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These days there is great concern about the amount of chemicals we have in our environment, but how do you deal with
those annoying pests that invade the home?
Martyn Robinson, a scientist with the Natural Museum, encourages a more
natural approach. He believes that we don't have to bomb our homes with chemicals to take care of these critters. A whole
range of natural or non-chemical treatments can work just as effectively without harming the environment or your health.
Robinson
says that if it's poisonous to the pests, it's probably going to be poisonous to us. He also believes that there will rarely
ever be a 100 percent success rate because breeding rates are so rapid and insects will usually evolve or change their behaviour
or appearance in some way.
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Ants
Ants pose a problem because you need to locate the nest and kill the queen to have any success in getting
rid of them. Once you locate the nest, pour in a mixture of boiling water and a few drops of eucalyptus oil. Or, for a short-term
solution, sprinkle the ant trail with lemon juice or talcum powder.
Cockroaches
Use an empty margarine container with some remnants still on the sides and pour one centimetre
of red wine in the bottom. Leave on a shelf or cupboard overnight. Cockroaches, like us, love fermented grapes. They get stuck
in the bottom and the alcohol penetrates their tough exterior, then drowns them.
Mosquitoes
One of the ways to help keep mosquitoes and other pest numbers down is to have a frog-friendly garden.
Frogs need insects to eat and places to hide and breed. You can help to establish frogs in your garden by growing plants of
varying heights and using mulch and compost.
Specialist rose growers, Flora International, were spraying their roses
with chemicals to control two-spotted mites. Nursery manager, Stuart Lowrie, says they were losing the battle. Now they distribute
tiny predator mites called persimilus, barely visible to the naked eye, but ruthlessly effective.
The following herbs
act as a great natural insect repellent, however some herbs can be harmful to house pets so seek advice before planting them
in your backyard.
- Feverfew
- Lads Love
- Lavender
- Wormwood
- Pyrethrum
- Tansy
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