Stop Bugging Me! Insects and other pests

[ChesterV]

Ok, not really a baking topic, but definitely a kitchen topic!

How do you deal with pests in the kitchen, or even in the house?

What works? What doesn't work?

http://data:image/jpeg;base64,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
http://data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBxMSEBIQEhITFhMWFRgWFxcWFhkYEBUVGBIWGRUaFxUYICggHxomHhYVITIhJiktMy4vFyAzOTM4NygtMSsBCgoKDg0OGxAQGzciICUtLTU3MDU3LTAtLTErLzc3NTEwNSsxKy0rNjc3LjAtLS03Ly0rLi0vKzAtNTUtLS0tLf/AABEIAKsAqwMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAcAAEBAAIDAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQYHAwQFCAL/xABDEAABBAECAgYGBwUFCQAAAAABAAIDEQQSITFBBQYHE1FhFCIjMnGRQlKBobGzwWJkcoKiU3SSk9EIFSQlM0NzstL/xAAaAQEAAwEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwQFAgYB/8QALxEBAAICAQIDBQcFAAAAAAAAAAECAxEEITESE0EFYXGBoTJRkbHh8PEUFSIjUv/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8A3gqiICIiAiIgIiINIdZu17Kiy5YoWQtZFI5lOa5zn6HFpJdYq65Bd/F7dYSPaYUoP7MrC0nn72laj60yXmZR/eJvznLxJxsg38e3LG5Yk/8AmQ//AEutL27xcGYTz/HOxo/pa5aGjcK3X4jHrINtdLdsuZK8Oi7uBg+gB3hJ8S9wF/AAfFbe7OusD8/AjypA0PLnsdpFNJY8tut6urXyi1fR/YM++iAPCeYf1A/qg2KiIgIiICIiAoqogqIiAiIgIiICIiD466bdeROfGWQ/OVy89zbXaznW958XuPzeSusSg4u5q9r8F+245ALvL8eXxX6Mh8l+XvJQUL6K/wBn919FPHhkyD+iM/qvnRq+g/8AZ4d/y3IHhlu++CEoNpoiICIiAiIgKKqIKiIgIiICIiAo5VR3A/BCXyzk9SJnGonB9nYaSHHjxAvdedN1Ry2u0mMWP2gPuIW2+jb7vUwtJAFtod4A8O01dXdHbmRsuKWbi173A7kte8BrSbsaXRkAi+AP2mlxuWXi5OTwbvOp98S1COrGX/Yn/E3/AF8lys6pZRq2sHxeP0W0pZIz6vsib1anvoaTew7trfCzd8lJMbYkej3xppe5x+ey5m0osnNz1nUan8Wt4+p8v0nxj5u/Bbw7FOjhBgStDi4nIcXGqF93GNhyFALGD0QWsdLMQxjW6jfEDyHGzyHNZr2WtrGnb9XJePkyNdVmZnqm4ufkXv8A7OkMzCqgVXbTEREBERAUVUQVERAREQEREBRyqhQl809acueE4U0Mr43Ojewlp2IEnBzeDh5HxTorr7LH7LIgEwv3muqQDwDXhzSPIUs06t9EQ5hibPGHtjdKdJJoE6NJ2/hcuv1j6tY2Vi402FjNilkm7sAbCrcH69yCBpLr8lRvzKY8kY5j5/H+EHFr5mCJnq8qLrjgkg904HmDG8OB+DS4HjycFy9NdbsiFjDFgPhbIPUlnBbex4MZwPP1nedLmyuzPuseWQZYfJGxznM0Uz1WF5aTqsGuFjnwWSdNdXBO7AZNNLKwOLnay3S5rYSapjRVktGrwtQ39pYImPDO467+UbS14tK9oYX0D0Q7MxW5k88r3szI444wQIANUZc8t5n13C7208Vs/srfqxsh31suQ/NkZXl5HSTXYuTpY1rIMh0LGt2FMYzeuANvPDlS73Y868KY/vL/AMqJd8HPbN4rT069PhqEeSdZ6190s8RQKrRTCIiAiIgKKqIKiIgIiICIiAoVVChLVfZ5J7SRvjf/ALLv5OBriwmYkzo4hM8lzR7UjTJdOPA3qHDmvC6l5bIZ3OkdpadQGxJJ1cABvzC6sXaBi42Pis1OfIyZ/eRtae8a094DxoWC5u3xXmuXhzW5E2xxPp8O091f2ZaPI1P3yysPi9G6Sjha8d13rJHPJc+ST0QOLi47n1XNH8vhS7k8jWy4NmtWpo83ej8PjsV5XRfSbM7Ey5cKChN3rC6Qhhkl7kMvSLvbS27HBap669dMmd7cZwiZ6NIdLoS6+8YCzUJDua34AKpx+HfkZJr21333jddejQm3hhs7pnBOPiZgeW+1ynSx77lrmx7V4gtd9y9jsgFYU395f+XGtYdH96cSJ075HzzF77eSX6CGtiG+4B0E1t742Wzexw/8DL/eXflRL0PB41sETW07mWVOWMnL6ekaZ4FVAqr66IiICIiAoqogqIiAiIgIiIChVUKD5+kkLS2vF5+cjv0AXeONj5YIyIm6yK1gbn+LcX8QQfNdTOjpw25fi5y5OjOl8dshjke1mkAkuNCiONeF6R81Xrvc6eawTljNPlva6B6Pnw8eeGGYFjm6MZri3THJI57pH6qBNAg7jkBvxXkYfQWLgsAaxssm1ud6zbHPfj8Nh5LMZ+4iZ3kzxGADXeHS31gXb+ZDPDh9+G5PSkE8tRO1Bw0tI90kCyRqq/BfKYfBa9472n8uzWzZM98eq9HTys4vfrcdwQfkVs7snaBiTgcBlSD+iOlqLLG5rgOY3Hz8PNbe7KxWNkj96f8AfFEusfdT9nxPmztmoVQIp22IiICIiAoqogqIiAiIgIiIChVUKDR+TiSOfqjaXFrG2ALJ1PcBtz3H3ryZMDHkdqmxnh/1mfL3Hjz5O+xe5lyFjoHh+hrmua46dQpk0rTbeY3FjzVj6XkDhU2M7gbcHgEh3MXWrc78hwVee7AitYtMxOpdCWNkzO4MuUQ/1dOgFx2ALbMnDbh5Lo4PQ0OOXCKPKeTeqy0MO3C4g4keQcPtXuHPkDQScZxa50gOo2dTXB4HiCCR47eO55ZukpGeoH47NLmm2NcSaI5HYkVv4819dRada8UvF6T6Pma15fGGMYLNU1o4A0OJIv4rZ3Zi4GDKI4elO/JhWvM6R0xjjbKHh1M0sbpYAXN0tHiLJ+S2N2dkaM7SBQzpgK4bNjH6LqkdU/CikX3Vl4RQKqVrCIiAiIgKKqIKiIgIiICIiAoVVCg0tkR97gl90cfKmY7n6sjtQ+8ALyxE2MtefSL94FrGtGkjiC4nbisg6jysdPmYknuTveP5hI/h57rrdO4k2J7KRjnRAU2QOfpcOWqjQNbEeaqZZvqJpG2FbHW0eZ+9vNbntb9LKGwG5jvS33R7uwF/evxmaZXDW3Kc4XWtrXVZs0KHNfmfpvU3SbqtJ9oDY58l2sHPnncI4o3SEn68hAs/ScCAq/mZv+Uf+Mzrf0/V2equG0ZQe7VoxwZX22i3T7oqyLLiK34hZr2VxkY2QSb1ZL3+frRxnlz3WEPxe7aYhs9rtTrttUCXWw+NiuFAeazvsvl1Ykm91O4HxHqR7HzVvFkiZ8Pq1eLhilY16sxCqgVVhcEREBERAUVUQVERAREQEREBCiFB88uyHR5Er2GnCaQj/MdSz7obrKyZm7mMkJt7ZbMTyQBfi00OXisGy8AmWZzXN/6rzvt/3HXvwr4qYeSI7Y9jeO5rVt50fkQQqk3tSNxG3nsWW2LJPXp1bJd0fA4l3osBN/2rQ0iibFi/DiF+M3pKGBhDnxsHKOA+0dxsOed6O3ADgVgTcqLjZqvdD5Lsedc/BcWVmxlukRi786vlbidR+AoLn+r39mq5PKiI3ERDvu6wRvdkGQCMPALKbfAEHUeN8OO2yzHscN4Ux33yX0TxI7qLf4LW2Fpp1tLnWKpuo+fI0PitpdlbT6LNYq8hxAsEgd1HxI2/FSYscRebespOHysmTWO09I39WaBVQKqy0RERAREQFFVEFREQEREBERAQohQaMyyNcoNj2knHgR3juZ/BedHkQH6NfZ/o7z8Fy9Kub30wZK5h76TUHH1bD3bh3KzyXB6NMOGh4utgDfDgao8lXtt5zJG5lzjTpcWFjRvsS1zjsPrGwvQhhGltNPAe7FR4cbcN/wBFjc7iHEOABGxAAA5cK2Xu9+zS32sO4ANh7nN25W4fh4L5XTmkP3OTu0WRvTXOGqw0X6rAebfDms27Hpi/DncdryX7ch7KLYLAJc2IbCV3E3pbpZVb+7Rvhstg9kM2rDmIADfSXhu1bCOJSUnqvcLXmM7RQKqVriIiAiIgKKqIKiiIKiiIKiiIKoiINKdPdUJ2SyF1+s9ztekmM6nX7zbo7nYryB1fyPoBj/NkjLH2WCvoFdabBid70bD8Wg/oo5xwqX4WK077NASdBZV7wPu+PH77X7PQOSBbmBo/aewfiVvf/cuPx7iL/AFyx9GQt4RRj+UL55cOP7fj++WhYOrs8p0sa5//AI2l4+11aR9pW2uzrq4/BxXMkrXJIZC0Gw31WtAvxpoullDRVVt+C/S7isQsYsFMf2RVRF0mVFEQVFEQVREQf//Z

 

[ChesterV]

For me, I put crushed up mothballs in the walls that don't have any water pipes in them.
It works at keeping bugs and rodents away.

 

[ChesterV]

In my new apartment, I have a covered patio and I like to have the door open for air, but the bugs come in.

My sister said to hang a bag of water by the door and the ions in the water will keep the bugs away. Well that does NOT work.

How can I keep bugs from coming in the open door?
(and no, I cant buy a screen door, it's an apartment)

 

[Becky]

How can I keep bugs from coming in the open door?

How about a bead curtain? Or a net curtain?

 

[ChesterV]

How about a bead curtain? Or a net curtain?

It's an inside/outside door. We aren't allowed to do anything to the apartment or the structure.

Im looking more for a small electronic device I can plug into the outside light socket or some plant that keeps away bugs of all sorts.

I would love to have a screen door, but they won't allow it.

 

[justme4910]

the bug zappers work pretty good,of course some say that the light draws them in,so be ware

I have a Fly strip close to my back door,it works pretty well,but it has a lot of dead critters stuck to it lol

here is a list of plants that repel bugs

the cat nip one was funny

catnip repels ants, flea beetles, aphids, the Japanese beetle, squash bugs, weevils,[2] the Colorado potato beetle, the cabbage looper,[3] andcockroaches.[4] "May attract cats."

and then there was this one about cats lol

citronella grass repels insects, "may deter cats[5]"

 

[justme4910]

here is another list

http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/12-plants-that-repel-unwanted-insects

 

[ChesterV]

here is another list

http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/12-plants-that-repel-unwanted-insects

Well, I'm on the second floor, so I really don't have to worry about ants.

It's the flying one's I want to keep away from my door and window.
Flys, mosquitoes, gnats (we gots LOTS of gnats), and other ones like that.


I was going to get a bug zapper for the porch, but then I was reading some research done on them, and they DRAW IN bugs, not REPEL them. They said what actually sells electric bug zappers is that little "zzzzt" sound that happens when an insect is "fried" on the zapper grid. But other than that, they do not repel insects....they are attracted to the violet light, not repelled by it.

So, I'm looking for something cheap I can get to put on the patio and near the window, that will keep flying buggies out.

I'm not concerned with spiders. I know which ones to keep around and which ones to throw back out.

 

[justme4910]

I have a problem with gnats,I noticed they are flying everywhere today and there small enough to be able to crawl thru my screens on the windows

 

[ReadmeByAmy]

In order to get rid of the insects and other pests into our house and in our kitchen we make it sure that we had a screen in our windows and doors so that they will not be entering inside the premises of our house. As much as possible I am trying to avoid to use chemicals to get rid of them because the smell of the chemicals when we inhale it is bad for our health.

 

[Trellum]

We are doing nothing about the mosquito, because right now it seems they are kind of late to the party But for cockroaches and such we have set some of those special traps. I've heard in the Netherlands you don't really see a lot cockroaches, so yaaay!

 

[justme4910]

i have a roach killer recipe

1/2 cup water
16 oz powdered boric acid
1 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 small onion chopped
1/2 cup shortening

i haven't made them,but I was told they worked good,if I remember correctly ,you roll them up in balls and set them out

 

[djordjem87]

The lamp is the cruel but the most effective ways. I was working in a huge kitchen and we had 10 of those amps and none of the flies or mosquitoes and it was on the sea coast. Literally, when tide was high we had flood in the kitchen. I do not approve the spray for obvious reason of all the food around the place and the flie stick thing is just not hygienic enough for kitchen. I know for some natural remedies and some smelly stickers that I had once but the buzzer is the best.