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Harmless Sowbug/Pillbugs Are Number
One Pest.
Bedbugs may be getting all the
attention in the media, carpenter ants cause a lot of
concern every spring and termites will always be considered
a serious threat to many, but sow bugs and pill bugs
dominate the number one position as pests that invade our
homes and workplace.
For years, the most common question
submitted to our
“ask the experts”
web page is: “How do I get rid of sow bugs (or pill bugs)?”
Similar questions include: “What is the best pesticide to
kill sow bugs, why to I have pill bugs in my dry basement,
what do sow bugs eat, why do they keep coming back, why are
they dying in my home?”
It is interesting that very few
professionals include sow bugs (pill bugs) in their advertising as a pest they control. The logical reason is: they
are not considered a serious pest and spraying pesticides is
not a long term solution. Charging a customer to eliminate
a pest and having it return a short time later will not
enhance the reputation of any pest professional. The only
permanent solution is to change the environment that
encourages their presence: moisture and very high humidity.
Sow bugs and pill bugs are harmless in a structure but they
are a symptom of a serious moisture problem.
Spraying pesticides will kill most of the small creatures
that are visible in our living space,
including sow bugs and pill bugs, but a vacuum
cleaner or fly swatter can be just
as effective.
Why contaminate your living space with
chemicals? Most of the pest
populations in structures are not visible and
over-the-counter pesticides available to the general public
have no effect on these hidden creatures. Changing
conditions around the outside perimeter of a building can be
much more effective.
Do it yourself.
If sow bugs or pill bugs are invading your space find
out why they are there and the best ways to eliminate the
problem on this web page: Sow
Bugs.
Integrated
Pest Management - It's not just for the pros.
(King Township Sentinel)
http://www.kingsentinel.com/news/2008/0409/news/021.html
For many people, time spent in
the garden is some of the most enjoyable time spent; a
sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
However, pests such as ivy, ragweed, thistles, and slugs
cause substantial damage to gardens across Canada every
year, and can very easily ruin your plants, devour your
vegetables, and kill your shrubs.
One of the most effective ways to control pests in your
garden is known as Integrated Pest Management.
IPM involves using a number of ecologically sound
alternatives to pesticides or herbicides and working with
nature to create a healthy ecosystem in your garden.
Prevention is the first step.
• Eliminate wet areas that provide pests with water,
such as leaky pipes, damp basement areas and standing water
• Keep food containers closed, including those containing
pet food • Dispose of garbage regularly • Keep garden tools
clean and tidy • Seal cracks and crevices to keep pests
outside the house • Remove infected plant material from your
garden • Separate plants by an appropriate distance so they
don't compete with each other and prevent good air
circulation • Make sure plants are planted in the correct
type of soil.
Some bugs are good.
There are bugs that are beneficial to your garden and it is
important not to eliminate those that aren't causing damage
to your plants. Some bugs are actually predators that keep
away pests that are harmful, so look closely to see which
insect is doing the damage to your plants.
Once you determine your pest problem is significant
enough to take action, consider all options: tools,
naturally-derived alternative products, and conventional
pest control products when necessary. When applying a
pesticide, use the minimum amount required. To be
effective, you must first
identify the target pest and choose the right
product for the job.
Once you have determined the problem, select a product
recommended for your particular pest and spray only infected
plants to avoid killing beneficial insects in the garden.
Before using any pesticide, read the label and follow the
instructions.
Safety in the System whether made from organic or
synthetic ingredients, all pest control products must be
tested and registered with Health Canada's Pest Management
Regulatory Agency before they are allowed in Canada.
"pop
environmentalism"
"That's why I left Greenpeace: I could see that my fellow
directors, none of whom had any science education, were
starting to deal with issues around chemicals and biology
and genetics, which they had no formal training in, and they
were taking the organization into what I call 'pop
environmentalism,' which uses sensationalism,
misinformation, fear tactics, etc., to deal with people on
an emotional level rather than an intellectual level.
—— Patrick Moore,
Co-founder
of Greenpeace, explaining why he no longer supports the
organization in an article from
Newsweek
GREY SQUIRRELS MAJOR PROBLEM FOR BC
BC Wildlife Branch lists grey
squirrels as a species that is known to destroy property
and is detrimental to native wildlife.
Read the rest
of this story.
"The effect of Malaria right now
is equivalent to crashing
seven jumbo jets filled with children every day".
Professor Wen Kilama of
the African Malaria Vaccine Testing Network in Tanzania
Read Full Story
In 2000, the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) initiative set up by WHO, UNICEF,
the World Bank, and others, pledged to cut
malarial deaths by half before 2010. Seven years later
the spread of the disease continues.
The
rates of death and illness caused by malaria
has not abated.
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/malaria/index.cfm
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