CHAPTER 11 - The Best Control 2

leave a loop at the top end and install a hand grip at the bottom. You will have created a quick and efficient toolto grab “critters”. Simply slide the top loop over its head and pull tight on the bottom wire or cable.Consistency - The only way you can learn from your research; do not compare apples to oranges.Constant Vigilance - will prevent a major pest infestation or disease outbreak.Containers - Properly sealed containers will keep your food and your pet’s food and your garbage pest free andreduce the incidence of insect and rodent pests.Controlled Burns - will remove several pest and disease problems and helps renourish the soil.Controlling Carriers - By controlling insect carriers of diseases and/or viruses which cannot be controlled byspraying you can reduce the spread of diseases and/or viruses.Cooking Oil - Any cooking oil placed around the base of plants will repel ants and other pests; additionally, 1teaspoon mixed in 1 quart water with 1 tablespoon dish soap will kill many insect pests if sprayed with this mix.Copepods, e.g., Macrocyclops albidus - Common in Florida waters are tiny crustaceans with a voraciousappetite that virtually kill any mosquito larvae they find.Copper - Copper is a powerful, nonspecific fungicide that kills disease organisms. It damages beneficial soilmicroorganisms and beneficial insects alike, and is more toxic to plants than sulfur is. Copper sulfate has beenused as an herbicide to control annual weeds on land or in water. Repeated applications of any copper productwill stunt plants and can accumulate in the soil. Copper sulfate is classified as very toxic to humans, so wedo not use this product; only the copper barriers to control slugs and snails.Copper Gauze - Copper gauze or mesh will not deteriorate like steel wool, so use it to seal and/or cover cracksand other openings.Copper Soap - can be diluted and used as a fungicide.Coriander, a/k/a cumin - An annual herb, 2-feet tall. Drinking a tea made from this plant will help to soothe anupset stomach. A poultice made from crushed seeds relieves rheumatism pain. Coriander adds an exotic flavorand is used as a digestive, for colic, gripping and flatulence. Coriander contains an oil used in an emulsion sprayto kill spider mites and cotton aphids.Corn - Dried corn can be placed in cloth bags and either heated or cooled in the freezer to provide relief fromaches and pains.Corn Gluten Meal - 100% corn gluten meal acts as a natural herbicide and prevents weeds. Use 20 pounds ofcorn gluten meal for every 1000 square feet; spread the gluten over your lawn; then apply again at right angles.Apply evenly in spring, late summer or early fall yearly. Be patient; it takes several years to work dramatically.Don’t fertilize for 2 - 4 weeks after a gluten application because the gluten provides a lot of nitrogen. Corn glutenprevents all seed germination for months after it is applied, so it is not wise to sow seeds in the treated area.Water activates the gluten.Corn Meal - Wet corn meal with 1% sodium borate solution; dry and place where insects can contact but people,pets and wildlife cannot. This bait will kill virtually anything that eats corn meal. The sodium borate will also keepit “fresh” in damp areas longer. “Straight” corn meal or bran sprinkled by plants will kill cut worms that eat it.Corn Starch - Placing 2 tablespoons of corn starch in a dry vacuum’s bag before vacuuming up insects willquickly incapacitate the insects. Sprinkle it where you see them crawl to desiccate them. Corn starch will alsocure athletes’ feet. If you have a burn, sprinkle it with corn starch; the pain should subside in 10 minutes.Cotton Swab - dipped in alcohol can remove many light pest infestations.378