Pest Control

We need to worry about what kinds of poisins being used for pest control and their effects on the environment - but remember if not controlled the spread of malaria, yellow fever, west nile virus and bubonic plague are still very much a reality.

Fleas

Adult fleas are not only a nuisance to humans and their pets, but can cause medical problems including flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), tapeworms, secondary skin irritations and, in extreme cases, anemia. Although bites are rarely felt, it is the resulting irritation caused by the flea salivary secretions that varies among individuals. Some may witness a severe reaction (general rash or inflammation) resulting in secondary infections caused by scratching the irritated skin area. Others may show no reaction or irritation acquired after repeated bites over several weeks or months. Most bites usually found on the ankles and legs may cause pain lasting a few minutes, hours or days depending on one's sensitivity. The typical reaction to the bite is the formation of a small, hard, red, slightly-raised (swollen) itching spot. There is a single puncture point in the center of each spot. (Ants and spiders leave two marks when they bite. Mosquitoes, bees, wasps and bedbugs cause a large swelling or welt). Also, fleas may transmit bubonic plague from rodent to rodent and from rodent to humans. Oriental rat fleas can transmit murine typhus (endemic typhus) fever among rats and from rats to humans. Tapeworms normally infest dogs and cats but may appear in children if parts of infested fleas are accidentally consumed.

Life Cycle and Habits - Fleas pass through a complete life cycle consisting of egg, larva, pupa and adult. A typical flea population consists of 50 percent eggs, 35 percent larvae, 10 percent pupae and 5 percent adults. Completion of the life cycle from egg to adult varies from two weeks to eight months depending on the temperature, humidity, food, and species. Normally after a blood meal, the female flea lays about 15 to 20 eggs per day up to 600 in a lifetime usually on the host (dogs, cats, rats, rabbits, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, opossums, foxes, chickens, humans, etc.). Eggs loosely laid in the hair coat, drop out most anywhere especially where the host rests, sleeps or nests (rugs, carpets, upholstered furniture, cat or dog boxes, kennels, sand boxes, etc.). Eggs hatch in two days to two weeks into larvae found indoors in floor cracks & crevices, along baseboards, under rug edges and in furniture or beds. Outdoor development occurs in sandy gravel soils (moist sand boxes, dirt crawlspace under the house, under shrubs, etc.) where the pet may rest or sleep. Sand and gravel are very suitable for larval development which is the reason fleas are erroneously called "sand fleas."

Larvae are blind, avoid light, pass through three larval instars and take a week to several months to develop. Their food consists of digested blood from adult flea feces, dead skin, hair, feathers, and other organic debris. (Larvae do not suck blood.) Pupa mature to adulthood within a silken cocoon woven by the larva to which pet hair, carpet fiber, dust, grass cuttings, and other debris adheres. In about five to fourteen days, adult fleas emerge or may remain resting in the cocoon until the detection of vibration (pet and people movement), pressure (host animal lying down on them), heat, noise, or carbon dioxide (meaning a potential blood source is near). Most fleas overwinter in the larval or pupal stage with survival and growth best during warm, moist winters and spring.

Adult fleas cannot survive or lay eggs without a blood meal, but may live from two months to one year without feeding. There is often a desperate need for flea control after a family has returned from a long vacation. The house has been empty with no cat or dog around for fleas to feed on. When the family and pets are gone, flea eggs hatch and larvae pupate. The adult fleas fully developed inside the pupal cocoon remains in a kind of "limbo" for a long time until a blood source is near. The family returning from vacation is immediately attacked by waiting hungry hordes of fleas. (In just 30 days, 10 female fleas under ideal conditions can multiply to over a quarter million different life stages.)

Newly emerged adult fleas live only about one week if a blood meal is not obtained. However, completely developed adult fleas can live for several months without eating, so long as they do not emerge from their puparia. Optimum temperatures for the flea's life cycle are 70°F to 85°F and optimum humidity is 70 percent. The cat flea is the most common flea in Ohio which feeds on a wide range of hosts.

Mosquitos

Mosquitoes are principally nectar feeders with only the females requiring a meal of blood, except for the Toxorhynchites, which never drinks blood. This family includes the largest of the extant mosquitoes (colloquially referred to as "mosquito eaters" and "mosquitor hawks"), the larvae of which are predatory on the larvae of other mosquitoes. These mosquito eaters have been used in the past as mosquito control agents with variable success.

In the English language, the word Mosquito (Span., little fly) dates back to 1572. The word was adopted to replace the term "biting flies" to prevent confusion with the house fly. It is derived from the word musca (Latin fly, cf. Skt maksh) and is related to the Italian moschetta and the French moustique.

The female mosquito (in almost all species) sucks the blood of mammals, including humans. Mosquito bites often swell up hours after happening, causing a red ringed white bump about a centimeter in diameter. This bump can itch for days and over-scratching the bite can cause it to bleed. Continued over-scratching can cause scars. Mosquito bites can transmit diseases, such as malaria and West Nile Virus, so authorities in many areas take measures to reduce mosquito populations through pesticides or more organic means. An easy way to reduce mosquito populations in a residential area is the removal of standing water (where mosquitoes breed), and the use of repellents, such as DEET.

The females of blood sucking species locate their victims primarily through scent. They are extremely sensitive to the carbon dioxide in exhaled breath, as well as several substances found in sweat. Some people seem to attract mosquitoes more than others. Empirical studies of mosquito bites suggest that the risk of being bitten follows an approximately negative binomial distribution. Being male, being overweight, and having type 'O' blood may increase the risk of being bitten. Mosquitoes can detect heat, so they can find warm-blooded mammals and birds very easily once they get close enough.

Malaria - Malaria is caused by a parasite that is transmitted from one human to another by the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. In humans, the parasites (called sporozoites) migrate to the liver where they mature and release another form, the merozoites. These enter the bloodstream and infect the red blood cells. The parasites multiply inside the red blood cells, which then rupture within 48 to 72 hours, infecting more red blood cells. The first symptoms usually occur 10 days to 4 weeks after infection, though they can appear as early as 8 days or as long as a year later. Then the symptoms occur in cycles of 48 to 72 hours. The majority of symptoms are caused by the massive release of merozoites into the bloodstream, the anemia resulting from the destruction of the red blood cells, and the problems caused by large amounts of free hemoglobin released into the circulation after red blood cells rupture.

The disease is a major health problem in much of the tropics and subtropics. The CDC estimates that there are 300-500 million cases of malaria each year, and more than 1 million people die. It presents a major disease hazard for travelers to warm climates. In some areas of the world, mosquitoes that carry malaria have developed resistance to insecticides, while the parasites have developed resistance to antibiotics. This has led to difficulty in controlling both the rate of infection and spread of this disease. Falciparum malaria, one of four different types of malaria, affects a greater proportion of the red blood cells than the other types and is much more serious. It can be fatal within a few hours of the first symptoms.

West Nile virus - Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds, which may circulate the virus in their blood for a few days. After an incubation period of 5 to 15 days, infected mosquitoes can then transmit West Nile virus to humans and animals while biting to take blood. The virus is located in the mosquito's salivary glands. During blood feeding, the virus is then injected into the animal or human, where it multiplies and may cause illness. West Nile encephalitis is NOT transmitted from person-to-person.

Mosquito Bite Prevention - Mosquitoes are attracted to perspiration, heat, carbon dioxide, and lactic acid. All of these are produced after exercising, so avoid outdoor exercise during peak mosquito hours (at dawn and dusk). Our bodies also release lactic acid after eating certain foods, so avoiding outdoor dining during those hours is helpful, as well. Commonly believed mosquito-attracting foods include bananas (or other potassium-rich food items), and salty foods. Eating bananas or any other high potassium food will leave a trace scent on your sweat and attract mosquitos - so don't feed bananas to your children if they are going to play outside in mosquito infested areas!

Avoid perfumes when outside. Using hand creams and lotions with a sweet scent can also increase your risk of attracting mosquitoes, so go for the unscented varieties during mosquito season. Try using unscented soaps when showering, too. Even though they're rinsed off, the scent remains on your skin and attracts bugs.

Keep a barrier between yourself and mosquitoes by wearing long sleeves and long pants when outdoors at dusk, or in areas with especially high concentration of mosquitoes (woods, swamps, hiking trails). Use screens in all your home's doors and windows during summer months. Skin so Soft, Vicks vapor-rub, Methyl alcohol, and Neet are various mosquito repellants that may smell but work quite well.

Botanical Pest Preventative Altenatives -

• Catnip - Research indicates that nepetalactone, the essential oil in catnip that gives the plant its characteristic odor, is about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET.
• Citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus), and Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), are both traditionally used in various parts of the world as an insect repellant and grows easily in Florida, California, India, Asia, and South America where rainfall is at least 32" a year.
• Neem - Neem Herbal is a broad spectrum botanical insecticide, miticide and fungicide treatment derived from the seeds of the neem tree (Azadirachta Indica). Neem trees are native to India and Burma and are a botanical relative of mahogany. The main active ingredient of Neem Herbal is Azadirachtin. neem has been used for centuries in India for pest control. Neem Herbal is biodegradable. Primary role is of disrupting an insect's metamorphosis. It is most effective on younger stages of an insects development when they have reached their adult form. Best control is achieved when insects populations are light to moderate. It makes an excellent antifeedant and repellant when sprayed on plant foliage. It has an extremely bitter flavor to it shich can make many insects stop feeding on the host plant. It can also suffocate mites, whiteflies, aphids and other types of soft bodied insects on contact. It has also been used for boxelder bugs, armyworms, cabbage loopers, colorado potato beetles, corn ear worms, cutworms, corn borers, tent caterpillars, thrips and many others. It is non-toxic to humans, birds, earthworms or animals. Being an oil it can affect bees if it is actually sprayed on them so it is recommended to use it when bees are not visiting. Once settles, it will not hurt the bees.
• Peppermint oil not only repels adult mosquitoes but also kills the larvae. It was particularly effective against the Anopheles culicifacies mosquito, which is responsible for three-quarters of malaria transmissions in the northern plains of India.
• Pyrethrins - It is the name of a natural insecticide made from the dried flower heads of C. cinerariifolium and C. coccineum. Some members of Chrysanthemum, including these two, are placed in another genus, Tanacetum, by some authorities. Both genera are members of the daisy (or aster) family, Asteraceae. They are perennial plants with a daisy-like appearance and white petals. The flowers are pulverized and the active components called pyrethrins, contained in the seed cases, are extracted and sold in the form of an oleoresin. This is applied as a suspension in water or oil, or as a powder. Pyrethrins attack the nervous systems of all insects, and inhibit female mosquitoes from biting. When not present in amounts fatal to insects, they still appear to have an insect repellent effect. They are harmful to fish, but are far less toxic to mammals and birds than many synthetic insecticides and are non-persistent, being biodegradable and break down easily on exposure to light. They are considered to be amongst the safest insecticides for use around food.
• Rotenone - a contact insecticides but toxic to humans and other mammals. The compound breaks down when exposed to sunlight and usually has a short lifetime (two weeks or less) on land but may last over six months in water. Rotenone is commonly used in powdered form to reduce parasitic mites on chickens and other fowl. It also stuns or kills fish and is used to eradicate exotic fish from their non-native habitats. People have been known to catch fish by extracting rotenone from plants and releasing it into water. The initial such usage was by various indigenous tribes who simply smashed the roots and threw them in the water.
• Some of the plants containing rotenone [Order Fabales; Family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae) - Pea family]:
• Hoary Pea or Goat’s Rue (Tephrosia virginiana) - North America
• Cubé Plant or Lancepod (Lonchocarpus utilis) - South America - the root extract is referred to as Cubé resin
• Barbasco (Lonchocarpus urucu) - South America - the root extract is referred to as Cubé resin
• Tuba Plant (Derris elliptica) - southeast Asia & southwest Pacific islands - the root extract is referred to as Derris or Derris root
• Jewel Vine (Derris involuta) - southeast Asia & southwest Pacific islands - the root extract is referred to as Derris or Derris root

• Demize is an insecticide that contains:
• Piperonyl butoxide - a pesticide synergist. It does not, by itself have pesticidal properties. However, when added to insecticide mixtures, typically pyrethrin, pyrethroid, and carbamate insecticides, their potency is increased considerably. Piperonyl butoxide is moderately stable, and is a semisynthetic derivative of Safrole, which is a colorless or slightly yellow oily liquid extracted from the root-bark or the fruit of sassafras plants in the form of sassafras oil.
• Linalool which is extracted from distillation of essential oils of mainly bois de rose (rosewood), shiu (campher) or coriander. Both the d-, l- and dl-forms of linalool have been described from over two hundred plants, mainly herbs and spices (Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, and Zingiberaceae) but also fruits (Rutaceae and Rosaceae). It has a slight sedative effect on humans and other mammals - otherwise tests have shown it to be safe. Linalool on insects has shown to be an effective, reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (insect growth regulator) and is not carcinogenic or mutagenic. Dimize kills brown dog ticks, fleas and pre-adult fleas for four months, roaches, ants, spiders, lice, crickets, centipedes, waterbutgs, silverfish, and sowbugs. Synonyms for linalool are:
• 3,7-Dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol
• Linalyl alcohol
• allo-Ocimenol
• 2,6-Dimethyl-2,7-octadien-6-ol
• Licareol (l-Linalool)
• Coriandrol (d-Linalool)

• Other botanicals - include citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, pennyroyal oil, balsam, lavender oil, calendula, comfrey, rosemary, tea tree oil and yucca.

Feeding pets - Garlic, brewer's yeast or B vitamins has not been shown to be completely effective against fleas. Pennyroyal, eucalyptus, rosemary, tea leaves and citronella have also not provided effective control. In fact, overdosing of garlic or onion can be irritating or toxic to pets. Try bathing pets with Rosemary or thyme provides temporary relief.

Other Pests

Ants and Roaches - Set out a dish containing equal parts sugar and boric acid. Ants and Roaches are attracted to the sugar, and the boric acid is ingested drying them out from the inside leaving a dessicated shell. Caution - boric acid will yellow whatever it touches and is unsafe to leave around children!

Four Thieves Vinegar

Use equal parts of one handful of each of the following herbs:

• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Rue (Orange or Grapefruit peels will also work)
• Fennel (peppermint will also work)
• Lavender
• Sage (mugwort or wormwood)
• Hyssop
• Garlic cloves

Place herbs in a 1 quart glass jar and cover completely with cider vinegar. Cold infuse (let sit at room temperature in a cool place) for six weeks and then strain off herbs. Use as a wash or spray in heavily infested areas.

Common sense advice about Traveling!

• Get Immunization before moving, traveling, or visiting new regions - Make sure you have clean food, water and first aid supplies as there is may be less access to clean water and more insect-borne diseases.
• Beware of walking barefoot in internal fresh waters where unfamiliar species like soil and water parasites live.
• Eat only hot, well cooked food and fruit you can peel - don't eat local foods you are unsure of having been cooked properly.
• Remain vigilant about food and water - Treat all water like it's contaminated. Take your own water bottle and refill it from a clean source; use it to brush your teeth.
• Wash hands frequently - parasites are ingested by hand-to-mouth contact as well as through bites. Insects like mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, mites, lice and other parasites not only bite or cause skin irritation - but usually leave their waste behind which gets spread into the bite and also cause diseases in food, water and soil.
• Avoid using perfumes and fragrant soaps - when venturing outdoors on outings or trips ... they will attract insects.
• Wash and clean yourself as much as possible - Fungal infections fester in hot climates; also, cuts and wounds are more prone to infection.
• Listen to locals - who know about toxic plants, dangerous animals and unsafe places.

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