How to Eliminate Ants, Flies, Mice & Cockroaches
Where Household Pests Hide and the Best Ways to Get Rid of Them
Apr 8, 2009
Ants, houseflies, mice and cockroaches can be unwelcome nuisances during warmer months. Homeowners need to take action now to find and control these pests.
Ants
Ants are attracted into kitchens by stray crumbs that fall on the floor. Common ants vary in color and size and are constricted or pinched-in at the waistline. Ants exist just about everyplace on Earth, except for Antarctica.
These relentless creatures crawl over any food they can reach, spoil it for human consumption, and carry small bits back to their nests. They spread various organisms as they crawl over clean food surfaces. Many of the organisms they deposit are pathogenic, meaning they are capable of carrying disease.
The best method for ridding a house of ants is to locate the nest and destroy it. If it is an outdoor nest, find it, dig it up and pour boiling water into it. This is the most effective and environmentally safe way to destroy the nest. If the nest is inside the house, look for it within a wall, under floor covering, or in an out-of-the-way place.
Use an environmentally friendly remedy that destroys ants naturally, either diatomaceous earth or silica aerogel. Diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic, inert material containing useful minerals that, while harmless to humans and other warm-blooded animals, is hazardous to ants. Silica aerogel is a non-abrasive, chemically inert substance used as a dehydrating agent and can be purchased from most florists.
Houseflies
Houseflies breed in decaying organic matter such as rotting vegetables and garbage. Flies need sugars, proteins and water to survive. Sugar is their most important need and they die more quickly when they cannot find any.
To get rid of houseflies, make sure all garbage is properly bagged, sealed and removed from the house. Screens should be used in all windows and doors. Don't keep pet food sitting in bowls on the floor or counters. Dispose of any type of pet droppings quickly. Use an environmentally friendly spray that specifically targets flying insects if the problem persists.
Mice
Common house mice feed on meat products, cereal, seeds, fruits and vegetables. They contaminate food, ruin fabrics and wood and have been known to transmit diseases either by biting or infecting food with droppings. Indirectly, they can infect humans through pets if fleas have transferred from the mice to the pets. Mice can hide in walls, drawers and cabinets.
To eliminate these rodents, seal holes in walls, floors or foundations. Ordinary mousetraps or reusable smart (no kill) traps are sufficient to control mice if there are only a few. Place the traps near the entry point at right angles to the walls. Spread peanut butter over the trigger surface of a trap as an added enticement.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are long, ugly, have two whip-like antennae and two pairs of wings. They range in color from pale to red-brown to almost black. The cockroach prefers meals of cereals, meat products and any sweet substance. They will also feed on wall paper, hair, leather and dead animals. Moisture, warmth and food are the three things they need to survive.
Cockroaches typically can be found under the kitchen sink, in cracks in cabinets and cupboards, behind window and door frames, on the underside of tables and chairs and in closets and on bookshelves. Clean housekeeping and the proper use of boric acid should eliminate the problem.
Regardless of the type of pest, there is a way to find it and eliminate it. For more information on environmentally friendly remedies, visit the Environmental Protection Agency web site.
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