CHAPTER 11 - The Best Control 2

Agricultural Practices - If you plant the same crop year after year you are bound to fail.Air - A blast of air from an aerosol can, bicycle pump, or straw or air compressor can be used to flush roachesfrom their hiding spots instead of using a can of aerosol poison; then you can vacuum them up. Fans left on24 hours, 7 days a week will control roach and bat infestations and desiccate many insects and will repel manyflying insects, e.g., flies. Hot air can be used to quickly control spot roach infestations and help dry out fungalinfestations. Air circulation should also be encouraged in garden plantings to help control many diseases. Aircontaining less than 2.5% oxygen protects stored commodities by stopping insect and fungus activity.Air Doors - To be effective against flying insects, the minimum velocity of the air stream must be 1600 feet perminute.Air Guns or Varmint Guns or Pellet Guns - if legal can remove pest birds and squirrels and other varmit.Alcohol - In laboratory rats, drinking alcohol compromises the skin’s barrier to toxic chemicals.Alcohol Anti-Insect Spray or Mist:2 c. vodka1 T. citronella essential oil1 T. eucalyptus essential oil1 tsp. geranium essential oil1 tsp. rosemary essential oil1 tsp. orange essential oil1 tsp. lemon essential oilMix all ingredients and shake well. Spray or mist into the air to repel flying insects and some people and pets.Be very careful when you use essential or fragrance oils.Alcohol Plant Rub - Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol solution to wipe aphids and scales off resistant plants.Alcohol Spray - Combine 1 to 2 cups rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol) with 1 quart water.Alcohol will quickly kill wasps, aphids, roaches and other pests. Always test spray a small area on one plant.Wait a day to check for damage before spraying entire plants. You can add between ½ and 1 cup rubbing alcoholto 1 quart insecticidal soap or horticultural oil sprays or vegetable oil as a “kicker” to increase their effectiveness.Keep mix away from children or pets and your eyes!Alfalfa - has natural weed-suppressing effects when rotated in (crop rotation) with corn and other crops. Alfalfafields provide a tremendous vareity of beneficial insects to provide natural control when pests invade nearby crops.Algae - are some of the most important microbes in the soil.Alka Seltzer ® - pieces of Alka Seltzer ® thrown into the air and swallowed by sea gulls will quickly kill them. Lightlycover it in peanut butter or grease to kill rats and mice. Put an Alka Seltzer or two in a bowl of soapy water tocatch insects, e.g., fleas and mosquitoes. Use them on damp sponges to attract bed and kissing bugs.Alum - Used to control fungal diseases, e.g., on bananas.Aluminum Foil - Protect young trees form mice and rabbits - wrap the trunks loosely to a height of 18” withglittering, rattling aluminum foil. Place a 30”-wide strip shiny-side up on the ground to repel aphids and thripsand reflect light upward to speed food/flower production by two weeks and to help retain ground moisture. Hangaluminum foil from plants, trees or your home to keep birds away. You can also use it to increase winter lightfor house plants. Aluminum foil collars can also be used to protect plant seedlings from cutworms. Aluminumfoil repels some cats. Aluminum foil lightly wrapped 2” below the soil and 2” above the soil surface will detersouthern blight on tomato and pepper plants.Aluminium Plates - Birds hate the sound and appearance of pie plates blowing in the breeze and sunlight.355