CHAPTER 11 - The Best Control 2

1 kg of grain legumes. This provides protection upto six months from bruchids.Store Food - in air tight containers or in the refrigerator. Never allow any food to remain in the open.STP ® - Oil Treatment or Vaseline ® can be used to trap small insects.Straining Mixtures - Strain any of these mixes through multiple layers of cheesecloth and/or a disposablecoffee filter.Straw Mulches - Putting straw mulches under plants like watermelon and muskmelon prevents the fruit fromrotting from ground contact. The mulch also retards weed growth.Straws - Blowing through a straw will make roaches run from a crack. Straws can be used to make bait stationsand to trap earwigs.Stream of Water - will wash off aphids and spider mites from plants.String - Properly positioned - string (wire or dental tape) will keep birds off an area or roof. Most birds hate tohave anything rub against their legs when they are roosting. So nail two end brackets on either gable end (orwherever you see birds roosting) and string a piece of wire or waxed twine about 4” above the ridge. This simplecontrol works for most birds an is non-toxic and inexpensive.String Trimmers - mechanically manage weed problems and kill or injure some trees.Stripper - A little floor stripper in water provides quick insect control.Strobe Lights - Place a bright strobe light in dark areas where you have bats, birds, rats, squirrels, feral cats,raccoons, skunks, etc. in attics, storage buildings, barns, crawl spaces, etc., and watch them all leave in a fewhours or days. The pupils of their eyes can not tolerate that much exercise. The strobe light is also highly annoyingto people and pets, so make sure you can turn it off before you re-enter these areas. Caution: Strobe lightscan trigger seizures in people with photo sensitive epilepsy.Structural Heating - can be used to kill drywood termites, roaches, bed bugs and many other pests.Sugar - High concentrations of sugar, e.g., honey, will not allow the growth of bacteria. Cane sugar incorporatedinto soil at a rate of 5# per 100# of soil will kill all nematodes in 24 hours. (Some plants do not like sugar, soyou may need to flush the sugar out before planting.) Cut the top off a 2 liter plastic pop bottle, invert it insidethe bottle to make a “funnel” (secure it with duct tape). Pour sugar water, fruit juice or pop 2 - 3 inches in thebottom (with a few drops of soap or enzyme cleaner) to attract and kill hornets and wasps. Sprinkle fly paperwith granulated sugar and hang in trees, dumpsters, or wherever you want to trap hornets and wasps. Dissolve ateaspoon each of lemon juice, sugar and jam in a glass of water - pour the mixture in a can, with 2 - 3 (half-round)openings on each side - push the sharp edges inward - attracted to moisture and sweets, slugs will crawl in andbe killed by the acidic lemon juice. Half upturned grapefruit rinds will also kill slugs - the juice is acidic. Mix: 1part active yeast, 2 parts molasses and 1 part sugar. Mix the ingredients well. Drop a teaspoonful on severalsmall squares of white paper. Place the paper squares along ant trails where they will not be disturbed. Howdoes it work? The ants are attracted to the sugary feast and will consume it readily. The action of the yeast,however, will produce gas in their bellies which they cannot rid themselves of. They essentially will pop. Thebest part of this method of pest control is that it utilizes no volatile poisons which could harm you or your family.A fruit tree spray can be made by dissolving 2 pounds of granulated sugar in 5 gallons of warm water. Let themixture stand for several hours and spray any fruit tree or grape or rose plant after a dormant oil spray. Mix 1/4cup of confectioner’s sugar and a tablespoon of borax with 2 tablespoons of water. Soak cotton balls in mixtureand place on low lids. Or mix 2 tablespoons boric acid, 2 tablespoons sugar and a cup of water. Soak papertowels, place on dishes (or in shallow screw-top jars with 6 - 8 holes punched in the lid), and set out for ants.Keep any and all borax controls out of reach of children and pets. Mixing baking soda with powdered sugarand applying to infested areas to control ants and/or roaches. Equal amounts of oatmeal flour and plaster ofParis or equal amounts of borax and brown sugar will kill roaches, but keep out of reach of children and/or pets.Combine 8 parts powdered rodent chow, 3 parts granulated sugar, and 1 part boric acid crystals. Add water462