[lindamarie]

Since we moved into this house, we've had a pest control company doing monthly treatments.
I don't know if you guys have wolf spiders, but WE DO!! When we moved in I saw some and that did that!
So.....we have the inside and outside sprayed. The control of spiders and bugs was so successful, that now we do it quarterly.

It's time for our February treatment and I don't know what to do. My Springer died last November of Lymphoma and I believe his little body was filled with cancer.
It hit me today..........Could these pesticides have had something to do with this??
The Company isnsists their materials are not harmful to pets. But, it's really got me wondering....
Any thoughts?

 

[mtd885]

I'm a born Cynic when it comes to believing pesticide companies. I would take a short vacation with the dogs if I had to do that. Have you looked into diatomaceous earth?
http://www.google.com/search?client=saf ... 8&oe=UTF-8

 

[lindamarie]

More recently, it has been employed as a primary ingredient in a type of cat litter. The type of silica used in cat litter comes from does not pose a significant health risk to pets or humans.

No I haven't looked into this! Very interesting! I would like to find out more about it...........Do you use diatomaceous earth? If so, how do you use it? Where do you get it?

 

[mtd885]

More recently, it has been employed as a primary ingredient in a type of cat litter. The type of silica used in cat litter comes from does not pose a significant health risk to pets or humans.

No I haven't looked into this! Very interesting! I would like to find out more about it...........Do you use diatomaceous earth? If so, how do you use it? Where do you get it?

It's easy to use just spread the powder behind counters, under bed, infected areas and it's good as long as it stays dry. If it gets wet or washed you have to reapply as needed. It kills em two different ways so they stay dead :wink:

 

[MaxandMe]

1. Linda , diatomaceous earth is sold at most garden centers or nurseries
i do believe even Lowe's and Home depot have it in their gardening/pesticide areas.

2. you can call the company and ask what active ingredients is used
as yes many pesticides can have certain shelf lives and soem contain carcinogens.

3. you can also call cornell university OR you local cooperative extension where they train and/or reissue training for pesticide applications
and usually they'll give you FREE answers.
if there is a master gardener program around then there is a pesticide application program too....i do knwo CORNELL UNIVERSITY would be able to provide you with answers re: pesticides and dangers

 

[gracielou]

I would try the diatomaceous earth as Annemarie suggested it is suppose to be wonderful I bought some but since surgery haven't been able to use it I will be putting it down around the outside of the house, around windows, doors and foundation. There is also a human grade you can buy online and it is good for mixing in the food for worms and is natural.

 

[MaxandMe]

actually linda, MTD suggested it
Linda, years ago i did BOTH the Master Gardener and Pesticide Applicator licensing programs. I NEVER too the test for pesticides, i just took it to learn about them.
to this day i can count on ONE Hand if and when i've ever applied pesticides

when i do landscape design and/or consulting past 15yrs, i always use the oldfashioned remedies for killing insects.

 

[lmtoth2]

you should also be able to buy diatomaceous earth at pool stores - it is used in certain types of filters.

 

[Cinsmom]

Ok, all you insect killing machines. Every year I have a problem with ants coming into my kitchen. I have no ides from where they are coming as I find them all over. I think they are living in the walls of the house, because I find them even upstairs. Do you know what I can use to get rid of them? It's the red picnic kind of ants, not the big black carpenter ants.

They are not in any food items I have, I do not leave dishes in the sink and no food items are left on the counters. The ants aren't in the cabinets, just on the counter and around the sink, even though it's empty. They don't go for the dog food bowl. I know if left untreated, I can count on them taking over. I don't like to use the ant sprays because of Cinnamon and the fact it is a kitchen with food being prepared. I've heard that spreading lime around the house are good for most bugs, but like I said , I think these things live in the walls.

Any ideas as how to rid myself of these things for at least a few months? I have no problem with them once the cold weather hits, but I know once the warm weather is here they'll be back.

 

[lindamarie]

I just spoke with the pest control people.
I think they were shocked at my inquiring.. :shock:
He said they've never had any reports of health problems with pets and that they also treat kennels.
My response was.......How do you KNOW that no pet was ever hurt over the years by being exposed to this stuff.
He couldn't answer that.

He just faxed over the ingredients and precautions etc.

This is how far I got.....ingredients as fiollows:
-Lambda-cyhalorthrin
-....????....chloro trifluoro-1 propenyl -2-2 ...What the heck is this stuff??
I can'ty even read it!
-dimethylcycloponeca-boxylate
-inert ingredients 90.3 %

Sounds scary to me and I don't even know how to BEGIN a research....or do I even want to? I think I'll get the diatomeceous earth.........

WILL IT KILL SPIDERS??
Actually........no product kills spiders. Spiders eat the bugs that have the stuff on them........once ingested they die.
So, will it kill all bugs?

 

[MaxandMe]

http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/s ... utate.html

http://www.pesticide.org/spiders.html bottom of page has good resources

another good one that also states unless pesticide comes in contact with spider well, here read it:
http://www.allservicetermite.com/index.htm?id=820

spider glue trap info http://www.brown-recluse-spiderz.com/

there are NUMEROUS studies on pesticides on spiders
after reading many, for me i'd try the spider traps
just as i do for pantry moths --i use the traps to eliminate the problem
naturally as spraying is out of the question with 3 doodles, 3 fishtanks,
allergies, and food. OR i guess i learned too much in past that scares the heck of me to use pesticides since then.

 

[annabelles mom]

i always use the oldfashioned remedies for killing insects.

What remedies do you use?

 

[MaxandMe]

here's good link for the Diatomaceous Earth (DE) mtd suggested:
http://www.healthherbs.com/product.php?pid=5593

and other natural rememdies are:
for japanese beetles: i use dishsoap mixed with water, kills them instantly
for slugs: eggshells mostly but will use DE too if bad

I take a telescoping duster i bought at walmart $6.99 and weekly dust walls, pictures, ceilings etc as we get lots of spiders and cobwebs too.
really keeps down spider population.

I also spread out mothflakes on top of kitchen cabinets...hang cedar thingies in closets for moths
when i have a veggie garden i do companion planting.

I also plant a garlic clove and onions in large houseplants to ward off insects.

outside i used cedar mulch for disease/insect resistance.

pantry moth sticky traps w/hormone square.

and the biggie: i get a cup and paper to capture bees, spiders, stink bugs
and either release them outside. BEES though are killed/smashed since everyone but me had servere allergies to them.
OUTSIDE yes i do spray hornets nests but if it's in the ground i take some
rolled up papers ,soak it in kerosene, and shove in hole and light it.
kills em every time :wink:

Lastly, every year for 4months we have ladybugs in our house :shock:
i ignore them as this has been going on for 14years hhahahhaa
or maybe that's why my houseplants don't have bugs on them?

 

[Cinsmom]

In my old house, we used to get Lady bugs so bad I swept them up with a vacuum. If I didn't, those little buggers would be in our food, drinks, and in to everything. I don't worry about a couple, but when I get hundreds, I draw the line.

 

[lindamarie]

Wow annmarie! Lots of good info!!
I'm NOT renewing my pest control contract. I need to do the things mentioned and hope for the best! :wink: