Identifying a Fire Ant

In their nest, this stinging species of ant varies in size – from 1/16 to 1/5 inch long. Their head and body are dark reddish brown with a darker underside. They build and live in mounds that can reach more than 15 inches high, 15 inches in diameter, and up to five feet deep [1]. Disturb their activities or come too close to their nest and they are extremely aggressive. Fire ants will swarm over anything that poses a threat to the nest, including wild animals, pets, and humans. In some cases, an attack can result in a death.

In the United States, fire ants sting 20 million people in a year. They live in regions throughout Alabama, Florida, California, Kansas, Maryland, and Puerto Rico. According to Texas A&M University, fire ants cause the state of Texas an estimated $1 billion in damages on a yearly basis.

If a fire ant bites you, expect painful stings that eventually turn into a small welt. Multiple bites will result in clusters that resemble a rash.

Fire Ant Home Remedies

When it comes to controlling fire ants, the best approach is one drenched in patience. While some fire ant infestations take a couple of hours to calm down, others include weeks or months of work. It is important to treat or remove all fire ant mounds because missing even the smallest of colonies can result in a reinfestation that kicks off in less than one year. A couple of suggestions on how to win the battle against these blazing pests include the following home remedies for fire ants:

a) Target Only Fire Ants:

When fire ants become an issue, it’s common for homeowners to launch a full assault on all ants, but keep in mind – other ants contribute to the slowing down of fire ant populations, such as cutting down their food supply. Make sure you only target fire ants when using home remedies.

b) Dry Ice:

Slip into a pair of work gloves to safely insert a piece of dry ice into the top of a fire ant mound. It is your goal to kill the queen and most of the worker ants with this negative 110-degree approach.

c) Shovel:

During the winter season, you can still fight fire ants. With shovel in hand, dig up mounds and toss them downwind as far as possible. Refill the mound with new soil. After the sun sets and overall temperatures drop, the ants left above ground will die.

d) Lye:

If you happen to have a bar of lye soap in your house, melt ½ bar and add to five gallons of water. Remember, when handling lye, it is important to wear rubber gloves and protect your eyes. Pour the mixture into a fire ant mound for a remedy that’s also safe for the environment.

e) Urine:

Human urine has a knack for turning off fire ants. In some cases, pouring the liquid on and around mounds have encouraged some colonies to set up shop elsewhere.

f) Spearmint:

If you don’t mind the scent or spreading of spearmint in your yard, plant the herb close to an infestation, which some say repels fire ants.

g) Hot Water:

If you only have one or two mounds in your yard, dig up the colony and deposit a 5-gallon bucket of hot, soapy water. Allow the water to sit for 24 hours. Hopefully, the hotness of the water mixed with the soap will scald the ants. Keep in mind that ants can survive underwater for up to 14 days, so the key to this method is using boiling hot water. When disturbing the nest, stay alert to prevent a swarm of fire ants from stinging you.

h) Remove Their Scent Trails:

Fire ants use scent trails to find their way back home. Right before a downpour and before the ants have returned underground, dig up the ants and toss them as far as you can. Make sure that you transport the ants downwind. When it rains, their scent trails will wash out and most of them will not be able to find their way back to their home. Oftentimes, this method must be repeated.

i) Fire Ant Bait:

If you’re looking for a homemade bait to lure fire ants to their end or make traps enticing enough for pests to bite, you can a) mix equal parts of borax and granulated sugar, b) create a mixture of corn syrup and borax, or c) combine peanut butter and boric acid (15%) in a jar lid.

j) Diatomaceous Earth:

Comprised of silicate shells belonging to microscopic sea creatures called diatoms, fire ants become dehydrated after coming in contact with the razor-sharp edges of these shell fragments. Damaging the exoskeleton and disrupting the waxy coating of the ants, they can suffer dehydration within 12 to 24 hours.

[1] http://www.fireant.net/

Symptoms of a Bee Sting

A bee sting causes the skin to become red, swollen, intensely painful, and plagued with a burning sensation. In some cases, severe allergic reactions take place, where victims of bee stings suffer difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing, swollen eyes and mouth, and disorientation. In the worst instances, unconsciousness or death is a possibility.

Bee Sting Home Remedies

When attacked by a bee, one of the first things to do is carefully remove the stinger – making sure not to squeeze it. This will avoid the excessive transfer of allergic chemicals into the body. Other home remedies for bee stings known to calm the pain and encourage healing include:

a) Toothpaste:

To ease the burning sensation of a bee sting, apply toothpaste.

b) Sugar:

To prevent a bee sting from leaving behind a scar, rub granulated sugar over the affected site.

c) Raw Onion:

Prevent infection and help draw out toxins by rubbing a slice of raw onion on a bee sting.

d) Meat Tenderizer:

Neutralize bee sting poison in a couple of minutes by applying meat tenderizer to the site – the kind that you use for cooking.

e) Baking Soda And Vinegar:

To remove the stinger of a bee, place baking soda on a sting and then pour vinegar over the baking soda until the powder disappears. The bubbling effect will draw out the poison and help ease out the stinger.

f) Parsley:

Apply freshly crushed parsley to a bee sting and rub it in, which helps ease pain and neutralize the poison.

g) Ammonia:

Beekeepers usually keep a highly diluted solution of ammonia in a spray bottle nearby for treating bee stings.

h) Basil:

Crush fresh basil leaves and apply directly to a bee sting to ease symptoms.

i) Apple Cider Vinegar:

Tame the sensation of a bee wound by rubbing apple cider vinegar quickly after suffering a sting.

j) Baking Soda:

Mix baking soda with water to create a thick paste that will soothe bee stings when directly applied to the skin.

k) Papaya:

Cut a slice of fresh papaya and apply to a bee sting for one hour.

l) Mud:

Add dirt to a small amount of water to create a mud pack that attaches to the stinger and easily pulls it out, as well as reduces swelling.

m) Window Cleaner [1] :

Reduce the swelling and pain of a bee sting by applying on a bit of spray-on window cleaner after removing the stinger. Choose a product that contains ammonia, but stay away from concentrated selections.

Resources

[1] Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things by Reader’s Digest; pg. 385

What are Sand Fleas?

While the sand flea looks like an insect, it’s actually a crustacean that chooses to lay its eggs in rotting seaweed [1]. Found in parts of the Mediterranean, southern Asia, India, South America, and Africa, the sand flea also resides in Florida and other parts of the United States. Munching on organic and decaying plants, it’s easy to come in contact with a sand flea since beach seaweed is a favorite meal for the pests. Whenever seaweed washes ashore, large numbers of sand fleas can gather to feast.

The sand flea measures less than 1/8 of an inch (3 mm) long, making it pretty tricky to pinpoint in sandy beaches. Ranging in color from pale to brownish in color, the flea looks quite similar to a shrimp-like creature. Equipped with long legs, the flea swims or jumps to its next destination. Sand fleas bite, causing an uncomfortable setting for beachgoers during the evening, nighttime, and dawn hours of the day. Other places that sand fleas frequent include swamplands, creeks, lakebeds, and wetlands.

Sand Flea Fever

While a sand flea bite is not particularly painful, it is the allergic reaction accompanied by intense itching that makes many people feel uncomfortable. The bites can also cause welts and lesions in some victims that last for hours. Some red welts measure one to two inches wide [2]. The itching drives individuals to scratch, which can sometimes lead to infection.

To make matters worse, there’s people who develop sand flea fever – often battling sores that resemble volcanoes with raised edges and centralized craters. Over time, the size and appearance of the sores will change. Other symptoms of sand flea fever include headache, feverishness, flushed face, chills, muscle and joint aches, shivering, and bloodshot eyes.

Sand Flea Home Remedies

The main threat of sand fleas is the itching they cause with their bites. To encourage a speedy recovery and tame an itch attack, consider the following home remedies for sand flea bites:

a) Hydrocortisone Cream 1%:

Somewhere in the back of your medicine cabinet, you may have a tube of hydrocortisone cream. It’s the kind of cream that knocks out itchiness, but can also take care of the redness and inflammation of bites.

b) Garlic:

Cut a clove of garlic in half and directly rub onto a sand flea bite. Safe to use on both adults and children, you can easily put an end to itchy skin.

c) Calamine Lotion:

This popular standby for mosquito bites also takes care of sand flea bites.

d) Baking Soda and Water:

If you don’t have any calamine lotion on hand, mix baking soda and water to create a smooth paste to spread across your bites.

e) Salt:

Mix a small amount of water and one teaspoon of salt to treat sand flea bites. Dab on a bit of the remedy. Do not use a towel to wipe or dry off. While the water dries, the salt residue remains to fight itching. Another remedy – take a dip in saltwater to calm the itchiness of sand flea bites.

f) Aloe Vera:

A window shelf aloe plant comes in handy when sand fleas have bitten you. Break a small piece off of the plant and rub on a bite or infected skin.

g) Citrus Juices:

Bitter-tasting juices possess components that can ease sand flea bites, including lemon juice and lime juice.

h) Hydrogen Peroxide:

When a scab forms on a sand flea bite, create a 50/50 mix of hydrogen peroxide and betadine solution. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture and dab around the wound.

i) Rubbing Alcohol:

When no scab has formed, clean a bite site with rubbing alcohol and follow up with an application of antibacterial ointment.

j) Powdered Milk:

When the itch of sand flea bites are driving you crazy, create a paste out of one part powdered milk and two parts water with a pinch of salt. Dab onto bites for relief. The enzymes contained in the milk powder help to neutralize allergens associated with the sand flea.

k) Chest Rub:

Provide immediate relief for itchy bug bites with a layer of chest rub (like Vicks Vaporub) – thanks to the menthol and eucalyptus contained in the product [3].

Resources

[1] http://www.flea-i.com/sand-fleas.html
[2] http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk/stings.htm
[3] Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things by Reader’s Digest; pg. 123

What is a Bed Bug?

Feeding on the blood of warm-blooded creatures, bed bugs are small, wingless insects that wait until nighttime before painlessly stealing away a few drops of blood [1]. During the feeding process, a miniscule amount of their saliva enters the skin, which causes victims to suffer skin reactions. Bites tend to occur around the arms, hands, neck, torso, and even the face.

Symptoms

People with skin sensitivities and individuals with repeated exposure to bed bugs walk away with mild to severe allergic responses. For some, bed bug bites look nothing more than mosquito bites, and are hard to tell apart. In other cases, the frequency or cluster of bites often alert victims to a bed bug attack, but can also be mistaken for a severe rash. Welts or red lesions are a common bodily reaction to bed bug bites, where scratching intensifies bites in size and level of itchiness.

Bed Bug Bite Home Remedies

A bed bug bite can last from a couple of days to a few weeks, which all depends on the allergic sensitivities of a victim. At first, the itching will subside, followed by the fading away of the bite mark. To speed up the process and ease unbearable itching, consider the following home remedies for bed bug bites:

a) Soap and Water:

Clean bed bug bites with antibacterial soap and water to prevent bacteria from entering broken skin.

b) Calamine Lotion:

Offering protection for the skin, calamine lotion dries out the bites, promotes healing, and calms itchiness.

c) Cool Water:

Rinse bed bug bites with cool water to take some of the sting out of itchy skin and calm down any swelling.

d) Ice:

Treat swollen and itchy skin by applying ice to cool the bites, decrease inflammation, and ease your desire to scratch. Press an ice cube on and off the skin for a couple of minutes throughout the day for relief. Some people reduce their chances of frostbitten skin by wrapping ice in a towel to create a cool compress.

e) Oatmeal:

Add powdered oatmeal to a lukewarm bath and soak to reduce the irritation of itchy skin.

f) Salt and Baking Soda:

Relieve the discomfort and itchiness of bed bug bites by mixing equal parts of baking soda and salt with enough water to make a thick paste. Apply to bites when needed.

g) Alka-Seltzer:

Treat the itch of bed bug bites by dipping a cotton ball into a ½ glass of water containing two Alka-Seltzer tablets and applying to bites. If you are allergic to aspirin, do not try this remedy.

Resources

[1] http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/bedbugs/#what
[2] Reader’s Digest Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things; pg 38

Why is the Chipmunk a Nuisance?

There are 25 recognized species of chipmunk with one species dwelling in both northeastern and eastern North America with the rest native to western North America. Western chipmunks only breed one time per year. However, Eastern chipmunks are quite abundant, mating in early spring and again in early summer, bringing litters of four or five offspring into the world each year. Because of their numbers, they can wreak havoc on occasion.

The burrowing of their holes drives homeowners crazy, especially when close to gardens and flowerbeds. They also have the power to loosen retaining walls and foundations. While the diet of a chipmunk usually consists of nuts, bird eggs, small frogs, fungi, worms, and insects – they do eat berries, flowers, and grain. They are also notorious for raiding birdfeeders. At the start of autumn, many species start collecting food in their burrows – sometimes interfering with the equilibrium of the human-animal power struggle.

Chipmunk Home Remedies

For a backyard or garden overrun by chipmunks, people have come up with ingenious traps for taking control of their outdoor spaces. However, one of the most popular home remedies for chipmunks requires an individual with a strong stomach to truly pull it off. Some people have filled buckets with water and camouflaged the watery ambush with a thick layer of floating sunflower seeds. A board is propped up against the bucket, tempting chipmunks to plunge in, where they cannot get out of the bucket and drown.

A more humane method of trapping chipmunks is to fill the bucket with a small amount of water – enough to keep their heads up without drowning. Tape a piece of paper about six inches from the top of the bucket. Cover with sunflower seeds. The weight of the chipmunk breaks the paper and it will fall. This time, the water will only contain the critter, not kill it. The more laborious part of this trap is draining the water and later releasing your unwanted friend into the wild.

Willing to compromise and only looking to curb a chipmunk’s behavior?

Other chipmunk home remedies include:

a) Used Cat Litter:

When nuts and other seeds are scarce, a chipmunk may disrupt the bulbs of spring flowering plants. Keep chipmunks away by sprinkling used cat litter around the base of flower plants or close to bulbs. The chipmunk may fear a lingering cat in the vicinity.

b) Cayenne Pepper:

Want to keep chipmunks from ruining your flowers? Add two tablespoons of cayenne pepper to one quart of boiling hot water. Allow the mixture to steep until cooled off. After draining the liquid through cheesecloth, transfer into a spray bottle and apply to buds when they start to flower.

c) Fire Water:

In a blender, add black pepper, whole chilies, and cayenne pepper. Add the ingredients to watering can filled with water. Around the base of your plants, saturate the soil with this fiery solution.

d) Hair Clippings:

A handful of gardening books have mentioned sprinkling human hair clippings into the holes of chipmunks. Make sure that they are short and not long.

e) Expanding Foam Insulation:

To deter chipmunk activity, fill burrow holes in your yard with expanding foam insulation.

f) Castor Oil and Dish Detergent:

Place one tablespoon each of liquid dish soap and natural Baar castor oil into a blender and mix until it reaches a consistency similar to shaving cream. Add six tablespoons of water to the blender. Mix again. In a watering can, add two tablespoons of the remedy with two gallons of water. Sprinkle over the holes in your yard and garden spaces. The ingredients work as a chipmunk repellent.

g) Thistle Seeds:

If you’re mad that chipmunks are taking all the food out of your bird feeder, use thistle seeds instead of sunflower seeds.

Identifying a Wasp

Wasps belong to the order Hymenoptera, suborder Apocrita, which represents yellow jackets, bees, hornets, and even ants. They dwell in all 50 states. Some of the most common wasps are the yellow jacket and hornet, which live in groups, colonies, and in temperate climates. But, not all wasps live in groups. There are solitary species, like the mud wasp, which builds a nest in the crevices of windows and paralyzes smaller insects they bring back to their nest.

Hornets are usually black with some yellow marking found on the head and thorax. They use trees, bushes and buildings for the construction of their paper-like homes. Yellow jackets display black and yellow stripes on the abdomen. They choose to live underground in nests built during the springtime [1]. Especially beware of the yellow jacket, which is known to aggressively attack.

Causes and Symptoms

Wasps typically sting people and animals when they feel threatened or their nest (or territory) is disturbed. During the months that provide mild or warm temperatures, the risk of being stung by a wasp increases. The disturbance of a nest is greater at this time, as you clean up your yard, rake the leaves, trim bushes, and clean windows. Disrupting a hidden nest can lead to multiple wasp stings as the insects attempt to defend their territory. Other risk factors for wasp stings include:

• Wearing perfume, hairspray, soaps, deodorants, and sunscreen with a scent
• Bright colors, especially floral designs
• Rotting fruit from trees
• Open garbage pails
• Isolated settings, like partially closed wooden sheds

If stung, mild irritation and pain usually set in. Swelling, redness, itching, a local infection, and skin hives are also common responses to a wasp sting. However, extreme reactions indicate an allergy. It is important to monitor your symptoms. Sadly, wasp stings are responsible for 90 to 100 deaths per year.

Wasp Sting Home Remedies

Treating a wasp sting at home is an easy task with plenty of remedies found in your kitchen cabinet, medicine chest and refrigerator. However, if you experience excessive pain, nausea or vomiting after a sting, seeking medical attention is a must. When no severe reactions are present, make sure to periodically sterilize the sting site with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide after trying out one of the following home remedies for wasp stings:

a) Butter Knife:

One of the first things you must do in order to treat a wasp sting is remove the stinger. A dull butter knife can come in handy. Simply scrape it against your skin in the opposite direction that the stinger entered your skin.

b) Apple Cider Vinegar:

Use the acid found in apple cider vinegar to neutralize the venom of a wasp sting. Soak a cotton pad with the vinegar and place on the sting site until the pain fades.

c) Ice:

After removing the stinger, reduce swelling by placing two to three ice cubes in a washcloth and pressing over the sting site. Apply ice packs to the skin for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.

d) Tylenol or Aspirin:

Ease the pain of a sting by taking an over-the-counter product that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

e) Penny:

An old wives tale? It is said that the copper found in a penny has the power to counteract the sting of a wasp. Tape a penny to the skin and wait 15 minutes before removing.

f) Meat Tenderizer:

Treat a wasp sting with a paste made out of meat tenderizer and water. Make sure that the tenderizer used is unseasoned.

g) Basil:

Release the natural oils of basil by crushing a fresh leaf or two. Directly press to the sting site and hold in place for five minutes.

h) Tweezers:

Make sure to remove all remnants of a wasp stinger from your skin by using a pair of slant tip tweezers.

i) Aloe Vera Gel:

Speed up the healing process and enjoy soothing relief by applying aloe vera gel.

j) Hydrocortisone Cream:

To lessen the threat of suffering an allergic reaction, reach into your medicine cabinet for a topical hydrocortisone cream.

k) Baking Soda:

Soothe an irritated sting site by applying baking soda. Another option is to mix equal parts of baking soda and vinegar to create a paste for the skin.

l) Lemon:

The acid of lemons neutralizes the venom of wasp stings. Apply a few drops of lemon juice or hold a fresh slice of lemon over the sting site to eradicate pain.

m) Garlic:

Treat a wasp sting by crushing a fresh clove of garlic and applying to the sting site. Cover with a Band-Aid and allow the natural healing effects to take place.

n) Cucumber:

Fight the pain of a wasp sting by placing a freshly sliced piece of cucumber over the sting site and hold in place until relief comes to the rescue.

o) Potato:

Slice a potato and place the cut side of one half directly on your wasp sting. Hold the potato in place to enjoy instant pain relief.

p) Onion:

After removing the stinger, cut an onion in half and gently rub on the sting site. Within five minutes, the swelling, redness and pain should subside. The onion also contains helpful antibacterial properties.

q) Mud:

Have you ever heard that you can treat the irritation of a wasp sting by applying mud to the skin?

r) Preparation-H:

Treat the itchiness of a wasp sting with Preparation-H.

s) Olive Oil:

To increase the rate of healing and gain pain relief, rub olive oil on a wasp sting.

Resources

[1] http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/169324-overview

What are Fruit Flies?

During the late summer and early fall season, fruit flies are most active, looking for fruits and other nourishment to feast upon during the harvest season. Measuring a mere 1/8-inch in length (including the wings), the fruit fly is characterized by bright red eyes with a light yellow to tan body color. Preferring a diet of yeast, fruit flies ignore unripe fruit and go straight for rotting and overly ripe selections [1]. They will also frequent drains, garbage, and damp organic materials.

Fruit Flies Home Remedies

People often blame the grocery store where they bought their fruits and vegetables from for their fruit fly problem, but most times, the fly has entered your home from the great outdoors. In order to gain back control of your living spaces, consider the following home remedies for fruit flies:

a) Remove Overripe Fruit:

One of the easiest ways to deter fruit flies is to avoid leaving overripe or damaged fruit in the open. If you have a habit of using a bowl of fruit as a decorative centerpiece or kitchen table staple, don’t forget to periodically inspect the condition of your fruit.

b) Rubbing Alcohol:

To rid your kitchen of annoying fruit flies, fill a fine-misting spray bottle with rubbing alcohol [2]. Using just a little mist of the alcohol puts them out of their misery. They fall to the floor, where you can easily sweep them up. Parents tend to favor this method because it provides a much safer alternative to insecticides.

c) Apple Cider:

Set a trap that a fruit fly cannot refuse by filling an old jar to the halfway point with apple cider. After punching a few holes into the lid, screw on and place in any room within your house. The fruit flies are allowed to enter the jar, but will not be able to escape.

d) Basil:

Placing a pot of basil on a windowsill or table where fruit flies frequent will help lessen the number of fruit flies.

e) Soap:

Did you know that dry soap can act as a repellent for fruit flies? Simply sprinkle a little bit in garbage cans and anywhere else the pests like to hover about.

f) Lavender

Use lavender to deter fruit flies. A couple of suggestions include scattering the herb about your home, distributing oils in a burner, or hanging bunches of lavender close to open doors and windows. You may also repel the pests by soaking a sponge in a saucer filled with lavender oil and setting in a room where fruit flies frequent.

g) Chili And Vinegar:

Do you have fruit trees in your backyard that place you at a disadvantage during the summertime? Mix 2 ounces of beer, 1 ½ quarts of water, 4 chopped jalapenos, and 2 cloves of garlic in a pot to create a decent outdoor home remedy for fruit flies. Add all the ingredients to a pot, cover, and boil for five minutes. Allow the mixture to sit in the pot for 24 hours. Add ½ cup of vinegar to the mix. Strain well. Transport the liquid to a sprayer and apply to the leaves of your fruit trees, making sure to avoid any blossoms.

h) Fly Strips:

For high populations of fruit flies, cut down numbers by hanging fly strips that offer a sticky solution on both sides.

i) Mind Your Mess:

Fruit flies are also attracted to soiled sponges; old, damp dish rags; as well as food and drink spills so mind your messes and don’t let your garbage overflow if you wish to control your fruit fly problem.

j) Wine Trap:

Fill a saucer with white wine and add a bit of detergent to it. Leave the saucer in a room where fruit flies frequent. They will sip on the wine and expire due to the wine causing ‘gut rot’ in pests.

k) Clean Your Kitchen:

Since fruit flies are attracted to mold and moisture, keeping your kitchen clean is a must. Even the slightest sign of old fruit pieces, peels, and open fruit act like a beacon for these pests.

l) Open Your Window:

Fruit flies dislike the cold and wind, therefore open your windows to allow fresh air to circulate throughout the room.

Resources

[1] http://www.discovery.com/area/skinnyon/skinnyon970718/skinny1.html

[2] Reader’s Digest Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things; pg 279

What is a Chigger?

A chigger is a harvest (or larval) mite that enjoys feasting on the blood out of its victims [1]. Measuring about 1/20 inch long, the chigger is a bright red, hairy critter that has the ability to travel pretty fast. Instead of burrowing in the skin like other mites, chiggers insert their mouthparts into a skin pore or hair follicle [2]. Small, reddish welts oftentimes appear on the skin accompanied by intense itching and irritation. Some victims liken a chigger bite to an acute case of poison ivy or poison sumac.

Chiggers usually target the waist, ankles, or warm folds of skin on humans. If you live close to woody areas, orchards, or berry patches – chances are greater of suffering chigger bites. They also prey on campers, picnickers, hikers, bird watchers, and fishermen. The worst time of the year for chigger bites is early in the summertime, when grass, weeds and other vegetation have started to spread out in growth.

Symptoms of a Chigger Bite

The primary symptoms of a chigger bite include [3]:

• Severe itching
• Redness
• Pimple-like bumps (called papules)
• Hives
• Skin rash during sun exposure

Chigger Bite Home Remedies

If you plan on hiking in the woods or picking blackberries in a nearby meadow, keep in mind that what you can’t see will hurt you. Chiggers are so small that it takes a microscope to detect an infestation. Thank goodness for home remedies that can ease the discomfort of an unfortunate encounter with chigger bites, including:

a) Neosporin:

Rub Neosporin ointment or any other antibacterial ointment hidden in your bathroom cabinet on chigger bites to speed up the healing process and prevent infection.

b) Ace Bandage:

To reduce the itching of chigger bites, wrap an Ace bandage over affected areas to cut off the air supply that contributes to itchy skin.

c) Aspirin:

Moisten an aspirin tablet and gently rub over chigger bites to ease pain and lessen the itch.

d) Nail Polish:

When chigger welts appear, dab on a bit of nail polish to keep children (and adults) from scratching at their bites.

e) Elmer’s Glue:

While dabbing nail polish on chigger bites has worked wonders for some victims trying to beat itchy skin, others have turned to an easier-to-remove method – applying Elmer’s Glue to bites.

f) Hair Dryer:

Treat itchy skin by holding a handheld hair blow dryer (on a high setting) a couple of inches away from a bite for a few seconds. Once the heated sensation fades away, hopefully so will your itch.

g) Baking Soda:

Thoroughly clean your chigger bites with soap and water, followed up with an application of baking soda and water paste.

h) Listerine:

Clean infected chigger bites with hot water and soap. Soon after, dab on Listerine mouthwash, which contains hasbenzoic acid and an alcohol/water solution much similar to the chigger bite products found on the market (like Chiggerex).

i) Baby Oil:

While in the shower, gently scrub or use a dry brush on the skin to massage the skin. Follow up with a coat of baby oil after patting dry the skin.

j) Choice of Clothing:

The kind of clothing you choose to wear when enjoying the outdoors can prevent additional chigger bites during the healing process. Since dark colors (especially navy blue and black) are said to attract chiggers, wear light colored clothing. If you’re planning on braving overgrown patches of grass, don’t forget to lace up a tall pair of boots.

k) Castor Oil:

After taking a shower, rub pure castor oil on your chigger bites.

l) Vicks Vapor Rub:

Put an end to itchy chigger bites by rubbing Vicks Vapor Rub on affected areas, which contains methanol – an ingredient known to relieve itching.

Resources

[1] http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=chigger
[2] http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2100.html
[3] http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001333.htm

Diagnosing a Bee Problem

Bees come out of hiding when the plants they are attracted to begin to bloom. For example, some honeybees are active in the springtime when maples are in bloom [1]. Bees that pollinate berries are seen a bit later. Those that pollinate squashes are seen even later. Before you purchase heavy-duty spray or hire an exterminator, it is important to assess whether or not this is a serious problem or a temporary issue you can solve with a home remedy.

Diagnosing a bee problem means determining if you have encountered foraging bees, a swarm in transit, or a colony that has already been established. If you have detected an increased population of bees in your yard or around your house, sometimes there is no need to panic. Foraging bees will visit your yard in search of nectar and/or pollen. You should expect this sort of activity if you have a lot of flowers on your property.

A cluster of bees hanging on a tree is most likely using your yard as a rest stop. Swarms of bees can create a visual ranging in size from a baseball to larger than a football. Swarming bees have left their original colony and wish to find a new home. Some swarms will move on within a couple of hours or choose to stay for a few days. Witnessing this practice is quite a sight, as tens of thousands of bees usually make up a swarm. Since the bees are in transit and have nothing to defend, they are typically harmless [2].

However, if the swarm has lingered for about a week or so, and you can detect edges of wax honeycombs sticking out of the cluster – the bees have decided to make your tree their new, permanent residence. Quick action is required or the colony will continue to grow, causing more problems for you in the future.

Bee Home Remedies

There’s nothing worse than a painful bee sting in the summertime, especially if you possess an allergy. Whether you’re outside trying to enjoy the nice weather or want to eliminate the threat of a bee sting in the house, consider the following home remedies:

a) Vacuum Cleaner:

If a nest in your home is relatively new, you can use a vacuum to disturb a fresh colony that usually consists of a queen and about 20 bees. This approach is most effective in the early evening when bees have returned to the nest. They are also quite slow at this time.

b) Threaten Water Sources:

Water plays an essential role in honey making for bees. Under normal circumstances, bees enjoy natural locations with little disturbance. However, during hot weather, some of these resources dry up and the bees must look elsewhere. Cut down on bee activity by draining or emptying water resources that are not in use, such as a kiddie pool after its use or flowerpots that have filled with rainwater.

c) Newspaper and Expanding Foam:

To protect the inside of a hollow tree truck, use crumpled newspaper as a partial filler. Complete the job with expanding foam.

d) Aluminum Foil:

The sweetness of summertime drinks is irresistible to bees that have a reputation of swarming a nice glass of lemonade. Tightly cover the top of your glass with a piece of aluminum foil. Poke a straw through the foil for easy access.

e) Hair Spray:

Use water-soluble hair spray to exterminate a bee that has infiltrated the inside of your home. Simply aim and squirt the offending pest [3].

f) Check the Outside of Your Home:

Inspect the outside of your home for openings in the wood and other material where bees may find entrance. Fill them with caulk or fix holes.

g) Mothballs:

While it will look pretty ridiculous, try repelling bees by hanging socks or pantyhose in your yard, each containing a couple of mothballs.

h) Smoke:

Burn wood or paper underneath a beehive to create smoke, which will send bees flying away without killing them. This approach is best completed in the middle of the night.

i) Paint Your Home:

If you fear an infestation of carpenter bees, which can literally eat you out of house and home, it is suggested to paint your house, as they are attracted to old and weathered wood. Also, make sure that the paint stays in good condition.

Resources

[1] http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312800/bee.htm
[2] http://bees.ucr.edu/pestbees.html#diagnose
[3] Reader’s Digest Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things; pg 181

What are Slugs?

Simply put, a slug is a snail without the shell. Both are mollusks that use a slimy substance to travel in and about the ground, in search for their next meal. Slugs eat mature plants, young seedlings, fungus, fruit, and vegetables. They destroy cabbage, lettuce, strawberry, and tomato plants. They cause ornamental and flower gardens to wither, especially lilies, dahlias, salvia, and marigolds.

Slugs are most active during the nighttime, when skies are cloudy, and immediately after a rainstorm. Any other time, they are hiding under loose leaves, at the bottom of planting beds, and under rocks. Since wet conditions are prime for the development of a slug, they are found out and about anywhere from when the ground thaws in the springtime until it freezes in the fall [1].

Slug Home Remedies

The practice of using home remedies to get rid of slugs is nothing new. Cabbage leaves to rocks to wet newspaper have all been used to attract slugs, where protective barriers comprised of ash, lime, and coal tar have helped keep slugs out of gardens. When you’re faced with a slug problem, consider the handful of popular approaches listed below:

a) Ashes:

Around your garden, create a border of ashes to deter slugs. The ashes adhere to the bodies of the slugs, which draws away their moisture.

b) Salt:

Sprinkle salt on slugs and they won’t live too much longer to do any damage to your plants.

c) Aluminum Foil:

When slugs have attacked your garden full of cucumbers and other vegetables, mix strips of aluminum foil with your garden mulch to keep slugs away [2].

d) Sandpaper:

Keep slugs out of your potted plants by placing used sanding disks underneath the base of your pots. Make sure the sandpaper is wider than the pot base.

e) Crushed Eggshells:

Eggshells can create a jagged barrier for a slug trying to enter your garden. Slugs make it a practice of not touching objects that are sharp and abrasive since it literally kills a slug to repair deep scratches on their skin.

f) Copper:

Copper offers an alternative to slug control that satisfies someone looking for a humane way to protect a garden. Use old copper hanging around the house to repel slugs without taking their lives. Apparently, when a slug meets up with copper, a small yet effective electric shock is delivered. Place copper around individual plants – whether it is a tape, wire, or a round band.

g) Beer:

Did you know that slugs are attracted to beer? Trap slugs by burying a container filled with an irresistible drink. Cut an empty juice container (like a liter soda bottle) lengthwise in half and pour ½ a can of warm beer in it. Leave it overnight. In the morning, you should find a collection of the pests that have drowned in the container. You can also fill the container with salted water and entice slugs to come by placing cut potatoes around the rim of the container.

h) Fine Thread:

If you wrap your individual plants with fine thread, slugs become trapped and can no longer climb up the leaves.

i) Powdered Ginger:

When trying to keep slugs out of your garden, create a barrier made out of powdered ginger.

j) Dryer Lint:

Create a barrier around your plants and seedlings by using the lint found in your dryer.

k) Epsom Salt:

Sprinkle Epsom salt in the parts of your yard where slugs frequently dwell and watch the numbers of slugs in your garden decrease.

l) Natural Plant Slug Repellants:

Include the flowers and plants in your garden that slugs find repulsive to help keep the pest away. For the most part, a slug has no interest in artemisias, daylilies, fresia, lemon balm, red cabbage, alyssum, azaleas, daffodils, grapes, mint, lungwort, rosemary, red oak leaf lettuce, basil, evergreens, corn, fennel, cosmos, chard, foxglove, hibiscus, parsley, sages, tansy, pumpkin, sunflowers, chicory and endive.

Resources

[1] http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2010.html
[2] Reader’s Digest Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things; pg 43