CHAPTER 11 - The Best Control 2

can be applied to the skin or fur to repel insects. Always test a small area of your skin (with a small amount)to see if you get a reaction before treating the entire area or body or your clothes with any substance.Insect traps - These are the simplest, least-toxic way to control many insects; there are many different kinds,including our 2-liter bottle and/or sticky traps.Insecticidal Soaps or Enzyme Cleaners - Insecticidal soaps, which are sodium or potassium salts combinedwith fish or vegetable oil, have been used as registered insecticides since the late 1700s. A soap is a substancemade from the action of an alkali such as sodium or potassium hydroxide on a fat. The principal componentsof fats are fatty acids. When pesticidal soap washes away the oils, waxes and other debris and reaches thecuticle (outer body) of a susceptible insect, the fatty acids penetrate the insect’s covering and dissolve into themembranes around its cells, disrupting their integrity. The cells leak and collapse, resulting in the dehydrationand death of the susceptible insects. Soap can also penetrate the protective coating on plant tissue and fungi,causing dehydration and death. Soaps show relative selectivity in the range of insects they affect.Advantages: Rapid breakdown, rapid action, low toxicity to mammals and other animals; low toxicity tomost plants; selective, doesn’t harm most beneficial insects.Disadvantages: Rapid breakdown—effective only against insects that come into direct contact with thespray before it dries; phytotoxic to some ornamental plants and houseplants.Soft-bodied mites and sucking insects such as aphids, scale crawlers, white flies and thrips are the most susceptible.Slow-moving insects are more susceptible than highly mobile ones. Enzymes kill most insect pestssafely. Please note even beneficials die if they are sprayed with enzymes. Enzymes are what spiders inject intotheir prey to predigest them; when insects, fungus, molds and mildew are sprayed with enzyme cleaners theyare all quickly controlled. When dry, the enzymes are gone. Enzyme cleaners are also wetting agents - theymake water wetter - fish can drown in water with too much enzyme cleaner so be careful. Enzyme cleaner hasalso been called citrus wash or fruit and vegetable rinse; mixed at a rate of 1 part cleaner to 500 parts of wateryou can wash off (with mechanical scrubbing) powdery mildew and general fungus, bacteria, parasites (protozoansand worms) waxy coatings and surface pesticides. Enzyme cleaners are not sold as pesticides. Enzymecleaners with peppermint and sodium borate can be purchased from Safe Solutions, Inc. at 1-888-443-8738,http://www.safesolutionsinc.com.Insectisafe ® - 1 gal. warm water, 2 T. of vegetable oil, 2 T. dish soap and 1 T. cayenne pepper or peppermintoil. Mix ingredients and pour in spray bottles. Shake continuously as you use to spray and drench insect peststhoroughly. Normally this mix will not harm plants.Inspection - Inside: In order to do a proper inspection to ensure adequate control. Outside: Inspect the entiregarden at least weekly. Check the undersides of leaves and bark. Catch any problems when they first developso they can be more easily controlled. You will need an assortment of tools and equipment: magnifying glass,lights (regular, black and red), monitoring traps, investigative and communication skills, binoculars, mirrors,spatulas, flushing equipment (compressed air aerosol) and protective clothing. Remove and examine all goodsfrom cardboard and paper packages before bringing them inside. Bury, burn or return any infested materialsimmediately. Remember the old adage, “measure twice, cut once?” “Inspect twice; control once.” You willneed to bend, climb, kneel, crawl and think! Remember, 90% of your problem will be found in 10% ofthe area. Do not forget to write it down.Instant Grits - Put instant grits on ant hills and/or near ant path ways. The grits, if still dry, will expand in theant’s bodies and finish them off.Intelligence - You have an unfair advantage over the beasts of the earth, the fowls of the air and the creepingthings; you have greater intelligence. Use it and you win; use pesticides and you lose!Invisible Fencing - can be used to keep dogs contained in a grove, field or orchard so the dogs can chase outnuisance wildlife.Iodine - can be used as a disinfectant and to prevent fungal growth.IPM - True IPM stimulates the natural ecosystem so it takes care of itself.408