand applying to infested areas to control ants and/or roaches. Equal amounts of oatmeal flour and plaster ofParis or equal amounts of borax and brown sugar will kill roaches, but keep out of reach of children and/or pets.Combine 8 parts powdered rodent chow, 3 parts granulated sugar, and 1 part boric acid crystals. Add water462


to make the mix about the consistency for good mud pies and add green food coloring to avoid unintentionalmisuse as animal feed. Roll the mix into balls about 1 inch in diameter. Place balls of bait in locations used byroaches for raceways and harborage. <strong>The</strong> bait needs to be made up fresh every 3 months. Keep all borax,boric acid, or sodium borate baits out of reach of children and/or pets.Adding sugar or other sweet material to fertilizer tends to make the plant “too sweet” for insect pests to eat, sothey move on to the neighbor’s field.Sugar Apple - When the seeds and roots are extracted with ether, they are converted to a resinous substanceto make a contact poison for aphids. It is toxic and repellent to diamondback moth larvae. Hot-pressed andheat-extracted oils of seeds are highly toxic contact poisons to several pests.Sugar Substitutes - lilke Splenda ® and Equal ® kill insects when they are consumed by insects. Splenda ® attractsred-eyed fruit flies and is compounded with chlorine as a base. (Chlorinated water will also kill insects.) See theweb site located at http://www.proliberty.com/observer/2003<strong>11</strong>12.htm to see how dangerous Splenda ® is to you.Sulfur - can be used as a fungicide, acaricide and repellent; it will control mites, thrips, chiggers and severaldiseases in ornamental and fruit crops. Sulfur and naphthalene will repel several species of snakes. (<strong>The</strong>two-spotted mite is resistent to sulfur.) Sulfur, especially with a little lime, will control fungus. One of the firstPestisafes ® ; the Romans used it to fumigate/control roaches. Homer first mentions its use for pest control inabout 1000 B.C.E. About 2500 B.C.E. Sumerians first used sulfur to control pests. Sulfur acts by competingwith oxygen in the blood stream.Sulfuric acid (10% v/v) - has been used as a selective herbicide since the early 1900s when it was discoveredthat dicotledonous weeds would absorb the acid, whereas cereal grains (grass) etc., having a smooth, waxymonocotyledon surface would not. Be very careful not to touch any acid.Sun - Placing infested objects in black garbage bags and then setting them outside in the sun on a hot day willkill virtually any enclosed pest infestation.Sunburn “Cure” - Fill a pitcher or pail with equal parts of milk and ice. Soak enough washcloths or towels inthis to cover your sunburned skin and place them on affected areas for about 15 minutes. Repeat several timesover the next 24 hours. Cold milk protein soothes skin and helps draw out the heat.Sunny Location - Choose a sunny location away from large trees. Eight to ten hours of direct sunlight per dayare necessary for proper growth, flowering and fruiting of most vegetable and fruit crops. Sunlight also helps todry foliage and reduce many fungal and bacterial diseases.Super Slurper - has starch-based polymers that “drink” water up and turn it into a gel. It can dry wet books ina few minutes; stop mold growth that can begin in 48 hours. It can also be used as an alternative to vacuumfreeze-drying. Put some in powdered sugar as a bait and watch what happens. In dry areas it can be used asa tracking powder. Blow some into drywood termite colonies.Super Soaker ® - Model 2500 or another very powerful water gun or soaker or rechargeable fire extinguisherwith constant pressure can be used to discipline dogs and cats and birds, “tree rats” and other nuisance wildlife,etc. Put diluted enzyme cleaners in the soaker and blast hornet nests and other pests.Surfactants (or surface-active agents) - Are slightly viscous, clear amber substances or colloids that work as(“magnetic”) cleaners and degreasers. Surfactants can be used as household, industrial and marine cleaners,personal hygiene products, insect repellents and insect, arachnid and bird pest control compounds. A micelleis a colloid, microscopic particle formed by an aggregation of small biodegradable molecules. Each moleculehas a hydrophilic (water-seeking) pole and a hydrophobic (water-repelling) pole. <strong>The</strong> hydrophobic poles attracteach other, forming the interior of the micelle and the hydrophilic poles form the outer surface. When a singlemicelle or surfactant molecule comes in contact with a hydrocarbon molecule (grease, oil, wax, binders, etc.),the hydrophobic center of the micelle or surfactant quickly bonds via homologous attraction to the hydrophobichydrocarbon site, locking it into a colloidal suspension, pulling the hydrocarbon into the micelle and lifting thehydrophobic hydrocarbon molecule from its original surface. This emulsification process easily penetrates highly463


viscous, dirty and/or sticky materials, lifting them off. Unregistered surfactants are used in pesticide poisonformulations, but we have found they work better alone, but then they become “unregistered pesticides”. Becausethe exoskeletal structures, wax and joints of insects are basically all comprised of hydrocarbon molecules,insects, gnats, mosquitoes, flies, etc. may avoid surfaces upon which diluted surfactants or (colloidal) micelleshave been sprayed for two days or more. When sprayed directly with surfactants, (which cause the micellation)insects, mites, mold, bacteria, etc. will all die quickly because of the lifting of hydrocarbon molecules (they literallyare dismantled)! Surfactants are considered to be biodegradable and basically innocuous to people and pets,but will often kill fleas, lice, spiders, ticks and other pests while washing or upon contact. If ingested, they maycause diarrhea primarily due to the emulsification of grease and oil in the digestive tract. A detergent buildercan simply be the second surfactant. Some natural surfactants are castile soap, yucca extract, soapwortand quillaja bark extract. <strong>The</strong> Author has found that blending simple surfactants can kill insects and arachnidsfaster and more safely and effectively than any synthetic pesticide ever could and the insects and arachnidscan not become resistant. One of the Author’s earlier formulas in 1997 was a cleaner that used 2.5% SLS, .5%Polysorbate 80 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate), 5% glycerin, 2% PEG, 1% peppermint oil, 2% sodiumborate and 1% protease. It was incredible and safe. Even greatly diluted this formula not only outcleans, butthis basic formula is very economical and easy to produce. Safe Solutions sells this formula as a basic cleaner.<strong>The</strong> use of various surfactant combinations, especially with variations of the Author’s many pestisafes ® , willundoubtedly be the pest control products of the future. If you need permission or help, call the Author — S.L.T.Surgery - Cut off all diseased and infested limbs and burn them. Remove the nest (eggs) and you remove thepest.Syrup - Use or put 1/2” of syrup into an (uncapped) old syrup bottle wherever you see “sweet” ants; when theyget into the syrup they can’t get out. When you no longer see any ants, cap the bottle and throw it away.Swags - Gather herbs such as pennyroyal, tansy, wormwood, peppermint, scented geraniums, tomatoes,southernwood, yarrow, lavender, and sage and arrange them in a swag secured with rubber bands - add a fewstems of cocks comb for color, wrap with ribbon to cover the rubber bands and hang upside down in your closet- your clothes, blankets, and towels will smell great and the bugs will stay away.Swallows - will “swallow” massive amounts of flying insects each day.Sweet Basil - Plant Ocymum basilicum in vegetable or flower gardens or chop and scatter the leaves to repelaphids, mosquitoes and mites. Sweet basil also acts as a fungisafe and slows the growth of milkweed bugs.Plant basil in a pot by a door to keep flies away. Basil will relieve the pain of insect stings and may be added toinsect repellent preparations. See Basil.Sweet Basil and Clove - will help repel flies.Sweet Peppers - <strong>The</strong> juice of sweet peppers will protect several plants from several viruses; while the juicesof sweet peppers and other succulent plants do not kill the viruses, they change the plants so they are notsusceptible.Sweet Flag, Calamus (Acorus calamus) - <strong>The</strong> alkaloid root works as contact poison to insects and is used inmothproofing, even though it is edible for humans. It grows commonly in swamps and along brooks.Synergism - Harmless levels of chemicals can become extremely toxic together.Synthetic Pesticide Poisons - “A worm in a jar of horseradish thinks its life is the sweetest of all,” JewishProverb. It is time to crawl out of the jar and experience other “flavors”; don’t be a shmendrik (fool) or a lemming...tryall of the Pestisafes ® or the other Intelligent Pest Management ® alternatives first! <strong>The</strong> application ofvolatile, synthetic pesticide poisons is the most common, useless and dangerous pest control method routinelyused in and around buildings, enclosed areas and vehicles. Pesticide poisons are used in a futile attempt toprovide chemical barriers to prevent insects from getting in. Synthetic poisons simply do not work. Mostpeople believe that if something is for sale - it is “safe”. Pesticide poisons are also routinely used to treat soil,wood, fabrics and other items in a vain attempt to prevent pest damage. <strong>The</strong> Author has proved over 90% oftheir use is “preventative” and need never be applied. Even when applied according to the label, synthetic464


pesticides have never controlled or eliminated all of the pests. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Control</strong> II © is better, safer and morepermanently done by caulking and screening and the use of IPM techniques. If you must use a (least-toxic)poison, use only boric acid, IGR’s, sodium borate, silica gels, insecticidal soaps, diatomaceous earth, neemsprays, and pyrethrin aerosols, but DO NOT USE any (even least toxic) synthetic pesticide poison until everysafer alternative has been attempted. <strong>The</strong> pest control “industry” has historically considered all volatile,synthetic pesticide poisons as the only real control tool they have available in spite of the fact they havenever really controlled any pests inside or outside using these volatile poisons. We now lose more ofour crops to insects than we did before pesticide poisons were used, only now we, the animals and earth arecontaminated. Historically the regulatory people have only been concerned if enough poison was applied...never if the toxins contaminated, or the poisons were misapplied or misused. We do not recommend their useexcept in rare circumstances and then only when all parties know all of the facts, dangers, risks and agreein writing. If you must use any pesticide poison, first carefully: choose the proper product, read labelscarefully before you buy and then use only as directed, and buy only what poison you need rather thandiscard the chemicals. Store poisons in their original containers with the labels intact and legible. If storedproperly, most pest control poisons will be effective the following season, so you don’t need to throw leftoverpoisons away. Tighten lids on liquid containers. Paper bags and boxes containing dust, granules or wettablepowders should be closed and resealed with tape. Dry products can also be stored, container and all, in a clean,sealable plastic bag. Lock pesticide poisons in a cabinet or storage room. This area should be separatefrom food supplies and protected form freezing temperatures or extreme heat. Dispose of pesticide poisonswith damaged containers. Never save empty containers. Check to see if your area has an authorizedmethod of pesticide disposal. Do not put empty containers in an outdoor trash receptacle. Make sureanimals and kids cannot get at these toxic containers. Carefully triple rinse, mutilate, puncture, and crush allcontainers and dispose of rinsate and containers properly. Wrap glass containers in newspaper beforediscarding. Do not burn any containers. We do not use these volatile toxins and we do not recommendtheir use! Synthetic pesticide poisons are also deliberate components of some clothing, shampoos,drugs, paints, wallpaper, shower curtains, rugs, blankets and mattresses - so even if someone is notroutinely spraying your area - you still may be routinely poisoned. True IPM or Intelligent Pest Management® should also attempt to remove all of these risks. Never use any volatile poisons!Syrphid Flies - a/k/a hover flies for their ability to hover in flight, are common predators of aphids and other softbodied insects. Adults are usually bee mimics. Three of the more common species are Syrphus rectus (OstenSacken), Allograpta obliqua (Say) and Eupeodes (formerly Metasyrphus) americanus (Weidemann). A. obliquamay complete development from egg to adult in less than 21 days. Various stages overwinter, depending onspecies, giving rise to adults in spring. Adults feed on pollen, nectar and aphid honeydew. Females must feedon pollen for proper egg maturation. Females oviposit in the midst of aphid colonies, using honeydew as anovipositional stimulant, and laying hundreds of eggs each. Eggs are often the first sign of aphid predators seenin the spring. Eggs are white, elliptical, and about 4/100 inch (1 mm) in length. <strong>The</strong>re are three larval instars.Larvae are elongate, tapering gradually toward the head end. Larvae search for prey by casting the forward endfrom side to side; prey must be contacted directly to be detected. Larvae pierce aphids with their mouth hooks,sucking fluids from the bodies before moving to other prey. Each larva may consume hundreds of aphids duringits development. Larval feeding success influences future fecundity. Third instar larvae have the greatestimpact on aphid numbers. Larvae of some species are relatively plump. <strong>The</strong>re may be 5 - 7 generations peryear. Multivoltine species overwinter as adults, univoltine species as third instar larvae. <strong>The</strong>se are among themost voracious of aphid predators.Tachnid Flies - Females lay eggs on the bodies of the host insect or on plants to be ingested by the host. <strong>The</strong>larvae or maggots mature inside the host, feeding on and eventually killing it. <strong>The</strong>y resemble houseflies, butusually are mottled rather than brightly colored. <strong>The</strong>re are hundreds of tachnid fly species in North America thatare terrific against caterpillars. <strong>The</strong>y can be attracted by tansy, spearmint or dill plantings.Tadpoles - and algae-eating fish and snails are very effective algae consumers.Tagamet ® - Add a little diluted Tagamet and some aspartame and/or acetaminophen to your baits to make themmore effective killers.Talcum Powder and/or Medicated Body Powders - <strong>Control</strong> and/or repel many pests when sprinkled around.Some people consider talcum powder to be carcinogenic and/or dangerous, but, given the opportunity to choose465


using a little talcum powder that actually stops most ants and roaches (when power dusted) immediately or usingdiazinon or some other volatile poison that does not work as well,the Author would choose talcum powder - myanswer is very simple when you consider the question in reverse would you prefer to dust baby’s bottom withtalcum powder or diazinon? Actually there are grades of talcum powder - some contain asbestos and are notsafe - as far as I know baby powder does not contain asbestos. Rabbits do not like to eat talcum powder or hotpepper, so dust the leaves of susceptible plants like beans and dahlias. Talcum powder quickly dries out theinsect and/or clogs the spiracles and, thereby, kills many insects. A light dusting of talc will stop pests, e.g., bedbus from climbing. Talc (non-asbestiform) does typically contain crystalline silica at levels greater than 0.1% butless than 1.0%. Silica has been determined to be a Class 2A carcinogen by IARC. Repeated exposures cancause talcosis, a pulmonary fibrosis, which may lead to severe and permanent lung damage, possibly leadingto disability and death, so use it with care. <strong>The</strong> Author would also mention that talc is an ingredient in TumsAntacid/Calcium supplement. Talcum powder will repel/control fire ants and other insect pests and nuisancewildlife. Try to use corn starch as a replacement in vacuums; always pick the safest alternative.Talk - to your plants and animals; tell them to grow big and tall; don’t believe in the power of words? Praise someplants and curse and yell at some other and see the difference this “good care” attitude makes in your harvest.Tanglefoot ® - can be used to repel birds and to trap large insects and ants. http://www.tanglefoot.comTannic Acid Powder - will neutralize the allergens in dust mite and animal dander.Tansy - Tonacetum vulgare is a perennial herb 2’ - 3’ tall. Tansy is an insect repellent and when used fresh ordry or as a mulch it may repel ants (and the aphids they carry), Colorado potato beetles, cutworms, Japanesebeetles, cucumber beetles and squash bugs, but it will attract imported cabbage worms. Tansy has been usedto flavor meats, salads, eggs, and pancakes. It helps digestion and has been used as a roundworm treatment.Caution: Large quantities are harmful.Tape - Properly placed tapes can be used to trap. Place one piece of duct tape upside down (sticky-side up)and then put some on each edge to hold the sticky trap in place. <strong>The</strong> best tape is double-sided carpet tape.Tea - As the second most commonly consumed beverage in the world after water, the antioxidants in tea calledflavonoids, especially epicatechin, catechin and gallic acid, give tea many of its healthful properties, especially inhelping prevent the formation of free radicals by inhibiting xanthine oxidase. Its this property of tea that “stronglyassociates” it with a decreased risk of chronic disease. Tea may also play a role in the digestive tract by inhibitingthe growth of bad bacteria in the body.Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) Oil - contains phenols and has antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antiinflammatoryand insecticidal qualities. In Australia Captain James Cook found the Aborigines using a tea madeof tea tree leaves for insect bites, cuts and wounds. <strong>The</strong> oil made from its leaves today is used to cure abrasions,cuts, warts, athlete’s foot and cold sores. Tea tree oil will also treat poison ivy irritations.It will immediately penetrate outer skin layers and mixes with body oils to treat ringworm, insect bites, cuts,burns, infections, bruises, boils, sprains, arthritis, yeast infrections, fungi, eczema. You may want to dilute itwith a carrier oil or shampoo since the pure essential oil can be be very irritating, especially to sensitive areas.It is added to toothpaste to help fight plaquein dogs’ teeth. Put a few drops of tea tree oil on a metal nit comb toremove head lice nits in the hair. Add 5 drops of the oil into your daily shampoo or conditioner to control lice andnits. Caution: Some people and cats have a high sensitivity to the tea tree. Keep away from the eyes!Note: This oil has estrogenic and anti-androgenic properties.Teach - <strong>The</strong> Author has learned that he can not teach anyone anything; he can only cause them to think. SeeThink.Teflon ® - <strong>The</strong> non-stick properties of Teflon ® are now available in tapes or sprays to make effective crawlinginsect barriers.Telephone - Don’t be afraid to call for advice before you start.466


Temperature - Increase or lower temperatures even 30 o to 40 o and you safely and quickly control many insectpests - change the temperature even more drastically and/or quickly and you can control virtually all pests. Unlikemammals, many cold-blooded organisms (insects included) are at the mercy of quickly changing temperatureextremes. If climatic temperature increases occur over a developmental period of months or years - a giveninsect may gradually acquire the ability to survive, this is termed “acclimatization”. If an insect can overcomegradual temperature stresses in days, hours, or even minutes this short-term adjustment is called “acclimation”.Insects quickly die if you quickly change their temperature.Tennis ball - Floor drains provide easy entry for a variety of filthy odors, crawling and/or flying pests - block thedrains with a tennis (or hard rubber or plastic) ball - when the water is running, the ball will float and allow thewater to drain - after draining the ball will settle back into position and seal the opening.Test - Always test a new product, control technique, alternative medicine, food, supplement, pesticide, pestisafe ® ,etc. on a small area or in small amounts before you use it as directed.Thai Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) - This citronella is more effective than true citronella(Cymbopogon nardus) as an insect repellent.Thatch Removal - helps create healthy soil that is more resistant to disease, insects, nematodes, molds, fungiand weeds.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Best</strong> <strong>Control</strong> II © - is an ever changing Intelligent Pest Management ® Manual - be sure you have the latestedition. If you have any suggestions, we can add them as we go along.<strong>The</strong>rmal Death - It is quite easy to kill pests with heat, e.g., bed bugs die at 45 o C. or 120 o F. for after two hours.Thieves Oil - Cinnamon, cinnamon bark, lemon oil and eucalyptus was used by thieves in the Middle Agesduring the Black Plague who stole from the dead and did not get sick. If you diffuse thieves oil into the area for72 hours, you can remove all stachybotrus mold spores and workers can breathe thieves oil as it is diffusing.And, best of all, the thieves oil will continue to kill mold for weeks after your treatment. Many fungus andbacteria are safely controlled using a combination of cinnamon oil, citrus limon (lemon) essential oil, rosemary,clove and eucalyptus oils. Lemon, rosemary and eucalyptus oils contain the essential oils D-limonene, cinede,beta-myrcene, Alpha-pinene, Beta-pinene and camphor. Cinnamaldehyde is a major compound in cinnamonessential oil. Eugenol is found both in cinnamon and clove oils. <strong>The</strong>se essential oils have anti-bacterial, antiviral,antiseptic and anti-catarrhyal properties.Think - before you act and before you accept tradition, authority and dogma or do any pest control. You havean unfair advantage (if you use it) over the pests; they can not think as well as you. But do not think to betrayor destroy others or the environment for your own profit.Thistle (and Nettle) - if left in your garden can be advantageous; the larvae of butterflies and moths will feedon them rather than your plants.Thrips - Pest thrips eat plants; predacious thrips, e.g., six-spotted thrips, black hunter thrips and banded-wingthrips eat spider mite eggs and nymphs, other thrips, aphids and other insect eggs. <strong>The</strong>y are virtually invisibleto the naked eye.Thundergod Vine (Tripterygium wilfordii) - is used as a garden insecticide in China. <strong>The</strong> powdered bark ismixed with liquid soap. Roots will kill codling moth.Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) - Plant thyme or tomatoes with cabbage plantings to control flea beetles, cabbageworms, white butterflies and maggots. Thyme pastes have been used to control pubic lice. Thyme has also beenuseful to refresh the lungs as infused tea, a great insect repellent, an antiseptic, to relieve fevers, headaches andwhen blended with honey to heal sore throats and whooping cough. <strong>The</strong> ability of thyme to deter insects waswell known to the ancient Greeks who used thyme as a fumigation tool. Blend it with lavender in a potpourristo control moths. <strong>The</strong> oil extracted from thyme contains thymol that has a pleasant odor and has a natural antisepticaction very similar to carbolic acid and/or iodine. Thyme is used in cooking. Mother of Thyme is a good467


Tomato Leaves - Blend 8 c. tomato leaves and 8 c. water to kill aphids and/or repel other pests, but, remember,tomato leaves are also toxic to people and pets. You can also finely chop tomato leaves (about 10 - 12)and 1 medium onion and ½ c. rubbing alcohol; combine and steep overnight in a sealed jar. Use cotton swabsto apply and control black spot fungal disease on roses. (Treat both sides of the leaves.) Good air circulationkeeps black spot spores from taking hold. Remember, alcohol can kill plants!Tomato Plants - repel asparagus beetle, cabbage maggot and flea beetle. Many pests avoid tomatoes, sousing tomatoes in your formula often makes pest move off.Toothbrush - Dampen a soft toothbrush (or soapless facial cleansing sponge) in a solution of 3 T. denaturedalcohol in 1 qt. water and gently scrub away scale insects. Repeat as needed.Torch - Tent caterpillars and other pests can be controlled by burning with a torch, but be careful!Towels - Wrap a small towel over the steam head; this produces vapor so hot that the steam head can be movedmore quickly and effectively than simply using a steamer alone. Lethal temperatures, e.g., to bed bugs, can beachieved several inches from the steam head.Traditional Herbal Medicine (THM) - teaches us how to discover and use environmentally friendly pest andhealth management practices. THM emphasizes strengthening the host rather than poisoning the pathogen.Training - Proper training in recognizing the pest, the conditions conducive and the pest’s inherent weakness(es)will allow you to devise the proper control(s).Trap Crop Systems - Just one more IPM alternative technique to safe and naturally control pest problems.Trap crop or intercropping systems naturally lessen the density of pest infestations and provide ideal cover forparasitoids. <strong>The</strong>y should be planted earlier than the crop you are trying to protect; pests generally choose largerplants over smaller plants.Trapping - Besides their benefits as monitoring devices, traps and glue boards are used to kill pests or to catchpests so they can be removed from an area. Many types of vertebrate and invertebrate pests can be controlledthrough trapping. Traps and glue boards do not require the use of potentially hazardous synthetic pesticidepoisons, and the user can easily view the success of the trapping program. Successful trapping programs requireskill, time and attention to develop workable techniques. Trapping techniques that are successful in one situationmay not always work as well under different conditions or at other locations. Traps include: buckets, carbondioxide traps, snap traps, live animal traps, cans, 5-gallon pails, liquid traps, 3# coffee cans, 2-liter popbottles, milk jugs, garbage cans, 55-gallon drums, pheromone traps and light traps. You can make yourown can/jar cockroach/spider traps easier to climb into by covering the outside with masking tape or an olddarkly colored (red) man’s sock. Make your own with Scotch 77 or another stcky, non-drying glue. or duct tape.Traps - You can buy them and/or make your own to safely remove birds, bats, insects and wildlife. You can usetraps to monitor and inspect; traps come in an infinite assortment of styles and sizes. <strong>The</strong>y can come with orcan be made with attractants, e.g., lights, odors, pheromones, food, colors, etc.Traps - Tanglefoot, sticky yellow or white boards, duct tape, etc.Advantages: No residues, non-toxic to mammals, wildlife or beneficials.Disadvantages: Can trap both pests and beneficials; some traps are expensive; must be maintained,cleaned and recoated periodically; effectiveness varies.Tree of Heaven - Ailanthus altissima produces a natural herbicide in its roots; it will kill everything but its ownseedlings which are immune. An editor’s note in an 1895 issue of Gardeners Chronicle noted: <strong>The</strong> bark “ isintensely bitter and is used in dysentery and as a vermifuge. It would in all probability be as good an insecticideas quassia.”Trichogrammatid Wasps - <strong>The</strong>se tiny (1/50”) stout-bodied wasps are parasites of the eggs of over 200 species ofinsects. Some also are of value in controlling some insect pests. Four or five wasps can sit on the head of a pin.True Lavender (Lavandula) - A beautiful, aromatic perennial that is hardy to zone 5 and can be raised in tubs469


in colder climates. <strong>The</strong> most fragrant lavender. Beautiful lavender flowers on long stems and narrow greenleaves. Sow in fall or spring. When planted in the garden, it will deter pests with its fragrance. When dried andplaced in closets and drawers with clothes, it will deter moths and lend its wonderful fragrance to the clothes.Truth - When an honest man is confronted with the truth, he will either accept it or cease to be honest.Tumeric - is an extract found in the bright yellow curry spice. This golden spice, a cousin of ginger, which givesthe zing and color to mustard and curry, long has held a place of honor among Ayurvedic gmold, , who considerit a cleansing herb for the while body. Turmeric has been used as a digestive aid, and to treat fever and/orreduce swelling, infections, inflammations, dysentery, psoriasis, arthritis and jaundice. New studies suggest thatit also may help to reduce cholesterol, prevent blood clots, fight cancer, improve heart health, ease pain andswelling. Tests by a team at the Cork Center Research Centre show turmeric can destroy gullet cancer cellsin the lab within 24 hours. In the medical journal Blood, researchers noted in September 2002 that the activeingredient in turmeric (called curcumin), when added to cancer cells, suppressed most of them and stoppedothers from spreading. It works like expensive miracle aspirins (COX-Z inhibitors) only it is cheaper and, theAuthor believes, safer. Tumeric scavenges cancer-causing cells in the body and studies show it slows theprogression of Alzheimer’s.Known as HALDI in HINDI, jiang huang in Chinese, manjal in Tamil (and just plain “yuk” as the yellow stain ona white T-shirt from the splatting of ballpark mustard), turmeric has a medicinal history that dates back 5,000years. At that time it was a key medicament for wound healing, blood cleansing and stomach ailments in India’sAyurvedic system of medicine.<strong>The</strong> first record in PubMed of research on the biological activity of curcumin dates back to 1970, when a groupof Indian researchers reported the effects of the compound on cholesterol levels in rats. <strong>The</strong> pace of studiespicked up in the 1990s; one of the leaders was Bharat Aggarwal, a former scientist at Genentech who, beforeturning to curcumin, had taken another approach to seeking cancer treatments. That work led him circuitouslyto the compound.In the 1980s Aggarwal and his team at Genentech were the first to purify two important immune molecules—tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and beta—that have been identified as potential -anticancer compounds.<strong>The</strong>se molecules can, in fact, kill cancer cells when deployed in localized areas, but when circulated widelyin the bloodstream, they take on different properties, acting as potent tumor promoters. <strong>The</strong> TNFs activate animportant protein, nuclear factor kappa B (NF kappa B), which can then turn on a host of genes involved ininflammation and cell proliferation.Gary Stix describes the biologically active components of turmeric–curcumin and related compounds calledcurcuminoids–as having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties, withpotential activity against cancer, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and other chronic maladies. And in 2005nearly 300 scientific and technical papers referenced curcumin in the National Library of Medicine’s PubMeddatabase, compared with about 100 just five years earlier.Tung-oil Tree (Aleurites fordii) - Tung-oil soap is somewhat toxic to sugarcane wooly aphids. Oil is sprayedto control boll weevils.Turkey Mullein (Eremocarpus setigerus) - was used by American Indians as a fish poison; it is toxic to crossstripedcabbageworms.Turpentine - Rags soaked in turpentine and laid in small trenches along vegetable rows tend to dampen theJapanese beetle’s urge to reproduce. Turpentine will kill insects, but can burn plants and sensitive areas of theskin, e.g., testicles; it contains phenols so keep cats away.Two-Liter Plastic Bottle, 1 string, 1 banana peel, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup strong vinegar - Slice banana peelinto strips and insert them into the plastic bottle. In a separate container, combine sugar and vinegar. Pour thismixture into the bottle, then fill it to within two inches of the neck with water. Tie the string around the neck ofthe bottle, then tie other end around the lower branches of a tree. Fruit and black flies, yellow jackets, and otherinsects find the fermenting banana, sugar, and vinegar more attractive than the fruit on the tree. Once they fly470


in, they get caught in the sticky mixture and drown. This reportedly works so well that it can make sprayingfruit trees unnecessary. You can also make a “funnel” wasp or yellowjacket trap out of a 2-liter bottle. SeeChapter 21.Tylenol PM - Acetaminophen has a warning that adults take no more than 4000 milligrams a day (8 extra-strengthpills) and doubling that maximum daily dose for human adults can be enough to kill. What would happen to asmall rodent?Ultraviolet Light - will kill mold, germs, bacteria, viruses and the eggs of dust mites, lice and fleas.Urea - Either straight urea, straight calcium nitrate or straight ammonia or a combination of the above with or withoutenzyme cleaners and water will give you excellent non-selective herbicidal action - try several combinations,e.g., 2/3 cup ammonia, 2/3 cup enzyme cleaner concentrate and/or 2/3 cup urea and/or 2/3 cup calcium nitrateor 2 cups muriate of potash in 1 quart of water. Sometimes the stronger you make the solution, the better thecontrol, but try several combinations with or without peppermint soap, salt, alcohol and/or vegetable oil. Ureais not allowed on organic farms, and is found in many preformed enzyme cleaners, but not in Safe SolutionsTweetmint Enzyme Cleaner.Urine - A little of your urine on a cloth has antibodies that can neutralize an insect’s venom. Coyote, mountainlion, fox, wolf, tiger and even meat-eating human urine will also repel many herbivore mammals and reportedly killsplants, insects and fire ant colonies. Well-used kitty litter will repel squirrels and other small mammals and geese.Be careful and considerate.Vacuums - Vacuums quickly remove insects, spiders, food, debris, eggs, body parts, etc. - if you are vacuumingup live insects or pests, be sure to put a little talcum powder, corn starch or salt in your bag first - use a HEPAfilter and a red light at night to get nocturnal pests, e.g., roaches. Use a dusting brush to vacuum up spidermites on the underside of leaves or whiteflies both from the air and on household plants. Large vacuums canbe used to suck boll weevils, leafworms, hoppers and other pests from off plants and into sacks. Put soapywater in wet vacs.Valerian Root - will put rats and other pests asleep so you can move them.Vapor Dragon ® - <strong>The</strong> Vapor Dragon superheats distilled or tap water to about 240 o F. and dispenses it as a finemist which dislodges dirt and cleans and sanitizes targeted areas. <strong>The</strong> mist or steam quickly kills dust mites,spiders, ticks, fleas, roaches, ants and other insects, mold, fungus and viral contaminations that can causeallergies, colds, flus and infections. This little unit kills bugs and sanitizes as it cleans without any dangerouschemicals and/or poisons. Robby Vapor Systems, Inc. at 1-800-888-87<strong>11</strong>, http://www.robbyvapor.com. <strong>The</strong>rewere two sizes of commercial units: Robby VS3000 Vapor Cleaning System and Robby Jr. Use any steammachine that is available.Vaseline ® Petroleum Jelly - can be used to trap insects and/or suffocate ear mites in pests and can also beused to create ant, roach and other insect barriers. Lightly smear Vaseline on all exposed areas of your skin tokeep off black flies and mosquitoes.Vegetable Oil - Cover water surfaces with vegetable oil to smother developing mosquito larvae. If you want anon-toxic wood preservative, use vegetable oil. After setting a wooden fence post in the ground, start slightlyabove ground level and drill a hole downwards at 45 o into the wood for 2” - 3”. Fill the hole with vegetable oiland close it with a cork or caulk. If the post is very thick, drill a second hole from the opposite side. To use as aspray for insects: combine 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with 1 cup of vegetable oil. Add 1 to 2½ teaspoonsof the oil/detergent mix to 1 cup of water and spray on infested plants once every seven days. A thorough sprayof vegetable or light horticultural oil coats plant surfaces, acts as a barrier to infection. Vegetable oil seemsto help prevent fungal rusts and mildews. Some water plant growers use corn oil as an insecticide in order toprotect their fish populations. Canola oil can be used as an insecticide. Castor oil can be used to repel moles.Neem oil is an excellent insecticide and disease control agent. Essential oils repel pests and can be used as“herbisafes” as they kill plants when sprayed at greater than an 1½% dilution.Ventilation - Moisture reduction by proper (basement, crawl and attic) ventilation, vents, air conditioners, fans471


and/or dehumidifiers, plumbing and rain gutter repairs, roofing etc. is a primary factor in controlling most structuralinsects and fungal problems. Excessive moisture attracts or creates conditions favorable to many fungus andmold problems, insects, spiders and other arthropods. Most arthropods are very sensitive to moisture loss andcarefully avoid (overly) dry conditions as are fungus, mold and mildew. Create dry conditions and you controlmany pest problems.Vertebrate Predators - include chickens, bats, birds, snakes, small mammals, lizards, amphibians and fish thatcan be used for biological control of mosquitoes, scorpions, insects, weeds and other pests.Vetiver Oil - Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) has long been known for its pest control properties. One ofthe compounds in the oil is called nootkatone and can be used to repel termites.Vicks VapoRub ® - will repel many insects and ticks and removes fungus on fingernails and toenails.Vinegar - Apple or rice vinegar is derived from apples or rice respectively. White vinegar is acetic acid. Applecider vinegar will control appetite and maintain well being. It helps lower cholesterol and improves metabolism.It helps boost the immune system. Spray weeds and pest plants with 10% vinegar (or straight ammonia as a“kicker” or add a shot of dish soap, salt and rubbing alcohol), pull them out, sear them with fire, properly mow,properly fertilize, etc. White vinegar will also kill ants. Vinegar attracts wasps, fungus gnats and fruit flies - put2” in a long necked bottle - add a few drops of liquid soap or Safe SolutionsTweetmint enzyme cleaner - and theywill crawl in and won’t be able to crawl out. To deodorize concrete, scrub with enzyme cleaners or a solutionof half white vinegar and water or undiluted denatured alcohol as needed. Vinegar is an acid that can be usedto soothe the alkaline sting of a wasp or a flea bite. Mix 3 parts vinegar (10% acidity) with 1 part dishwashingsoap and spray weeds to kill them. White vinegar sprays repel cats and will control heavy dandruff and removesweat stains. See White Vinegar, Baking Soda and Dog Spray.<strong>The</strong> Use of Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide to Disinfect - Now, you can safely disinfect your home and food- without exposing your family to toxic synthetic chemicals. You can make your own inexpensive sprays thatactually work better disinfecting than any commercial synthetic disinfectant. All you have to purchase from thedrug store is some (fresh) three percent hydrogen peroxide and some plain (5%) white or apple cider vinegarfrom the grocery store. Put them full strength in their own clean spray bottles.If you want to safely disinfect vegetables or fruit, just spray or thoroughly mist them with the vinegar and thenthe hydrogen peroxide (or the hydrogen peroxide and then the vinegar) , and then rinse them off under runningwater. Using first one spray and then the other, you can also safely and effectively disinfect food preparationsurfaces and other washable surfaces and materials. You won’t cause stains on most surfaces, nor will youhave any lingering taste of vinegar or hydrogen peroxide on your food, and you will not harm you or your familyor the environment.From Our Toxic Times, May 2001: Heinz Company spokesperson Michael Mullen references numerous studiesto show that a straight 5% solution of vinegar—such as you buy in the supermarket—kills 99% of bacteria, 82%of mold and 80% of germs (viruses). He noted that Heinz can’t claim on its packaging that vinegar is a disinfectantsince the Company has not registered it as a pesticide with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).In tests run at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, pairing the two mists killed virtually all Salmonella,Shigella, or E.coli bacteria on heavily contaminated food and surfaces when used in this fashion, makingthis spray combination more effective at killing these potentially lethal bacteria than chlorine bleach or any commerciallyavailable kitchen cleaner.<strong>The</strong> best results came from using one mist right after the other - it is 10 times more effective than using eitherspray by itself and more effective than mixing the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in one sprayer. See Chapter 41.Visual Aids - <strong>The</strong>re are scare balloons, holographic balloons, flash tapes, whirligigs, plastic owls, holographic tape,aluminum foil and plates, etc. all available to help repel pests from your area and drive them to your neighbor’s.Vitamin C - Having more vitamin C in your blood plasma reduces your risk of stomach cancer. A natural extractof citrus, e.g., oranges, tangerines and/or grapefruit, which contains a minimum of 0.75% vitamin C (ascorbic acid,citric acid, sugars and other natural compounds) when sprayed on living plants has a tonic effect. <strong>The</strong> colors of472


petals of flowers are more intense and leaves are greener. Reduces the stress plants might have. It also actsas an organic fungicide, bactericide and viricide. Improves the plant. Vitamin C causes the rupture of the cellularmembranes of various insects, fungi, virus and bacteria. Vitamin C is non-mutagenic and non-carcinogenicand helps the plant and/or fruit naturally control fungal, viral and bacterial attacks. It greatly extends the shelflife of fruits, flowers and/or vegetables when they are sprayed or dipped into a mild dilution in non-chlorinatedwater. It helps control the pathogenic microbiological charge of such organisms as E-coli and salmonella. Citricacid is a great defoamer and glue remover. When eaten vitamin C literally suffocates insects. See Chapter 41Vitamin D - When mice or moles ingest this in a bait, calcium leaves their bones and enters their blood streamsand kills them in 2 - 3 days. Wash your hands when the baiting is completed. <strong>The</strong> Associated Press has reportedthat An abundance of vitamin D seems to help prevent multiple sclerosis, according to a study in more than 7million people that offers some of the strongest evidence yet of the power of the “sunshine vitamin” against MS.Other studies havev linked high levels of vitamin D in the blood to lower risks of many cancers. See Chapter 41Vitamin E - People who have vitamin E in their bodies live longer, according to a 19-year study of 29,092 men.National Cancer Institute researchers concluded that “Higher circulating concentrations of alpha-tocopherol(vitamin E) within the normal range are associated with significantly lower total and cause-specific mortality inolder male smokers.” Vitamin E was found to reduce death from all causes, including cancer and cardiovasculardisease. See Chapter 41.Vitamins - See Herbal Remedies and Chapter 41.Vulgarone B - is enriched by steam distillation of the oil of a variety of Artemisia douglasiana, a member of thesunflower family. Vulgarone B has shown to be effective against plant pathogenic fungi and snails, e.g., goldenapple and ram’s horn snails. It can be used as a bait, a spray or placed directly into the water. Vulgarone B isnontoxic to most plants. It has not yet been tested on mammals. Note: <strong>The</strong> ram’s horn snail is an intermediatehost of Bolbophorus confusus, a parasitic flatworm that kills smaller fish and reduces the growth of those fishwho survive.Walk-the-Plank ® - Fill a bucket (or garbage can) 2/3s with water; float oats or sunflower seeds, or the preferredbait of the rodent you want to control, on top of the water (1” to 2” thick) and put a ramp from the ground to thetip of the bucket (or garbage can) and your pests will simply drown themselves. <strong>The</strong> Author has used this trapwithout water to live trap mice in a day care establishment.Walnut Shells - A dozen or so walnut shells (or stones) painted bright red and scattered (round side up) throughstrawberry fields will teach most birds to stay away from “your strawberries”.Wasabi - when eaten with sushi - kills bacteria and parasites that may be present in the food. As of this writing,the Author has yet to field test this Pestisafe ® on the various pest insects.Washing Machine - not only will clean your clothes but will remove odors and pests that are attached to yourclothes.Washing Soda (sodium carbonate) - Is a slightly caustic cleanser that kills insects, removes smoke, grease,soot and odors. It can be used instead of a laundry detergent and it softens hard water. At ½ cup per gallon, itwill peel wax off floors, so spot test and wear gloves when you use this product.Water - Everything you use has an inherent risk. People have drunk so much water they have literally drowned.Spraying water quickly washes away many insect and mite pests and also can be used to repel animals and/or birds. City water (with chlorine) quickly kills many insects. <strong>The</strong>re is a motion activated sprayer that sensesanimals the way security lights detect people; movement and heat. When an animal is seen a valve opens andreleases a 3-second pulsating spray of water - the sudden noise, movement and water blast frightens animalsand birds away. One unit is called the Scarecrow ® , and it is hooked up to a garden hose and 2 nine volt batteries(which give you up to 10,000 “activations”) and covers up to 1000 square feet. (An area 35 feet deep and 45 feetwide, with a 100 degree sensor detection zone.) <strong>Control</strong> the water or moisture and you basically control all indoorpests, including most wood destroying organisms. Plain old tap water can also be used to spray away aphids,spiders, mud daubers, etc. and clean and /or drown pests. Water can be used to attract pests like roaches, ants,473


odents, scorpions, etc. to your baits. Add sucrose and you have a double attractant. Heat the water to boilingto kill ants, etc. Heat the water to steam and you can kill weeds, dust mites, roaches, ticks, fleas, etc. Add saltand you can permanently control termites, fleas, etc. Add peppermint oil and soap and you can clean and/orkill most pests faster, safer and cheaper than dangerous pesticide poisons. Add negative ions or aspartameand you attract and kill many insects including termites. Add enzyme cleaner and you have created the perfectPestisafe ® . You can add water to traps to make them lethal. Proper irrigation controls crabgrass. Water can beused in many ways to control many pests. Many things can be added to water to make it work better in cleaningand/or controlling pests, e.g., spreaders, sticklers, surfactants, wetting agents, etc. Water can give or take life- put a seed in boiling water, plant it in fertile soil next to an unboiled (raw) seed, water both and see which onegrows. By the year 2050 cities will use half of the world’s water if we do not protect it now; we could starve.Water reflecting from a bowl in a doorway safely directs birds out of a building. Rabbits in the garden: Fill a fewjars half-full of water and set them around the plants. Most rabbits will stay away. Ducks or geese taking over:Float a plastic alligator or two in the water, tethered to fish lines anchored so the alligator(s) blow around thesurface. Set out blue and yellow buckets of soapy water to attract Japanese beetles by the hundreds and theyenter and drown.Water Guns - can be used to drive cats and some dogs from your yard. <strong>The</strong> bigger the better. See Super Soaker.Water Lilies - are not only extremely decorative plants; they can be used to absorb great quantities of heavy,poisonous metals, e.g., cadmium, through their leaves and roots.Water properly - Plants suffering from an excess or lack of water will be less vigorous and more susceptibleto diseases and pests. Consider using some form of drip irrigation, which keeps foliage dry and helps preventfoliage diseases, in addition to using water more efficiently. Too much water causes root rot.Water Repellent - A simple water repellent is made from 10% - 20% varnish, 1% - 3% paraffin wax and the restmineral spirits.Water Restoration - Get Set, Inc., Safe Solutions, Inc. bacteria and/or enzymes and Clean-Flo products canand have been used to restore water, remove weeds, increase fish production and remove muck.Watermelon - aids prostate health. Watermelon contains 40% more of the active cancer-fighting compound,lycopene, than do tomatoes.Wax - Wax with hot pepper extracts, e.g., capsacin and mineral oil, will repel animals after they take one bite.Wax can be used to create water-proof rodent baits. Bees wax can be used as a pruning agent. Parrafin oil isused as an insecticide and acaracide.WD-40 ® - will kill many insects and plants and it will remove sticker adhesive. Be careful!Weakness - Everything has a weakness; find it, exploit it and you have control.Weather Stripping - will not only conserve energy, but will also help prevent pest invasions.Weed Free Formula - This mix will treat 5000 squart feet of lawn: 2 c. fish emulsion, 2 c. seaweed extract, 5 gals.water. Spray on the lawn to increase grass plants and to help them survive drought. Try composted chickenmanure. If you heal the earth, you will have super plants/grass that will crowd out the weeds.Weed Killers - Need something safe to kill dandelions, etc.? Use 1 gallon of white vinegar, 2 cups of salt and adash of dish soap; put it in a spray bottle and apply to the leaves and the center of the plant. Repeat the processfor a few days as needed. You can also use straight vinegar or bleach. Boiling water is inexpensive and almost100% effective, but be careful! Early in the spring spraying ammonia or straight liquid urea is often effective.Later use 1 cup of borax per gallon of hot water or a propane torch and be careful.Weeds - Find several varieties that are not being bothered by the particular pest you wish to control. Run theirleaves through a grinder, juicer or blender, saving the liquid and adding an equal amount of water. Spray or474


sprinkle this mix on the plants you wish to protect. Whatever organic material that was protected the weedsfrom pest attack will now keep your plants safe. Weeds are invaluable indicators of soil conditions. You can eatmustard greens, young dandelion greens, violets, purslane, chickweed and lamb’s quarters.Well-used Kitty Litter - will drive away moles and woodchucks when poured down their tunnel entrances ortunnels. Geese can also be repelled with a liquid derived from well-used kitty litter.Wheat Flour and Buttermilk - 300 pounds of flour and 1.5 gallons of buttermilk will control 1 acre of spidermites in an orchard or grove by immobilizing the spider mites on leaf surfaces where they explode.White - <strong>The</strong>color white attracts flies and many other insects to your bait or trap.White - <strong>The</strong> color white attracts flies and many other insects to your bait or trap.White Alyssum (Lobalaria maritima) - Strips of these flowers in fields of lettuce and other vegetables providehabitat for syrphid flies and other beneficial insects.White Distilled Vinegar (5%) - Spray to control ants and add a teaspoon of coconut oil to help remove spiderwebs. Use it straight to control “weeds” or in a cup to control fruit flies. Vinegar acts as a scent fence to keepcats away. Cheap white vinegar is acetic acid and not from apple or rice. Cheap white vinegar is acetic acidand not from apples or rice. See Vinegar.Whitewash (Lime in Water) - Brush on tree trunks from the base up 3 feet to repel insects and disease organisms.Reapply as needed. Barns were/are painted or sprayed with whitewash to control odors and pests. See Lime.Wild Buffalo Gourd Roots - Mix and use as a 3% sodium borate bait/spray on corn leaves at a rate of 1 ounce(active ingredient) per acre to control (adult) corn root worms.Wild Oregano is rich in a long list of minerals that includes calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, potassium, copper,boron, and manganese. Vitamins C and A (beta carotene) and niacin also are contained in oregano. Oregano isone of Nature’s preservatives. When oregano is used with foods such as meat, eggs, milk or salad, you greatlyhalt the growth of microbes and, thus, reduce the risk for food poisoning.<strong>The</strong> key element in oregano is the oil which contains carvacrol and thymol as the primary components. All ofthis helps make oregano oil a significant factor in treating internal and external fungi including athletes foot. Skinconditions such as psoriasis and eczema can be improved with the treatment as well. Oil of oregano outrightdestroys all variety of fungi and yeasts, regardless of where they reside.In addition to fighting various fungi, oil of oregano is useful against bacteria and parasites. Oil of oregano’santiseptic powers are immense; it inhibits the growth of the majority of bacteria, something that prescriptionantibiotics fail to accomplish.” In the case of parasites, oil of oregano has had success neutralizing worms,amoebae and protozoans.Additional uses for oregano and oil of oregano are unlimited. <strong>The</strong>y have been found helpful in combating diarrhea,intestinal gas, and digestive problems, as well as sore throat and breathing difficulties. Oil of oregano canbe immediate help against bee stings and many venomous bites until medical attention can be reached. Oil oforegano has even been suggested as a treatment for dandruff, diaper rash, and other skin disorders.<strong>The</strong> benefits of oregano have gone largely unnoticed and underpublicized for far too long. Oregano is “one of theworld’s finest natural medicines, that is if it is true oregano.” Many studies are discovering that oregano the “pizzaherb”, is a powerful antioxidant. <strong>The</strong> compound in oreano, roxmarinic acid, has antibacterial, antiflammatory,antioxidant and antiviral properties. Of all the plants in the mint family, oregano is the richest in antioxidants.Oregano may help prevent the cell damage caused by free radicals--highly unstable oxygen molecules thatsteal electrons from other molecules they find. Free radical reactions are most likely involved in inflammation,degenerative arthritis and the aging process in general. Evidence is growing that antioxidants may help relieveosteoarthritis and rheumatism.475


Oregano also contains four anti-asthmatic compounds; six compounds that are expectorants; seven that lowerblood pressure; nineteen antibacterial compounds and up to 8.8 percent bactericidal compounds. Loaded withantiseptic compounds, oregano is useful in treating sinusitis; try a tea and inhale as you drink. Make a tea byusing one to two teaspoons of dried oregano per cup of boiling water.According to Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs, Oregano helps reduce fevers andrelieve cramps, bronchitis, childhood diseases such as measles and mumps, and irregular menstruations. Makethis tea: bring a pint of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add one teaspoon of Oregano. Stir well, coverand let steep for about half an hour. Strain and it can be refrigerated. Warming only slightly that amount to beconsumed, one cup two to three times daily.Willpower - <strong>The</strong> opposite of willpower is addiction.Windex ® - kills insects/arachnids quickly, but do a Google search on Windex and danger.Winter Rye - Sow winter rye in the fall, using about 1 pound per 500 square feet. When the rye grows 3 feettall, cut it off at the grouind level and cover the rye grass with cardboard and then cover the cardboard with 1inch of mulch. In several months the rye grass and cardboard should be composted enough to till and plant.Wireworm Spray - Crush wireworms and add some water to make a bug-juice liquid. Strain and spray onaffected crops.Wireworm Traps - Cut fresh potatoes in half and cut out the eyes. Poke a stick into each piece of potato touse as a handle. Early in the season, bury the traps 4-6” deep in the garden or flower bed, before the seedsor tubers are planted, to attract wireworms. Every day, pull out the potatoes, using the sticks as handles, andshake off the wireworms into a bucket of soapy water. Reuse the same potato for a while, then replace with anew one. Use one trap for each square yard of soil.Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) - will quickly reduce the pain from any insect bite.Wolfsbane or Scorpion Plant (Aconitum anthora) - About 300 B.C.E. <strong>The</strong>ophratus in Book 9 of his Enquiryinto Plants noted this plant kills scorpions if it is shredded over them.Wood Ashes - Sprinkle over bushes and plants - they are caustic and will dehydrate and/or suffocate aphids.Rinse off after a day. Make an application of wood ashes around the base of newly set plants to control maggots,red spiders, aphids and cutworms and to help repel rabbits and deer. A barrier a few inches deep will keep snailsand slugs away. Put the ashes in a box where they will stay dry and poultry can flutter in the ashes to get rid ofparasites. Ashes on ice will provide traction.Wood Fern, Shield Fern (Dryopteris felix-mas) - <strong>The</strong> powdered rhizome is toxic to armyworms.Wood Pallets - Remove them; they can be a source of wood destroying insects and a source of psocids whenthey become wet.Woodpeckers - will eat coddling moth larvae and other pests. Hang shiny strips of aluminum foil or aluminumpans where you want to repel woodpeckers.Woods - Wherever there are woods there will always be a higher water table. Wood also provide birds andbeneficial habitatWool - Loosely wadded sheep wool tied around a stem of a plant will keep leaf cutter ants from crossing over.Wool has also been used as a mulch. <strong>The</strong> natural lanolin in wool repels dust mites.Work - Anothr four-letter word. Don’t just talk the talk; you must walk the walk.Wormseed; Jerusalem Tea (Chenopodium ambrosioides) - Some parts are toxic as extracts or dusts onseveral species of leaf-eating larvae.476


Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) (a/k/a absinthe, absinthium, green ginger and/or madderwort) - A hardyperennial, 3’ - 5’ with silver-gray, silky foliage and leafy spikes of small flowers. Hardy throughout the U. S. Easyto grow from seeds. Plants repel rabbits. Has many uses as food seasoning and medicinal plant and to controlinternal parasites. Fresh wormwood juice mixed with apple cider vinegar can be used to repel mosquitoes, fliesand other biting insects. Wormwood sprigs will also repel moths and other insects. Powdered dust from theplant sprinkled on plants and the soil will deter many insects. Brewed into a tea, it is an effective insecticide thatkills aphids and also kills snails and slugs, but it is also dangerous to people and pets, so be careful. <strong>The</strong>glandular hairs on wormwood leaves produce volatile oils and the inhibitor absinthin. Nicholas Culpepper, inthis English Physician and Complete Herball published in 1633, advised: “Mix a little wormwood in your ink andneither rats nor mice will touch the paper written with it.” Wormwood contains a-thujone (a potent neurotoxin)that was the active ingredient in absinthe. Absinthe was a popular stimulant and hallucinogen banned duringthe 19th Century, so be careful!Wrens - One little house wren can eat 500 insect eggs, grubs and beetles in one afternoon.Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) - is an old wound herb and is a great insect repellent. Make a tea and splashall over the body or simply rub the flowers on your body to repel mosquitoes. Do not use any product untilyou are sure you will not react, but never use yarrow if you are pregnant; it is said to tighten the uterusand to cause contractions.Yeast - Feeding yeast and various combinations of food attractants will kill some insect pests, e.g., ants.Yellow - <strong>The</strong> color yellow attracts insects (especially sucking insects, e.g., aphids, grasshoppers, whiteflies,leafhoppers, etc.) to your trap, e.g., yellow bowls with soapy water or yellow cards or plastic strips with nondrying,water-resistant adhesive (e.g., Scotch or 3M Super 77) or honey or Vaseline ® or Tanglefoot ® on them.Yellow Azalea (Rhododendron molle) - <strong>The</strong> dried and pulverized flowers work as contact and stomach poisons.Powdered flowers can also be sprayed to control certain species of lepidopterous larvae.Yellow Paper - covered with honey or Tanglefoot ® or other sticky material will attract and trap flies.Yellow Wild Indigo - placed on halters or harnesses will keep horses free of flies.Yellowjackets - love to feed on many pest species, including flies, maggots, cabbage worms, etc.Zapper - One of the more interesting controls; looks like a small tennis racquet with wires rather than strings.It has several names and includes batteries in the handle; when you press the buttons to activate the metalgrid, any flying insect you hit with the “zapper” literally explodes. <strong>The</strong> Amazing Handheld Bug Zapperhttp://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/bug_zapper.htmlZeasorb ® - contains talc, microporous cellulose which is patented, carbohydrate acrylic copolymer, chloroxylenol,imidazolidinyl urea, aldixa and fragrance. This product absorbs 3 times more moisture than plain talcum powderand helps prevent bacteria and fungi and insects; try it when plain talcum powder does not work.Zeolites - are natural minerals that absorb toxic fumes from chemicals, mold, gases and moisture.Zinc - Ellie Bowron at ufda44@hotmail.com wrote that when she started to take zinc the fire ants in Arizona nolonger tried to bit her feet.Ziplock Bags - Fill them half-full of water and a few shiny pennies and hang them on exterior doors and windowsto repel flies and wasps.Measurement abbreviations: T. = tablespoon, tsp. = teaspoon,c. = cup, pt. = pint, gal. = gallon, oz. = ounceFinal Comments on Pestisafes ® and/or Alternative <strong>Control</strong>s - In 1994, the Harvard Medical School conducteda national survey that revealed a third of all Americans use “non-traditional” treatments for chronic health problems477


like colds, and headaches and spend a total of $14 billion a year on these products - hopefully the public willnow begin to try some of these “non-traditional” pest control methods or Pestisafes ® . <strong>The</strong> Author’s books,articles, letters and research on Integrated (the Author prefers Intelligent) Pest Management ® list thousands ofadditional techniques, companies, products, controls, inspections, and/or other alternatives to toxic, volatile,synthetic pesticide poisons. <strong>The</strong> one thing that continues to amaze the Author most is that in a world dying frompollution - filled with resistant pests - the Author’s constantly asked to prove “his Pestisafes ® or controls” arecompletely safe, legal and/or totally and instantly effective! Obviously “the Author’s controls” or Pestisafes ® workbetter than and are much safer than most poisons - poisons are poisons - most of “my controls” use materialscreated to be eaten or to be used on or near people and pets - volatile, registered pesticide poisons were madeto kill! Even though some of his research shows natural products can kill too, usually they are toxic only ifingested and are not volatile. On May 6, 1996 approximately 200 least-toxic pesticide active ingredientswere exempted from registration with the EPA. (See 40 CFR Part 152 and the Federal Register March 6,1996 P.8870.) By initiating this action, the EPA wanted to encourage the sale and distribution of least-toxic (andobviously non-toxic) pesticides. Among the newly exempted pesticides are castor oil, geranium oil, mint and mintoil, potassium sorbate, sesame, sodium chloride (common salt), garlic, rosemary, citronella, clove, cinnamon,lemongrass, peppermint, thyme, dolomite, eggs, glue, medicated feed, vermiculite, soybean, wintergreen andcorn oils. Producers and/or formulators are now free to sell these materials as pesticides without prior approvalor registration with the EPA. Tree Oils Comment: Hexa-hydroxyl is contained in many tree oils to protect treesfrom insect attack and is approved for use in food and beverages by the FDA, yet it quickly kills or repels insectsfor up to 2 days - encapsule it in sodium borate and you have a long-term residual Pestisafe ® . Hexa-hydroxylblocks octopamine, an essential neurotransmitter only present in insects (its like giving them LSD). EcoSmartTechnologies has registered this safe material as a biological pesticide. Remember, a registered pesticide mustbe used in direct accordance with its ever-changing label and labeling - most of the Author’s favorite things/controls/Pestisafes ® are not (registered) pesticide poisons and have no labels, so common sense must be used.Always try to use the safest poison alternatives possible so you can do the most good and the least harm. Whenall else fails, or if none of <strong>The</strong> Basic <strong>Control</strong>s or other methods of treatment are not fast enough, safe enoughor appropriate enough, the hand removal of weeds, insects or pests may be necessary or simply step on them. . . simply kick them in their posterior sternal integumental plates!“True IPM or Intelligent Pest Management ® is an ever-changing process or learning experience in the selection,integration and implementation of all the currently available pest control strategies based on predicted economic,ecological, and societal consequences and/or it can be defined as an ever-changing process of determining if anycontrol is even needed; how, when, and where control efforts should be used, and what Pestisafes ® , pesticides(non-volatile) products, techniques, biological controls and/or tactics should be employed.” Always choose thesafest alternative possible. — S.L.T.Garlic Cautions - When it is crushed /squeezed or otherwise rendered the amino acid allin is enzymaticallynaturally converted to allicin, its primary pesticidal substance; the smellier the garlic the more toxic it is as apesticide. Allicin is a cholinesterase inhibitor and can be lethal to plants. Garlic inhibits or repels plant pathogens,e.g., fungus, mildew, scab, bacterial, nematodes, insects, aquatic snails, ticks, wasps, houseflies and viral disease.Homogenize 2 bulbs of garlic (basically 1/4 lb.) in a blender with a quart of water and a few drops of liquid soapand then strain through cheese cloth to obtain a liquid pesticidal solution.Chemical Caution - In the night of 8/7/44 about 1200 sheep where killed by the fumes of a poison spraydrifting from an olive grove in the Saucelito district of California. What did we learn from all of this unnecessarydeath? According to recent surveys and reports, 5 - 10 million household poisonings occur each year due totoxic chemical (poison) exposure. Many are fatal and most of the victims are children. 150 of the chemicalscommonly found in homes have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer and psychological abnormalities.Side effects from chemical use include respiratory problems, stuffy noses, itchy eyes and throats, ear infections,asthma, bronchitis, fatigue, headaches, seizures and death.Enzyme Cleaner Cautions - Be sure you use Safe Solutions Tweetmint Enzyme Cleaner with or withoutPeppermint, Lice R Gone ® or Pet Wash ® products or soaps. Remember if you fertilize and use any of theseenzymes 2 weeks before or after your fertilizer application - you may kill or severely damage your plants.Enzyme cleaners cause plants to grow longer roots and to become more efficient in assimilating nutrients, e.g.,fertilizers. Some people are concerned that protease enzymes may cause a severe allergic reaction. Alwaystest a small area of your skin before you apply enzymes or another product. Remember, protease enzymes478


should never be more than 1% of the product; some enzyme cleaners can cause occupational asthma problemsand anaphylactic shock. Safe Solutions, Inc. has the only licensed use to a USA and Australian patent onthe use of enzymes and surfactant blends to control pests. Try their Not Nice to Bugs ® .Plant Spray Cautions - Always test a spray on a small area of foliage before spraying Pestisafes ® or pesticides orfertilizers on the entire plant. Even if no contraindications are seen initially, if the foliage shows any subsequentsign of withering, discoloration, burning, etc., discontinue further treatment or at least dilute your spray until nofurther damage occurs to the foliage/plant.Pesticidal Claims - Only if a complaint is filed does EPA check into an “unregistered” pesticide. You can notput anything but 100% of the specific items from the exempted active and inert ingredient lists into an exemptedpesticide product, or you will have to register your entire product as a pesticide. In the September 1988 issueof Pest <strong>Control</strong> Technology, (page 18) Stoy A. Hedges, B.C.E., R.S. from Terminex International noted in part:“Although not registered with EPA as a disinfectant, household bleach, such as Dow’s Clorox ® , does in fact state‘disinfectant’ on the label, although specific directions for such use are obviously not provided on the productlabel. It is common knowledge that hospitals, clinical laboratories and others use household bleach as a disinfectantfor blood-borne pathogens.” Mr. Hedges notes the Centers for Disease <strong>Control</strong> have several bulletinsthat make such recommendations.Safety - <strong>The</strong> bottom line on personal safety is you. <strong>The</strong>re simply is no substance that is totally safe foreveryone or every plant. A major step toward your own safety is taken when you realize that your safety and thatof your family and pets is truly your own responsibility. It is easy to blame others, e.g., the poison “industry” forharming you or yours - but that will not save them or you. Remember, virtually any spray may burn plantsor irritate someone - so test your “mix” on a few leaves or a small area of the skin first.How to make colloidal solutions - Pass a small electrical current through both wires/rods in a solution, e.g.,use a copper wire/rod and a galvanized iron wire/rod in an ammonia nitrate solution to produce colloidal coppernitrate which is great for lawns. Use 2 silver wires/rods in a saline solution to produce colloidal silver. Use 2 ironwires/rods in a saline solution to produce colloidal iron. Use 2 gold wires/rods in a nitrate solution to producecolloidal gold.Another alternative insect control - Pulverize in a blender a couple of whole cayenne peppers, a large onionand a whole garlic bulb with a little water. When done, mix in a gallon of water, let stand 24 hours and thenstrain. Spray mix as needed to control insects.Still another alternative insect control spray is to blend grated Ivory or olive oil bar soap with either of thefollowing: citrus, garlic, mint, rhubarb leaves, pepper, vinegar or vegetable oil in a water-based spray. Alwaysremember that water-based sprays can burn plants on hot, sunny days!All Purpose Weed Killers - Boil 1 qt. water; add 2 T. salt and 5 T. vinegar. Pour directly on weeds in cracks,etc. while the mix is still hot. Second mix: Mix 2 - 4 T. powdered citric acid and 1 T. dish soap in 1 qt. vinegarand thoroughly spray. Third mix: 1 gal. red or white vinegar, 2 c. table salt, 5 T. dishwashing liquid; mix andsoak plants. Fourth mix: 1/2 c. borax per gallon water. You can add a “kicker by adding 2 c. rubbing alcohol;if you do, be careful not to get in your eyes. All of these mixes work better on hot, sunny days.Aphid and mite repellent - Chop/mash 1 c. of hot red pepper, 2 cloves garlic and soak in 1 c. water, covered,for 24 hours. (You might want to wear disposable gloves and refrain from touching your eyes.) Strain and mistyour plants with this mixture as needed.Surfactant Note - Unregistererd surfactants have been used with pesticides for years to improve the poison’sperformance. <strong>The</strong>y are not required to be registered even though they, obviously, help control pest problems.I firmly believe (and have also proven) that using just the unregistered surfactants and not including any of thepesticides will provide basically the same degree of pest control, but that is “illegal” to many “regulators”.What is the world population of insects and how much do they weigh? Brian Hocking, a Canadianentomologist, estimated there were about 1 quintillion individuals at any given time - that is a one with 18 zerosafter it. Based on this figure, he calculated their combined weight at 27 billion tons or 12 times the weight of the479


then estimated human population. Gilbert Waldauer, Ph.D. noted humans have now doubled in number, so thatthe insects only outweigh us by a factor of 6. If the human population continues to grow, Gilbert, author of “<strong>The</strong>Handy Bug Answer Book” notes, there will come a time when there are not enough insects to support us. <strong>The</strong>insects pollinate our crops, aerate our soil, eliminate our wastes and help sustain the fabric of life.Designated Eating Areas - If you expect to contain, limit and/or control pest problems, it is vital todesignate appropriate areas for eating and enforce your rules about eating only in these areas.An editorial in the first number of <strong>The</strong> Practical Entomologist, 1865 stated: “<strong>The</strong> proposed decoctionsand washes we are well satisfied, in the majority of instances, are as useless in application as they areridiculous in composition, and if the work of destroying insects is to be accomplished satisfactorily, wefeel confident that it will have to be the result of no chemical preparations, but of simple means, directedby a knowledge of the history and habits of the depredators.”“We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking, if mankind is to survive.” — Albert Einstein“<strong>The</strong> important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One can nothelp but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity of life, of the marvelous structure ofreality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose aholy curiosity.” — Albert Einstein“We should no longer accept the counsel of those who tell us that we must fill our world with poisonouschemicals; we should look about and see what other course is open to us.” — Rachel Carson, SilentSpring, 1962.“All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recessesof their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of theday are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes to make itpossible.” — T. E. Lawrence“If any man can convince me and bring home to me that I do not think or act aright, gladly will I change:for I search after truth by which man never yet was harmed. But he is harmed who abides on still in hisdeception and ignorance.” — Marcus Aurelius AntoniusRobert Mesecher from the Michigan DOA always said “If it is not expressly forbidden on the (poison)label, you may use it.” By this one statement, all of “the Author’s” pestisafes are legal.What’s Next? At the time of this writing we were looking at using hydrogen peroxide for insect, fungusand mildew control. <strong>The</strong> Author hasve successfully used Noxema to repel mosquitoes. You can use480


acetaminophen baits to kill snakes, but use caution as it will also kill cats. You can use sound waves oracoustic energy to kill mosquito larvae in the water. We are spraying fruit with nine packages of grapeKool-Aid per gallon of water to stop birds from eating the fruit. A clay called Kaolin can be sprayed onplants to repel insects. Ozone can be used to kill/repel insect pests. Algae bacteria and enzyme solutionscan be created on location to clean, disinfect, improve soil and control pest problems. Colloidalsolutions will be researched in depth. Colloidal silver, copper, etc. should work systemically in plantsand/or to control various wood destroying insects and organisms. Colloidal silver may stop and/orprevent “black goo”. Ions in water, oil, air, etc. should be effective pestisafes. “Medical grade” ozonemay also be useful in pest control and may be in the air, water, oils, etc. Biological controls will, obviously,be important pestisafes. Probiotic microbes and enzyme/surfactant combinations will continueto be refined, combined and/or improved. We are working on a cleaner/degreaser that will safely controlvegetation. We are also working with cedar oil as an insect barrier. We are working with various ultrasonic“critter” repellers. We have also been testing and/or using other common tinctures or oils that areGRAS materials, e.g., thyme oil, clove oil, cinnamon oil, peppermint oil, orange oil, lavender oil, citrusoil, lemongrass oil, eucalyptus oil, anise oil, pennyroyal oil, etc. Many are insecticidal, especially witha surfactant they can also repel pests, can be effective as fungicides, miticides, nematocides; some aregreat synergists; others act as anti-feedants. Canola oil comes from the rape seed which is part of themustard family. Rape is the most toxic of all food-oil plants. Like soy, rape is a weed that most insectswill not eat. <strong>The</strong> oil from rape seed is a hundred times more toxic than soy oil. Rape oil was the source ofthe chemical warfare agent called mustard gas. Canola oil contains large amounts of “isothiocyanates” -cyanide-containing compounds. Rotenone comes from soy beans. Canola oil is also high in glycosidesthat block enzyme function. <strong>The</strong> presence of glycosides in rattlesnake venom inhibits muscle enzymesand causes instant immobilization of the prey. Several essential oils block octopamine binding in aninsect’s nerves, thus creating death; humans and pets do not have octopamine receptors. We have alsofound that aspartame and MSG can be used to kill insects because they are “excitotoxins” that destroyneurons by over excitation when they are present in too high of a concentration in living organisms, soa “safe” dose in your food or drink will easily kill most insects. <strong>The</strong>re is a natural pesticide in chickenegg whites, a food protein called avidin, which causes a biotin deficiency in insects. Acoustic stressmay disrupt insects, e.g., beetles, and make it harder for them to eat through trees by disrupting theirfeedin and mating habits and may even cause the pests to kill each other per the ESA. As long as theAuthor lives, he will continue to learn, field test and report on safe and far more effective alternatives.<strong>The</strong> following was reported in <strong>The</strong> Bell Report, Vol. 21, No. 3, July/August 2002: At the Severtsov Institute ofEcology and Evolution in Moscow, a team of scientists determined a batch of rats exposed to the smell of a catresulted in a 40% drop in the birth rate, as compared to a control group. Litters also showed a higher male-tofemaleratio than usual, reducing the amount of females able to reproduce as they reached maturity. Accordingto Rossiiskaya Gazeta newspaper, female rats exposed to the cat scent experienced hormonal changes thatlessened their ability to bear normally-sized litters. <strong>The</strong> Russian scientists said this reflected an ecological tendencyfor prey species to breed less when large numbers of predators are present in order to starve the predatorsand lessen the risk of casualities among new litters. <strong>The</strong> Author is researcing into the use of alternatives todangerous antibiotics and “medicines” to actually heal you and yours, if G-d permits. See Chapters 40 and 41.We must learn to listen and evaluate all possible alternatives...always looking for a safer, more effectiveway to control pest problems. Remember, virtually any substance can be misused or incorrectlyprepared; that plants are not always consistent in producing toxins and not every person or insect oranimal reacts in the same way to the same material, so always be very careful!“You must continually build on what you learn;each day I am amazed at what little I knew yesterday.” — S.L.T.481


“<strong>The</strong> choice, after all, is ours to make.” — Rachel CarsonI have consistently found that spraying insects with virtually any diluted cleaning product will kill theinsects faster, safer and cheaper than any “registered” pesticide poison, yet our “regulators” just asconsistently have tried to say these safe and effective (unregistered) cleaners must now be “registered”as “pesticides”. — S.L.T. in numerous in-service meetings.One of the Author’s favorite jokes is: <strong>The</strong>re are two requirements for success. <strong>The</strong> first is not to tell anyoneeverything you know.“Inerts” – If any chemical is being used as an unregistered “inert” in any pesticide formula, how onearth can EPA decide the same exact chemical miraculously becomes an unregistered “pesticide” whenit is used to control pests all by itself? If you can honestly answer that question, you will become the“regulator” of the year.ONE LAST THOUGHT REGARDING THE USE OF UNREGISTERED PESTISAFES: QUITE OFTEN THEAUTHOR LIKES TO SIMPLY SPRAY OR MIST CRICKETS WITH TAP WATER IN HIS LECTURES; THE TAPWATER IN MANY CITIES KILLS ALL OF THE CRICKETS FASTER THAN “REGISTERED” PESTICIDE POI-SONS. May be the “regulators” should make the cities register their tap water as a poison.<strong>The</strong> search for “safe” synthetic pesticide poisons that are “better, faster, easier, newer, improved, etc.is a waste of time and money. <strong>The</strong>re is nothing new under the sun. G-d always has and G-d always willprovide us with everything we will ever need.Don’t find fault, find a remedy. — Henry Ford“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait asingle moment before starting to improve theworld.” — Ann FrankKol Yisrael areivim zeh l’zeh = “We are responsible for one another.”482


Today I affirm...- As I make joy a way of life my limitations dissolve.- Knowing all fears are negative, I release them all and am now open to receive G-d’s blessings.- That love is stronger and more powerful and more satisfying than hate and I, therefore, chooseto love and forgive and I am now open to receive love and forgiveness.- That all things work together for good for those that love the L-rd and their fellow man.- That to give is better than to take and I am, therefore, able to receive in direct proportion to whatI give.- <strong>The</strong>re are always safer and far more effective ways if you honestly look for them.<strong>The</strong> word “listen” contains the same letters as the word “silent”. Basta! (Enough!)Caution: If you sell any product (that mitigates pests in any way) that is not registered as a pesticideby the USEPA and all other state regulatory agencies, or not entirely made up of 100% USEPA exemptingredients, you are selling an unregistered pesticide and you are breaking federal and state laws. <strong>The</strong>Author can recommend these various unregistered pestisafes only if he does not sell them.“Medah Keneged Medah” = “Measure for measure” =“What goes around comes around” = Law of ReciprocityAn honest man when confronted with the truth will either accept the truth or cease to be honest.Safe Solutions products may be purchased online at:http://www.safesolutionsinc.comor by telephone at:1-888-443-8738483


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