Spiders… Cockroaches… Beetles & Bugs

Spiders, cockroaches, beetles and bugs can give even the toughest person a bit of a shock.

I am a massive insect lover, but I can get spooked sometimes.

One night, I crawled into bed.

Closed the mosquito net and snuggled down under the covers.

I pulled out my book and adjusted the nightlight so I could read for a bit.

Then I saw it laying right there on the pillow next to me…

I big, glossy, brown cockroach!

I yelped and leapt out of bed.

Once it was safely outside, I returned to my bed… gingerly checking for any more of them.

Yuk!

So many of our insects are considered “pests.”

What Are Pests Really?

Reality is, that a “pest” is something in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A lot of the time, pests are due to human behaviour.

Such as an introduced species with no natural predators; or planting fields of the same plant, with no natural controls

How Do We Manage Pests?

There has been a plethora of chemical pesticides (and herbicides) used by people since World War II, many of which have not been tested adequately.

Bear in mind, too, that testing is based on LD50 (lethal dose 50).

LD50 is a very cruel method that science uses. It means that the dosage of what is being tested is increased until 50% of the animals it is being tested on die.

Then remaining animals are “terminated,” thereby eradicating information about longer-term effects.

Most people are aware of what happened with DDT, and glyphosate seems to be a modern version of this.

Glyphosate is extensively used in Australia and annihilates microorganisms in soil, increasing risk of diseases; reduces root growth and worms, which obviously detrimentally affects nutrient-uptake; and is not biodegradable (Blazey, 2012, 18-19).

You can read more about glyphosate in an article by Dr Stephanie Seneff here.

Controlling Pests In The Home Can Be Simple And Safe

I always recommend these steps for ANY pest:

1st STEP Remove the attraction (be it food, water or shelter)
2nd STEP Prevent entry into your home
3rd STEP Repel or deter pests naturally

Let’s Look at Spiders…

Spiders love to eat insects.

Sometimes having them around can actually be a blessing as some they eat other spiders too; as well as mosquitoes, cockroaches, earwigs, moths and flies.

To manage spiders, we are going to look at a three-pronged approach:

• Prevention
• Management
• Deterring

Prevention

Prevent spiders from entering your home:

• Seal gaps and cracks around windows and the foundations of your home
• Caulk around where pipes and cables enter your home
• Install a weather guard at the base of external doors

Keep porch and garden lights off, or replace with a yellow bulb

Remove food and shelter – take rubbish out every day, clean up after meals, avoid clutter, ensure you store your food in sealed containers

Ensure that ducted heating is intact – and if not, cover the vents, repair any damage to external walls

Install fly screens on all doors and windows. Make sure you clean them regularly so as not to hamper ventilation

Keep bins away from the house or where children play

 

Management

Remove webs and egg sacs – unless they are from redback spider as these should be removed by a professional

Introduce plants that attract birds – they will naturally keep spiders under control

Catching bugs (especially spiders) with a glass jar and releasing them outside is preferable to killing them

In the case of white-tailed spiders, be sure to shake out your shoes and any clothing on the floor before putting them on

Keep on top of your housekeeping

 

Deterring

Grow eucalyptus

Rub lemon peel on windowsills or wherever you want to deter spiders

Fill a spray bottle with water and add 20 drops of any citrus essential oil (lemon, orange, bergamot, lime), shake and spray on surfaces

Fill a spray bottle with water and add 20 drops of peppermint essential oil, shake and spray on surfaces