CHAPTER 11 - The Best Control 2

pesticides have never controlled or eliminated all of the pests. The Best Control II © is better, safer and morepermanently done by caulking and screening and the use of IPM techniques. If you must use a (least-toxic)poison, use only boric acid, IGR’s, sodium borate, silica gels, insecticidal soaps, diatomaceous earth, neemsprays, and pyrethrin aerosols, but DO NOT USE any (even least toxic) synthetic pesticide poison until everysafer alternative has been attempted. The pest control “industry” has historically considered all volatile,synthetic pesticide poisons as the only real control tool they have available in spite of the fact they havenever really controlled any pests inside or outside using these volatile poisons. We now lose more ofour crops to insects than we did before pesticide poisons were used, only now we, the animals and earth arecontaminated. Historically the regulatory people have only been concerned if enough poison was applied...never if the toxins contaminated, or the poisons were misapplied or misused. We do not recommend their useexcept in rare circumstances and then only when all parties know all of the facts, dangers, risks and agreein writing. If you must use any pesticide poison, first carefully: choose the proper product, read labelscarefully before you buy and then use only as directed, and buy only what poison you need rather thandiscard the chemicals. Store poisons in their original containers with the labels intact and legible. If storedproperly, most pest control poisons will be effective the following season, so you don’t need to throw leftoverpoisons away. Tighten lids on liquid containers. Paper bags and boxes containing dust, granules or wettablepowders should be closed and resealed with tape. Dry products can also be stored, container and all, in a clean,sealable plastic bag. Lock pesticide poisons in a cabinet or storage room. This area should be separatefrom food supplies and protected form freezing temperatures or extreme heat. Dispose of pesticide poisonswith damaged containers. Never save empty containers. Check to see if your area has an authorizedmethod of pesticide disposal. Do not put empty containers in an outdoor trash receptacle. Make sureanimals and kids cannot get at these toxic containers. Carefully triple rinse, mutilate, puncture, and crush allcontainers and dispose of rinsate and containers properly. Wrap glass containers in newspaper beforediscarding. Do not burn any containers. We do not use these volatile toxins and we do not recommendtheir use! Synthetic pesticide poisons are also deliberate components of some clothing, shampoos,drugs, paints, wallpaper, shower curtains, rugs, blankets and mattresses - so even if someone is notroutinely spraying your area - you still may be routinely poisoned. True IPM or Intelligent Pest Management® should also attempt to remove all of these risks. Never use any volatile poisons!Syrphid Flies - a/k/a hover flies for their ability to hover in flight, are common predators of aphids and other softbodied insects. Adults are usually bee mimics. Three of the more common species are Syrphus rectus (OstenSacken), Allograpta obliqua (Say) and Eupeodes (formerly Metasyrphus) americanus (Weidemann). A. obliquamay complete development from egg to adult in less than 21 days. Various stages overwinter, depending onspecies, giving rise to adults in spring. Adults feed on pollen, nectar and aphid honeydew. Females must feedon pollen for proper egg maturation. Females oviposit in the midst of aphid colonies, using honeydew as anovipositional stimulant, and laying hundreds of eggs each. Eggs are often the first sign of aphid predators seenin the spring. Eggs are white, elliptical, and about 4/100 inch (1 mm) in length. There are three larval instars.Larvae are elongate, tapering gradually toward the head end. Larvae search for prey by casting the forward endfrom side to side; prey must be contacted directly to be detected. Larvae pierce aphids with their mouth hooks,sucking fluids from the bodies before moving to other prey. Each larva may consume hundreds of aphids duringits development. Larval feeding success influences future fecundity. Third instar larvae have the greatestimpact on aphid numbers. Larvae of some species are relatively plump. There may be 5 - 7 generations peryear. Multivoltine species overwinter as adults, univoltine species as third instar larvae. These are among themost voracious of aphid predators.Tachnid Flies - Females lay eggs on the bodies of the host insect or on plants to be ingested by the host. Thelarvae or maggots mature inside the host, feeding on and eventually killing it. They resemble houseflies, butusually are mottled rather than brightly colored. There are hundreds of tachnid fly species in North America thatare terrific against caterpillars. They can be attracted by tansy, spearmint or dill plantings.Tadpoles - and algae-eating fish and snails are very effective algae consumers.Tagamet ® - Add a little diluted Tagamet and some aspartame and/or acetaminophen to your baits to make themmore effective killers.Talcum Powder and/or Medicated Body Powders - Control and/or repel many pests when sprinkled around.Some people consider talcum powder to be carcinogenic and/or dangerous, but, given the opportunity to choose465