Natural Insecticides:
There are many organic insect repellants which can be used instead of having to resort to harmful chemical mixtures. Commercial chemical repellants are best to avoid, as many of the chemicals used can contribute to cancerous states and other degenerative disease. This is because many of the poisons contained in repellants are retained in the body tissues and in the liver. The liver, kidneys, heart, reproductive system, brain and nerve function, and immune system are all affected by many of the chemicals which are contained in insect repellants. So it really is best to avoid poisons which might potentially damage the body organs and impair their healthy functioning.
Organic repellants often do not have the immediate effect of killing an insect, but rather work to deter the inclination of the insect to make a home in your environment. This is a more preferable approach than outright killing, if you consider that all insects and animals have a right to live on our planet. If we can train and reorient them to localities where they do not affect our own living areas, then so be it. However, there are some recipes below which do actually kill insect life. You will have to make a decision yourself about whether or not you will go for the total Buddhist “live and let live” approach, and choose your insect repellants accordingly.
For Ants
Lemon Juice
The humble lemon is natural antispectic and cleanser. The acidic nature of the lemon can cut through and neutralise the formic acid of an ant trail so that they lose the scent of their estblished path.
Lemon juice will discourage ants from making a fresh path in the vicinity if it is used regularly.
Wipe kitchen surfaces regularly with cut lemon. You can use most of the juice first in your cooking or tea. Just the inside pulp is enough to put a layer of lemon juice and oils onto a surface where there is an ant trail. Another idea is to put slices of lemon here and there on the regular ant trail.
Apple cider vinegar works the same way. Dab some cider vingar onto a small piece of cloth or cotton wool and douche the area. If ants are a nuisance in the kitchen it is a good idea to use vinegar or lemon juice on the bench after each wash up.
Eucalyptus or Garlic
A few drops of eucalyptus oil or crushed garlic works well as a repellant. Again, just a few drops here and there will cause the ants to go else where.
A 50/50 mixture of baking soda and black pepper is another effective organic method to deter insects. Sprinkle a little at intervals along the ant trail.
Ant-Borax Bait
This recipe, whilst being organic, is a little more toxic than the above solutions: use it with care. Use 2 cups of sugar and 2 tbsp of Borax. Mix with 1 cup of hot water and stir over a low heat until all is dissolved. When cool, put 2 teaspoonsful into small lids and place in the vicinity of the ant trail. Make sure these baits cannot be found by your children or your pets.
Derris Dust Jam For Ants
Derris dust used for keeping insects off tomatoes and cabbages. Derris can be added to golden syrup, or jam, or honey. Again, make sue your children and your pets won’t find the bait.
Black Pepper Jam For Ants
Simply stir 2 tablespoonsful of black pepper into a cup full of jam. Use small amounts in lids and dot them around the ant trail. Keep safe from children and pets.
For Cockroches-Borax Bait
A dry mix of equal parts borax and white sugar can be used to sprinkle into the corners and cracks where cockroaches hide.
Equal parts of honey or golden syrup can be mixed with borax powder and smeared onto brown paper. Leave in dark warm places where there might be cockroaches. Keep replacing these baits until the cockroches eradicated. You need to make sure that all other food is away from the area so that the cockroches will eat your bait.
For Silverfish-more Borax
Use 2tbsp each of borax, white flour, and white sugar. Put into a screw top jar. Place in small amounts in lids and leave in drawers, wardrobes, and behind all your books on your bookshelf. Replace every two weeks or so.
Deter Instects by wiping out these areas occasionlly with lemon or cider vingar or lavender water.
Dried worm wood can be left in the back of drawers, bookshelves etc. to deter insects.
Fly Bait-Black Pepper Recipe
Mix half a teaspoon of black pepper with one teaspoon of brown sugar or honey. Add one teaspoon of cream or butter. Put into up turned lids and leave on window sills, or on the fridgge, in places well away from the reach of children and pets.
Herbal Insect Repellant – for use on the skin or in an aerosol bottle
Mix half a teaspoon of oil of cloves with one teaspoon of lavender oil and one teaspoon of eucalyptus oil. Add half a cup of vodka or gin and half a cup of cooled boiled water. Put into a spray bottle. Use as needed.
Organic mosquito spray
This is an aerosol spray for the air. It is not to be used on the skin, as it contains methylated spirits. Chop 3 cups of garlic, skin and all, and put into a jar. Cover with vegetable oil. Put on the lid and leave for a week in the sun. Shake every day. Strain off the oil. Add half a cup of methylated spirits and quarter of a cup of cooled boiled water. Bottle in a spray bottle. Shake before using.
Note: Do not use this spray around cream coloured, or expensive furnishings, or around valuable paintings, as this could discolor these items over time. DONT smoke or use around candles, as it is flammable.
This spray will kill mosquitoes already in the room and will discourage others from coming inside. Avoid breathing the spray. It is not toxic, but it could cause smarting of the eyes, sinus irration, or irritation of the lungs, including asthsma in some people.
Unwanted Cats
Cats hate cayenne pepper and garlic. You can chase cats away with this mixture. An effective spray can made by chopping half a cup of garlic, skin and all, into half a cup of water. Add one tsp of cayenne pepper. Bring to the boil and simmer gently, until the liquid isreduced by half. Take off heat and leave for 3 hour. Strain. Add an equal amount of methylated spirits and put into a spray bottle. Shake before use.