There are a lot of different reasons why we should prevent if not eliminate the existence of pests in our surroundings. First of all, pests are very dangerous to human health. Insects such as the cockroach, mouse, rat, and mosquito can bring life-threatening illnesses to human beings. When we accidentally ingest the droppings and urine of mice and rats, it could lead to several illnesses such as Salmonellosis, Amoebiasis, and many more. Mosquitoes are reported by the World Health Organization as one of the deadliest pests of all time. Did you know that over 5 million people get infected by dengue each year? This drove WHO to advocate for mosquito-free environments all over the globe.
Some insects bring damage to our houses, food, and belongings. Examples of these are the termites, mice, rats, cockroaches, ants, bees, silver fishes, and weevils. Termites are considered as the most destructive pest in the whole world. They exist in all places except in Antarctica where the temperature is freezing. These creatures are known to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They do not stop chewing and gnawing on every structure they find.
You see, just like most insects, termites need moist, warmth, and food to live. They cannot survive the cold temperatures which are why they put their best efforts into looking for a place they can infest. Termites are very cunning and intelligent creatures. They know when the bearings of a house are weak. They take one good look at the house and they know which points to target. Once they start to infest, they spread so fast that you will only know if your house is infested once they work their way through your walls.
Mice and rats are also common in destroying homes and personal belongings. These creatures are considered as human shadows because they only work at night. They barely work during the daylight. These creatures tend to bore holes on walls, ceilings, and compartments in our houses just so they can pilfer food. They gnaw and chew all night to get access to their necessities. In turn, they give us sleepless nights from all the noise they make from gnawing wood and chewing on other accessories. Most people think that the existence of one mice or rat is normal in the household. Actually, these creatures can cause a fire in the house. Did you know that 25% of house fires in the United States are caused by the wirings chewed on by mice and rats? If you do not pay attention to their infestation, you might be facing the same fate.
Cockroaches, ants, silver fishes, and weevils have the same pattern of pilfering food and destroying its packaging to get it. Although they have different preferences in food, they have the same activity of hiding, brooding, and taking food especially when it is unattended.
Bees, on the other hand, particularly Carpenter Bees can cause damage to wooden furniture and wooden structures. From the name itself, carpenter bees like to bore holes on wood so they can establish a safe habitat for their eggs. Although it would be really great to help them repopulate their species, their activities could weaken the bearings of our home. Which is why they need to be eliminated.
Wasps are often confused as bees. Based on their appearance, wasps have a much thinner abdomen and are more aggressive than bees. Most people think that bees like to sting. Actually, they are not as hostile as you think. The main instinct of bees is to get the nectar of flowers and eat it. As long as nobody bothers them, they will carry on peacefully. Plus, bees only sting when it is a matter of life and death. Their stingers are directly connected to their stomach. So, when they sting their first victim and pull out, it will be like pulling out their guts from the inside out. Minutes after they take their first sting, they die. Wasps, on the other hand, are very violent creatures. And unlike bees, they can sting as often as they want. There are cases in the United States and England where an innocent person is accidentally blamed by the wasp colony for disturbing their nest. The victims reported that a large swarm of wasps started to come after them, stinging them everywhere on their bodies without hesitation. Luckily, they were able to run into some other people who helped them ward off the wasps from their bodies.
Homemade Insect Killers
If you want to exterminate these pests on your own, you will need safe and easy-to-make recipes to help you with your pest problems. Of course, pesticides and insecticides are a quicker fix, you never know the danger it can bring to your family especially when you have children, pets, and plants around you. Plus, experts say that the effects of pesticides can have detrimental effects on the soil, water, and the structures of your house. Without further ado, here are some homemade recipes that are safe and easy-to-make for pest extermination.
1. Essential Oil Bug Sprays
If you have pets and children around, it is best to note the ingredients of the formula. Using essential oils can help you create an insect-killer you can use around the family. You can use a combination of any of these essential oils to kill and repel mosquitoes from entering your home: lemongrass, citronella, clove, rosemary, tea tree, eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, and mint For this recipe, you will need at least 100 drops of these essential oils to mix.
An example of the essential bug spray formula includes the following ingredients:
- Geranium – 30 drops
- Citronella – 30 drops
- Eucalyptus – 20 drops
- Lavender Oil – 20 drops
- Vodka or rubbing alcohol – 1 tablespoon
- Witch Hazel – ½ cup
- Vinegar – ½ cup
- Glycerin (optional) – 1 teaspoon
Follow these instructions:
1. Place all the essential oils in a spray bottle.
2. Add the vodka or alcohol and mix
3. Pour the witch hazel and shake
4. Add the ½ teaspoon of glycerin if applicable
5. Add water and shake
2. Vinegar Tick Repellant
Ingredients:
Apple Cider Vinegar 32-oz bottle
Rosemary – 2 TBSP
Lavender – 2 TBSP
Thyme – 2 TBSP
Mint – 2 TBSP
Instructions:
1. Mix the vinegar and the dried herbs in a large glass jar
2. Seal it tightly and store it on a counter where you can see t daily.
3. Shake every day for at least 2 to 3 weeks.
4. Strain the herbs until there is no solid residue left.
5. Store in the refrigerator
How to Use:
This type of mixture is very strong when it comes to its antiviral and antibacterial properties. You can use this to kill several pests in the household. Spray it towards a cockroach or use it to exterminate other pests such as fleas and ticks from home. This also works as an effective mosquito repellant when taken in orally by human beings. If by chance you are going on a camping trip, it’s best to have this solution with you to avoid any infestation from several pets. Adults usually take in 1 tablespoon with water. For children over 2 years old, they can take in 1 teaspoon of this solution with water.
3. Soap Spray Insecticide
Soap Spray Insecticide is one of the most common and practical ways of killing pests at home. This is effective in killing mites, aphids, beetles, cockroaches, fleas, and ticks. All you need to do is to mix 1 and ½ teaspoons of liquid soap with one quart of water. Spray it on affected areas of plants or directly to pests. To treat your fur babies using soap, make sure that you lather up your pet and soak for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing. That should take care of the fleas and ticks on their bodies.
4. Neem Oil Insecticide
If you are planning on exterminating larger insects such as wasps and bees, you can use the neem oil insecticide. It also works well in getting rid of termites at home. Neem oil acts as a hormone disruptor to all insects that affects all of the life stages of insects from an egg, to a larva, to an adult. Just add 2 teaspoons of neem oil and 1 teaspoon of mild liquid soap and mix it together with 1 quart of water. Spray it on affected areas in your environment. But make sure to take safety precautions when dealing with wasps and bees. You would not want them to swarm and sting you all over.
5. Diatomaceous Earth Insect Killer
This is one of the most common insecticides at home. It works as an abrasive by absorbing the lipids that make up the exoskeleton of insects, dehydrating them to death. The best part is, when you use DE, there is no chance that the pests will get immune because it works mechanically in killing insects. To use, simply sprinkle a generous amount of DE on your surroundings and compartments. This helps get rid of ants, weevils, silverfishes, cockroaches, mice, fleas, you name it! However, you need to keep the powder dry at all times. If by chance it gets wet from the rain, you can just reapply when the surroundings get dry.
Call For Help
There are instances when DIY methods no longer work in dealing with pests. If that is the case, call for your local exterminator near Denver, NC. The most competent and most efficient service can be provided by Lake Norman Home Services. This humble company has been providing service for more than 50 years. By this time, they have proven how reliable their services are in pest control. So, if you are looking for an affordable, fast, and competent service, avail our services now!