Re: OFF topic: Insecticides/bug sprays

[Guest guest]

Since you guys seem to always have the answers, I was wondering if you guys

could help me out.

I'm concerned about insecticides. I live in Texas where we always have

problems with bugs. Roaches,scorpions,spiders, etc. Do you guys spray your

houses as well? I'm just concerned that my infant son will get his hands on

some of the spray off the baseboards or something. Has anyone heard any

studies or statistics on home insect sprays causing cancer or any damage?

I'm really concerned about this, but on the other hand I don't want him to

get stung by anything or live in a house with bugs. I' m so phobic about it.

I lie awake at night just thinking something might be crawling. I just

sprayed today, since hubby is gone for a year, and now I'm phobic about him

developing cancer or something from the spray.

Anyone know anything? Also do any of you guys have one of those devices that

you plug into a wall that claims to rid homes of insects and bugs via some

ultrasonic waves or something? I'm just curious if they really work. I've

seen one that says it has a money back guarantee.

Any how...I know this doesn't deal with anything about GFCF, but I was still

concerned. I don't think they have an egroup entitle scorpions or bugs. Ha

ha.

Thanks, Elaine in bug infested Texas. It never freezes down here, so we have

tons of bugs!!! YUCK YUCK YUCK!!!

[Guest guest]

Since you guys seem to always have the answers, I was wondering if you guys

could help me out.

I'm concerned about insecticides. I live in Texas where we always have

problems with bugs. Roaches,scorpions,spiders, etc. Do you guys spray your

houses as well? I'm just concerned that my infant son will get his hands on

some of the spray off the baseboards or something. Has anyone heard any

studies or statistics on home insect sprays causing cancer or any damage?

I'm really concerned about this, but on the other hand I don't want him to

get stung by anything or live in a house with bugs. I' m so phobic about it.

I lie awake at night just thinking something might be crawling. I just

sprayed today, since hubby is gone for a year, and now I'm phobic about him

developing cancer or something from the spray.

Anyone know anything? Also do any of you guys have one of those devices that

you plug into a wall that claims to rid homes of insects and bugs via some

ultrasonic waves or something? I'm just curious if they really work. I've

seen one that says it has a money back guarantee.

Any how...I know this doesn't deal with anything about GFCF, but I was still

concerned. I don't think they have an egroup entitle scorpions or bugs. Ha

ha.

Thanks, Elaine in bug infested Texas. It never freezes down here, so we have

tons of bugs!!! YUCK YUCK YUCK!!!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/15/00 7:09:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

brennanpaw@... writes:

<< I'm concerned about insecticides. I live in Texas where we always have

problems with bugs. Roaches,scorpions,spiders, etc. Do you guys spray your

houses as well? >>

No, and I live in Georgia where we have the same problems--right now we're

overrun with ants. I put out the ant baits under heavy furniture and

cabinets (and also roach motels in the summer for the Palmetto Bugs--eek hate

those things). I am allergic to formaldehyde and am really chemical

sensitive to so much, that I have an asthma attack if I'm anywhere near bug

spray, so I can't have it in my house at all. I don't used anything in the

yard either, because I don't want my kids exposed to it. I figure insects

aren't nearly as bad as chemicals.

V

In Awe of His Glory,

Donalyn

[Guest guest]

Lorilyn,

Then what do you use to treat your house for bugs? I guess if chemicals are

toxic to bugs, then they are to our kids as well. Is this problem with

digestion of gluten and casein only if touched or also if fumes are ingested?

Do you know if Ortho is the phosho organic type pesticides you were

mentioning?

Elaine

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 06/15/2000 7:17:36 PM Central Daylight Time,

DoniMom3@... writes:

<< don't used anything in the

yard either, because I don't want my kids exposed to it. I figure insects

aren't nearly as bad as chemicals. >>

Donalyn,

Have you ever thought of trying the plug in Pest Defense type things? Have

you ever heard if they even work? Do yall have scorpions? We get them bad

here. Theylive in the attics. I'm terrified that my son will get stung. I'm

freaked. I also hate roaches. I'm really a person who is deathly afraid of

bugs. I mean I stay awake at night I'm so terrified. I wish I could not use

anything, but I just can't bring myself to not spray the garage and stuff. We

do anon the yard. Myson is still too young to play outside. Fire ants

here in Texas are awful too. They sting very badly.

I'm really looking for any statistics or any info people have regarding

insecticides. Iknow someone earlier mentioned they distrupt endocrines or

something.

Where did you learn of this?

Elaine

[Guest guest]

This is less off-topic than you think. Organo-phosphate pesticides are

known endocrine disruptors, and said to inhibit DPP4. In other words, they

make your child have more of a problem digesting gluten and casein. I don't

know anything about increased cancer chances, but I can't imagine anything

good. I am none too happy for having lived where Malathion was

aerial-sprayed, and for using multiple house flea pesticide bombs and other

flea products.

Lorilyn

[Guest guest]

I grew up in AZ where the roaches are HUGE (shudder at the thought....)

After moving here to WA there are ants galore here! (thankfully no

roaches!) I can admit I used ant spray outside untill I got a hold of my

mother in law's " FingerHut " magazine. I bought the electronic pest control

box for $19.00 and have not seen a bug anywhere in this house. Here is a

link that explains what it does

http://promolife.com/pest.htm

Kathleen =)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/15/00 10:50:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

brennanpaw@... writes:

<< Do yall have scorpions? We get them bad

here. Theylive in the attics. I'm terrified that my son will get stung. >>

Yes, but usually if we keep the pine needles away from the house, we don't

have too much a problem. Our scorpions are the little black kind, and their

sting is similar to a bees sting, so they aren't the bad scorpions like you

get in south Florida or out in the desert.

One thing is, I have never found an insecticide that worked on scorpions

anyway, because their hard covering protects them.

V

In Awe of His Glory,

Donalyn

[Guest guest]

See CLEAN AND GREEN or any other environmental book about natural alternatives

to insecticides.

You are right to be concerned about insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, and

fungicides. They can and do cause cancer but also many, many other maladies and

illnesses.

To deal with carpenter ants, spiders, roaches, etc:

We removed base boards and moldings, drilled holes in the upper and lower parts

of several walls, (holes about 20 inches apart,) then, using a

turkey-baster-like pump and syringe plus tubing (from the hardware store very

inexpensive) we pumped in plain pure borax powder. (The kind you find in the box

in the laundry aisle in the supermarket).

When this borax sifts down into the walls it basically coats everything, the

insects walk in it and become desiccated, it gets on their little feet and they

track it back to the nest, where others panic and spread out, thus killing

themselves by walking around in the borax, everyone dries out and dies....it

took us only two treatments to kill a couple of huge nests of carpenter ants.

(They were everywhere.) After pumping in the powder, we just nailed the

baseboards and moldings back up. This is what the professionals would have done,

one pest-killer company told me exactly how to do it, explained that it is just

as effective as the harsh chemicals, and that he recommended doing that rather

than spraying when there are any children about.

You can also lay strips of that sticky tape around corners and such so the bugs

walk in them and get stuck. Not a good long-term solution.

There are other suggestions in the books about other ways of applying

treatments.

>

[Guest guest]

Haven't seen much. It mainly deals with garden variety bugs.

Elaine

[Guest guest]

Have you tried searching the web or through a book for organic pest control

methods?

Layle

[Guest guest]

> Then what do you use to treat your house for bugs?

I don't pretend to have a bug-free house, but here in southern CA, it is

fleas not mosquitos that are the biggest problem. After our last cat died

(from hypothyroidism, don't get me started on that one!) the flea problem

was better (cats that go in and out of a house bring in fleas much more than

dogs do) and about that time, they came up with a new treatment. Except

for the coldest months of the year, we give our dog a monthly pill that

means a flea that bites him, won't grow up and reproduce. Takes about two

months to work if it is the main treatment you use. Also, flea combs

(quickly drop the fleas into soapy water and they will sink; drop them into

regular water and they climb out; squish them and it works but takes too

long.) A strong vacuum helps a lot. In a major infestation (back in our cat

owning days) we put a bright lite low over a flat dish of soapy water, fleas

are drawn to the light and jump into the water and drown. I think they make

a sticky trap that works on the same principle.

I think Borax may work for cockroaches, but we don't have them. Maybe

diatomaceous earth too, I heard some bugs are dehydrated by it.

We do have centipedes in the vineyard, and used to have them and earwigs all

over the yard under every single object. Bought a few hens at the feed

store, and took them for a walk around the house for a half hour before

sunset, kicking rocks over as I went. Repeated this regularly, and no more

bugs in the yard. The chickens won't eat slugs though, or certain beetles.

(Hens, by the way, are pretty quiet, and don't need a rooster to lay edible

eggs, and their organic eggs add wonderful flavor to gfcf cakes, etc.) I

heard that ducks eat slugs, and that maybe kids who are allergic to chicken

eggs will tolerate duck eggs, so I may end up with some ducks along with the

new flock of 10 chickens we hatched on Palm Sunday! My kind of pets, that

help us too.

I have seen one small scorpion in all the years we have been here. (I think

we removed its source of food when we bought chickens.) My husband squished

it.

We see tarantulas every fall, but they are just passing through the yard,

looking for water. They don't stay around, they aren't aggressive, and

there aren't many of them.

Daddy long legs spiders, I leave alone. They catch bugs that bother me more

than daddy long legs bother me. One caught a couple dozen fruit flies

before I had a chance to buy the expensive bait for fruit flies that I saw

in a gardening catalog. A local garden editor says similar things about

black widow spiders (which come out at night mostly, stay on their webs, and

eat tons of bugs) but I kill them if they are near the house, as I don't

want my family bitten.

I have used nasty chemicals at night to knock down paper wasp nests under

the eaves. I have heard that yellow jackets can be killed by blocking their

hole-in-the-ground nest entrances after dark (you have to follow some home

during the day, so you know where they live) as apparently they have no way

of digging out. I always had a severe bee phobia, which I overcame for

honeybees only as an adult. I don't know what I will do when the African

bees make it this far north, I have heard they are in the county now...

probably call in the professionals and move to a hotel until it is over!

I don't have answers or guesses to your other questions.

Lorilyn

[Guest guest]

> I'm really looking for any statistics or any info people have regarding

> insecticides. I know someone earlier mentioned they distrupt endocrines

or

> something.

>

> Where did you learn of this?

Shattock had mentioned a problem with organo-phosphates; several

thyroid discussions and such on the secretin-discussion list, brought up the

connection; and it was clearly stated a couple of weeks ago at the

conference in Irvine, CA that organophosphates inhibit DPP4. Not my field

though, so I can't get you articles.

Lorilyn

PS I did see something posted again on another list between when I wrote

this yesterday and when I sent it today.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 06/16/2000 9:59:34 PM Central Daylight Time,

aimees_kids@... writes:

<< On the topic of chickens, my sister has had chickens for about 9 years.

She has two indoor small dogs and one outdoor large dog. She has never

seen a flea on any of her dogs. The chickens eat them up. Now I realize

that doesn't help much for indoor bugs but if any of you should have a

flea problem and have room for chickens, it really does work!! Just a

thought.

Aimee in Atlanta >>

If they ate scorpions, I'd move them (chickens) into my guest room.

Elaine

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 06/16/2000 6:28:54 PM Central Daylight Time,

kteasda1@... writes:

<< Lorilyn

PS I did see something posted again on another list between when I wrote

this yesterday and when I sent it today.

>>

Lorilyn, If you can find it I'd love to read it. Email me privately if you

can find the site. I've searched the web for some things. The EPA website

had some info. not a lot though. So, I'm still searching for alternatives

and documented info regarding insecticides. I don't understand how so many

people can use pest companies if they are so dangerous. How can the companies

claim to be safe " once the chemical dries " . that is their standard verbage.

Elaine

[Guest guest]

I was skimming through the book, " My Kid's Allergic to Everything " Dessert

Cookbook by & Wilma Nachsin. There in the back is a section on

safe pesticides.

Summary:

Ants: Boric acid in a jar lid with a little jam/jelly left where you see

the ants (keep away from children), tannic acid (ingredient in caffeinated

teas) in non-aluminum pot, boil 12-16 teabags in 1 gallon water, steep until

black, pour around outside of home, esp where you see ant colonies. May

take several gallons over a week or two. Don't know if this works for

fireants.

Roaches - boric acid

Dustmites - Allergy Control Products, Inc. sells a spray nontoxic to humans

(800) 422-DUST

Fleas - Brewer's yeast & garlic supplement added to dog/cat's food. Dogs -

1 scant T. brewers yeast every other day and/or 1 garlic tablet weekly.

Cats - 1 scant teas. b.y. every other day and/or 1 small garlic tablet

weekly. Cedar chips spread in pet's pen or made into a pillow for pet's bed

are safe & work.

Outdoor pest control - Safer's Soap. She also lists other concoctions of

dish soap or garlic cloves. Also mentions lady bugs as attacker's of many

insects as aphids, etc. spined soldier bug eat large caterpillars, &

praying mantises eat other insects. These helpful bugs can be ordered

garden suppliers.

Our insecticide program in our South Houston home has been to spray outside

along the base & eaves of the house and Andro for fire ant mounds. I never

felt comfortable with spraying inside along baseboards, etc. We still get

the occasional HUGE flying roach & both of my children & learned the high

pitched EEWWWW from their mother & running for cover. The shoe still works,

but sending Dad in is better!

Hope this info helps someone,

Janice

[Guest guest]

Elaine, I don't know about the scorpions as we don't have that many, but

those chickens can get pretty stinky!! Aimee

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