The goods on these pages are meant to keep pests from invading your space by putting a barrier between the them and you. The products covered range from the wonders of nature in things like diatomaceous earth, to substances that ensnare, to products that create an olfactory fence of sorts, to the absolute material physicality of insect screens.
Wonders of Nature
Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
This all-natural substance is made by mining and pulverizing the fossilized silica shell remains of unicellular marine algae known a diatoms. DE is a very common substance that is found in many applications. It’s used as filtration, as a deodorant, in cosmetics, food products, dental-care products, animal feeds and grains, and it even has pest control properties.
In the realm of pest control DE has two main modes of action. First of all it is a powerful desiccant. On top of that, it has the properties required to excise the protective cuticle layer of many insects exposing them to desiccation. Under the microscope the individual particles of this fine powder are similar to oddly shaped roughly geometric flakes for lack of a better term. Before they’re pulverized they’re more like three-dimensional structures. Think coral.
This wonder substance is a great pest control barrier because the properties mentioned above aren’t overlooked by the pests. Many insects, if they encounter DE, will turn away. Ants, for example, simply will not cross a line of DE. That’s smart. It they did cross the line, they’d be cut and DE’s powerful absorptive qualities would work on drying them out by way of their newly-exposed cuts. It’s really quite dramatic at that level.
It’s thus useful to people wanting to draw the line and keep pests on the other side. There’s a hitch, though, to be effective the substance must remain dry. Moisture, even humidity, will degrade it, eventually turning it into an inert crust (think pool filter). Thus you need to use DE often. In this vein, it should be noted that DE’s reputed to work on slugs and snails. Realistically speaking, the environmental conditions needed to target those pests will typically necessitate a daily application at least. There are better things for slugs and snails, like iron phosphate bait and copper tape.
So what are DE’s better pest control related uses? Well, it can be dusted into wall voids during new construction to help prevent infestation by various household pests. It can be dusted on plants and surfaces with a product like Dustin-Mizer dust applicator. I can be sprinkled or spritzed in entryways, wall cracks, etc., to prevent ants and others from coming in. It can even be mixed with animal feed and grain (at 2% by weight) to kill intestinal parasites — or in storage conditions to prevent grain pest infestation.
In the capacity of intestinal parasite control DE loses its desiccant properties. It’s still effective, though: it still cuts and this exposes the parasites to digestive enzymes. Problem solved. Along the lines of this thinking, DE is sometimes laced with pyrethrins (which are more harmful than you may realize). The cutting exposes the insect to the chemical. This really isn’t necessary and we don’t recommend it. We sell DE and offer only a natural food-grade product.
You may purchase DE online now!
Crab Shells
Shown is the product Neptune’s Harvest, but in any case, crab shell products are all pretty much the same. This product serves two purposes — one of which is relative here: Ground crab shell is an excellent nematicide (to kill pest nematodes) and a worthwhile Fertilizer (2-3-0 Ca23).
Neptune’s Harvest Crab Shell is a natural product high in chitins. And, as noted, it’s more than a simple fertilizer. Nematodes hate chitins! Using this crab shell product can help you eradicate nematodes. Be forewarned, though, this means all nematodes, even the good nematodes we sell.
You may purchase Crab Shells online now!
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Products that Ensnare
Tanglefoot Pest Barrier
Tree Tanglefoot Pest Barrier is an extremely sticky, nondrying, resinous compound used to encircle trees in order to effectively stop caterpillars (such as Gypsy moth larvae), ants, and other pests from climbing upward. This product may also be used to control ants and other climbing pests on greenhouse bench legs and raised beds, as well.
It is 100% effective, in temperatures of 50-100°F, if applied in continuous band around trunk of a tree and kept clean of captured pests and debris.
For certain moths which are unable to fly, such as the female European Gypsy moth — the one that plagues us in the east — Tree Tanglefoot Pest Barrier will effectively exclude them from reaching the tree’s upper parts to lay eggs, and thus, we great hunters and gatherers can physically get the eggs down low.
Please note that Tanglefoot Pest Barrier will not be effective if the criteria for effectiveness, mentioned above, are not met. Which means a weekly inspection of treated trees (at least) is necessary to ensure that the pests are not “bridging” over the band on the bodies of the previously-captured. Additionally, if branches of neighboring trees touch the branches of treated trees, crossover may occur. Ballooning, as is part of the Gypsy moth life-cycle, may provide a means of bypassing the barrier, too.
Tree Tanglefoot Pest Barrier comes in a handy tub for brushing or smearing it on, or in a caulking gun cartridge for a more precise applications with less waste. The caulking gun is also effective for coating the strings used to support greenhouse tomato plants. This is useful in preventing the mobilization and spread of spider mites.
You may purchase Tanglefoot Pest Barrier online now!
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