Controlling Insects FAQs Garden Insects Answers to the Garden Insect FAQs
Q: Is a spider mite an insect or is it actually a spider?
A: Spider mites belong to a class called arachnids, to which spiders also belong. They are not actually insects. To find out more about these tiny pests, see our information in All About Spider Mites.
Q: Help! I have bagworms on my small evergreen trees! What can I do to get rid of them?
A: If there are only a few, you can handpick them. Doing this during the fall, winter or early in the spring is the best time to do this, before the eggs inside of the "bags" have hatched. If you have a larger infestation, a product containing B.t. or Bacillus thringiensis can be used to help control the bagworms. This needs to be used while the bagworm is in its early larval stage.
Once they have progressed beyond the larval stage, it it too late to apply the B.t. to control them, however, pheromone traps can be used to trap the male bagworm moths. This will prevent their mating and therefore help control future outbreaks. Looking for more about these devastating pests? See our section Bagworms: Control Options.
Q: My cabbage and broccoli plants are being eaten by bugs that look like they have a colorful shield on their backs. What are they and how do I get rid of them?
A: These pests are known as harlequin bugs. Products containing Insecticidal Soap (potassium salts of fatty acids) and Pyrethrin are very effective on these nasty pests. Parasitic wasps are a beneficial insect that can help in the control of harlequin bugs as well as many other insect pests. See our section on Harlequin Bugs: Control Options for more about controlling these destructive pests.
Q: My neighbor told me I have scales on some of my ornamental plants. What are scale and how do I get rid of them?
A: Scale are tiny insects that attack many plants, sucking the sap or juices from the plants and plant leaves. Insecticidal sprays and Neem Oil products are effective in controlling these pests. Read our section on Scale Insects: Control Options for more detailed information.
Q: Isn't "insecticidal soap" just dishwashing liquid or soap added to water?
A: No. Commercially produced Insecticidal soaps sold at garden centers and similar retail stores are composed of potassium salts of fatty acids from plants and animals. They work by penetrating and destroying the outer shell or membrane of the insect causing it to dehydrate and die. Some dishwashing liquids or soaps contain solvents to dissolve grease and would be injurious to a plant's delicate tissue. Insecticidal soaps are excellent for controlling sphids, whiteflies, thirps, leafhoppers, psyllids, mealybugs and many other garden insect pests. Always ready and follow the label's directions for use.
Q: I have really big larvae in my garden, and my neighbor says they are Tomato Hornworms. They are attacking my tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. How do I get rid of them?
A: B.t. (Bacillus Thuringiensis) is an excellent way to get rid of them without harming beneficial bugs. It actually works on most caterpillars. When the worm ingests the B.t., it works as a gut rot poison that makes the worm stop feeding. The tomato hornworm will stop feeding immediately and die within days. Need to know more about controlling this pest? See our section Tomato Hornworms: Control Options.
Q: I've got mealybugs in my garden. They look like little bits of cotton on my leaves. How do I get rid of the mealybugs without hurting my plants?
A: Using an insecticidal soap, which is made from potassium salts of fatty acids. This product works by penetrating and destroying the outer shell or membrane of the insect causing it to dehydrate and die. They are very effective and can be bought at your local garden center or similar retail store. For more information on controlling mealybugs, see our section Mealybugs: Control Options.
Q: My vegetable plants in my garden are being devastated by whiteflies. What can I do to get rid of them?
A: Using Insecticidal Soap is an excellent method of controlling whiteflies. Be sure to spray both the tops and bottoms of the leaves. Neem oil can also be used, but try it on just a few leaves to see if there is any wilting. Follow the directions on the container's label.
Another method for controlling whiteflies is to use whitefly traps or sticky tape traps. The bright yellow color of the trap's tape attracts and traps whiteflies. Hang the traps over the plants. When the trap is full simply replace with another one as needed to keep whiteflies under control. Find out more about controlling these pests - see Whiteflies: Control Options.
Flying Insects Answers to the Flying Insect FAQs
Q: Why are moths attracted to my clothes stored in my closet? A: It is the larvae of the clothes moths that cause the damage. They feast on clothing, particularly wool and fur clothing, rugs, furniture. The female moth is attracted to clothing that has food stains or perspiration. She lays her eggs on the clothing and when they eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the fibers in the clothes. Still want to know more? See our section All About Clothes Moths: Facts.
Q: What’s the difference between a yellow jacket and a wasp?
A: Both are a type of social wasp, meaning they live in a colony. Yellow jackets are a group within the species social wasps. When we think of the term “wasp,” we are often thinking about the paper wasp, another type of social wasp. Yellow jackets, incidently, are the more vicious of the two types, and are commonly found at picnics, campgrounds, and garbage cans at the end of summer in search of foods and sweets to substitute for their dwindling natural prey. Read more about yellow jackets and wasps - see our section All About Wasps & Hornets: Facts.
Q: It’s Fall now and it seems like my house is being invaded by bugs! What can I do to get rid of them?
A: The first step is prevention: caulk any cracks or holes in your walls or foundation so bugs cannot crawl into your home. This should be done before the weather turns colder and bugs are looking for warmer haunts. In addition, spray organic insect control products along the foundation. If the bugs have gotten inside your home, using glue traps, fly traps, and organic sprays will help control them.
Q: I know ladybugs are supposed to be beneficial, but we are being invaded by them -- they are coming into our house. What can I do to stop them? A: Yes, they are very beneficial in controlling aphids and other insect pests, but they can become a nuisance themselves if they get in your home. The first step in keeping them out is to caulk any cracks or openings in the walls of your home. Check your window screens and repair any that have holes in them. Make sure outside doors are secured with weatherstripping. Once they are in your home, do not step on them on carpeting or crush them on furniture or walls. They will leave a stain and a terrible smell. Your best method of ridding the inside of your home of them is to vacuum and then toss the vacuum bag outside in your outdoor trash can. Indoor organic controls can be used if necessary. Organic controls can also be used outdoors around your home. You may feel differently about ladybugs after reading about them in our section All About Ladybugs: Facts.
Q: My “baking” cupboard has tiny moths. How did they get there? How do I get rid of them?
A: They are most likely meal moths which feast on cereal, flower, seeds, grain, pet food and dried fruit. The adult moths and their caterpillar larvae may have been carried inside your home in groceries. An open window may also be an entrance for an adult moth. Once inside your home, they seek out food and lay their larvae inside food packages or in cracks and tiny spaces of the food cupboards, resulting in a full-blown infestation. Using a pheromone based pantry pest trap, you can readily be alerted to their presence. To get rid of them, remove any food products and bags from the affected cupboard. Thoroughly vacuum your cupboard and caulk any cracks or similar small spaces of your cupboard. Either discard the contaminated food in a tightly sealed bag or container, or freeze the food for one week, thaw for one week, then freeze again for a week, killing both eggs and hatched larvae. Find out more about these bothersome kitchen pests in our section All About Meal Moths: Facts.
Q: We seem to have a lot of yellowjackets in the yard right now, and our son's birthday party is in two weeks. What can we do to get rid of them?
A: Wasp and Hornet Sprays containing pyrethrins may be of help. Another option that can be effective in controlling these stinging pests are yellowjacket traps. They come in several styles, but basically contain a food-type bait that will attract the yellowjackets and when they enter the trap's container, they become trapped inside. Crawling Insects Answers to the Crawling Insect FAQs
Q: Earwigs are invading my home. I'm afraid they could hurt my children. What can I do to get rid of them?
A: Earwigs like cool, damp places, making your basement and foundation area an inviting place for them. Although they won't bite your children, earwigs can pinch them with their pinchers if the children attempt to pick them up. You can use a product containing diatomaceous earth or an insecticidal soap with pyrethrin to control these scary-looking insects. Also, try reducing the humidity in your basement with a dehumidifier. See our section on Earwigs: Control Options for further information.
Q: How Do Roaches Enter a Home?
A: Cockroaches might ride into a home in a grocery bag or even in clothing. In an attached home or apartment, pipes and holes in adjoining walls, floors and ceilings provide speedy walkways and portals for these stealthy, nocturnal travelers. Roaches can swim into a home through sewer pipes. One cockroach moved through 385 yards (almost four football fields) of sewer pipe in Tyler, Texas. One cockroach in a home needs to have mated only once to produce many egg capsules with 16-40 offspring in each. And, some cockroaches don't even need to mate to produce offspring. One cockroach can quickly turn into a full-blown infestation.
Q: Can Roaches Harm People?
A: Cockroaches can carry pathogens that cause asthma, allergies, abscesses, boils, bubonic plague, diarrhea, dysentery, gastroenteritis, intestinal infections, leprosy, lesions, typhoid fever, urinary tract infections and more.
Of all domestic insects, roaches are most likely to carry bacteria that cause human food poisoning. Bacteria such as Streptococcus, coliform, salmonella, staphylococcus and clostridium may travel from a cockroach in a kitchen to food and people.
Some people have an allergy to cockroach oils and break out in hives when exposed directly or through contaminated food. In homes with heavy infestations, cockroaches actually may feed on sleeping people by nibbling at sores, eyelashes, eyebrows and finger - and toenails.
Q: What's that Smell?
A: Cockroach odor, known as "attar of roaches," may not be life-threatening but is the unpleasant combination of cockroach excrement, scent gland fluid and regurgitated food. This musty odor varies with each cockroach species.
Q: Are these Pellets Cockroach Droppings?
A: Roaches plaster their fecal matter to wood or cardboard. When the fecal matter does not stick, people often find their droppings.
Q: Do Cockroaches Only Come Out at Night?
A: Roaches have evolved to have negative phototropism, meaning they seek darkness and avoid light. By being active in the dark, cockroaches have a greater chance of surviving human efforts and those of other predators.
Q: What Type of Cockroach is Found in the Home?
A: The German cockroach infiltrates the most homes and is responsible for 70% of all U.S. roach problems. One female German cockroach can produce 200,000 roaches in one year. They are highly adaptable to all environments and quickly become immune to pesticides.
Q: Can Roaches be Starved Out of the Home?
A: Starving cockroaches out of a home is impossible. Roaches do not require much food, and even a sliver of grease makes a delightful cockroach meal. Also, cockroaches can live for some time without food or water. The German cockroach, for example, can go without food or water for two weeks. And roaches will eat almost anything including paper, cigarettes, beer, dog food, fruit, and each other. Still have some questions about Cockroaches? See our section All About Cockroaches: Facts.
Q: I know we have ant colonies under the house. How can I eliminate it?
A: We don't make any products that would destroy an entire colonies (unless you are dealing with fire ants). If your infestation is severe, your best approach may be to consult a professional exterminator for advice.
Q: How can I get rid of carpenter ants in or around my home?
A: Ants come inside your home looking for shelter, food & water. Perhaps there is a part of your home suffering from water damaged, rotting wood. They may have gained access there.
Your best course of action is to consult the services of a professional exterminator. They have the tools to eliminate the infestation. I recommend searching the Safety Source for Pest Management database for a pest control operator in your area that uses the least toxic methods.
Q: How do I get rid of ants in my house?
A: Our Victor® Poison-Free® Ant & Roach Killer is perfect for use in your kitchen. The active ingredient is food-grade mint oil. Using the spray poses no health risk to your family and will not contaminate foods or cookware.
If you have a colony of ants living inside your home inside the walls, it will be virtually impossible for you to eliminate that nest yourself. You may want to consult a professional exterminator who has the tools and expertise to get inside the walls and eliminate the colony.
I recommend searching Safety Source for Pest Management for a pest control operator in your area that uses least toxic methods.
Q: How can I prevent ants from entering my house?
A: I recommend reading our tips for controlling ants. Right now, we don't make any poison-free® products for outdoor use that will keep ants from coming into your house.
Q: I think I have an ant colony outside. The ants only come out at dusk and in the hundreds. Why is that and how can I get rid of them? A: You can use the Victor® Poison-Free® Ant spray to get rid of these ants. This is the model M602.
Q: I have a small problem with ants in the wood timbers surrounding my child's play area. Are your products safe to use and effective? A: These products are ideal for use around pets and children. They are non-toxic. They are also very effective. Use them with confidence.
Q: Is there an organic way of getting rid of carpenter ants?
A: Carpenter ants are very difficult to kill or exclude in some areas of the country. One page I would recommend reading is Do Your Own Pest Control. This will give you a very good idea of the options you have in the battle against carpenter ants. You may also want to consult a pest control operator. I also recommend using the Safety Source for Pest Management to locate a professional pest control operator near you who uses the least toxic method of pest control.
Q: What low-toxic or non-poisonous product can I use to get rid of fire ants?
A: Our Safer® Brand Fire Ant Killer is the perfect choice for a non-toxic way to get rid of Fire Ants. The active ingredient is an extract from orange peels. It is ideal for use around children and pet and is OMRI™ listed . Please find out more about our Safer® Brand Fire Ant Killer, including buying it in our online store. Safer®Brand brings you a variety of effective insect control products that are gentler on the environment! Most of them proudly display the OMRI® organic-listed seal and comply for use in organic gardening! | 
