How to Get Rid of Caterpillars

The sight of a big, fat caterpillar munching on your cabbage is hard to stand, even when you know that the insect will eventually become a beautiful butterfly. If the caterpillars in your yard or garden have become hungry pests that strip your plants bare, then it's probably time to get rid of them. You must act immediately or the caterpillars will multiply further and leave you with nothing. How to Get Rid of Caterpillars? Here are tried and tested ways to get rid of caterpillars:

Caterpillar Control: Blast Them With BT Pesticide

Bacillus thuringiensis or BT is a type of bacteria that's used to control the population of caterpillars. This natural pest control has been used by farmers and gardeners since the 1930s. Commercial preparations of the bacteria are still widely available today in feed stores and garden shops around the country.

How Does BT Work?

When a caterpillar bites a leaf that's covered with BT, the bacteria multiply inside its body, damaging its digestive tract with sharp protein crystals. These substances are extremely toxic to the caterpillar, so it will stop feeding on your plants and die within 20 minutes after its first mouthful. Once the caterpillar dies, its body splits open, releasing more bacteria to protect your garden or lawn. The conditions that are required for BT to multiply are only found in the stomach of caterpillars, so butterflies, bees, earthworms, spiders, beetles, and humans are completely safe from poisoning.

How to Apply BT Pesticide

BT comes in liquid and powder form, both of which are easy to use. Some experts claim that a single application of BT permanently protects the garden from caterpillars. You may still reapply BT though, if you want to make sure that caterpillars will never feed on your plants again. Follow these instructions to correctly apply BT on your garden:

• For liquid BT: Mix one tablespoon of liquid BT per gallon of water. Apply the gallon of water over 1,000 square feet of your garden. Lightly spray the pesticide over the plants with caterpillars, making sure that the leaves are dripping with the formula. You may repeat this weekly during the season to guarantee the protection of your plants.
• For powder BT: Some experts advise against using the liquid form because it contains petroleum distillates that force BT into its spore stage, which delays its activity. To use powder BT, simply sprinkle it on the damp leaves of your plants, and let the moisture activate the bacteria. If your plants don't have enough moisture, mix the powder BT into bottled water, and then spray it on your garden. Do not use tap water because its chlorine will destroy the bacteria.
  

While a single application of powder BT is enough to drastically reduce or eliminate caterpillars, you may reapply it every spring to ensure that they'll never come back. Powder BT is available in one-pound canisters and three-pound bags at feed stores and garden shops. In addition, it's best to apply BT in areas that don't have agricultural antibiotics and fungicides, because these can harm the bacteria.

Other Ways to Get Rid of Caterpillars

There are many other ways to get rid of caterpillars aside from using the BT pesticide. The following caterpillar control methods have worked for other lawn and garden owners, they might work for you, too:

• Pick them up by hand: The most environmentally friendly way to get rid of caterpillars is to just pick them up by hand, and then crush them on the ground using your foot. This method is safest for your plants because you won't be using any kind of chemical or organic pesticide. Remember though to wear rubber gloves when picking up caterpillars because their sting causes skin irritation. You may also use a stick to pull the caterpillars from the branches or stems of your plants, and then crush them on the ground.
• Destroy caterpillar nests and eggs: Caterpillar eggs and nests are very easy to spot during fall, as the leaves of plants have already dropped. Locate the eggs and nests, clip off the stems or leaves, then crush them on the ground. Always wear gloves when removing caterpillars no matter what method you use. If you don't want to fill your garden with crushed caterpillars, you may drop their nests into a pail of soapy water. It's best to do this early in the morning or late afternoon, so the caterpillars are in their nests.
• Put some predatory pests in your garden: Caterpillars are very rich in protein, so many animals make them a staple of their diets. Some birds, frogs, lizards, and wasps eat these insects regularly, naturally reducing their population. You can introduce more of these animals into your lawn or garden to keep the caterpillar population down. Be sure that these pest control animals are not pests themselves though, or you'll just replace one problem with another.
• Make your own pesticide: Another way to get rid of caterpillars is to make your own pesticide. Just mix some garlic cloves (For other garlic uses, read 10 unusual uses for garlic) and chili in water, and then spray the formula on the affected plants. This method should work if there are only a few caterpillars in your garden.
• Use insect glue: Insect glue is a non-drying adhesive that acts like a barrier to prevent insects from accessing the leaves or fruits of your trees. It's best to use insect glue on trees because plants don't have enough diameter for the glue to wrap around. To use the product, first, wrap a band of masking tape around the trunk of the tree. Apply a thin coat of insect glue on the masking tape, and leave it there for a month. Caterpillars should get trapped on the glue and die on its surface. When the glue begins to dry, simply remove the tape and replace it with a new one.
• Improve your gardening practices: In some cases, the problem is not really the caterpillars, but the garden owner's gardening methods. If you have a major caterpillar problem, then maybe the plants or vegetables you're growing are not really suitable for your environment. Do some research on the right conditions for your plants to see if they're unnecessarily attracting too many caterpillars.
  

Another technique to prevent caterpillar infestation is to plant companion plants that cancel the scent of other plants; for instance, it's a good idea to plant celery and tomatoes in your plot because they cancel out the scent of brassica, which deters cabbage white caterpillars. In order to do this, you will need to learn how to grow celery.

In addition, do not plant vegetables in rows, and rotate the crops every once in a while, so they don't become easy targets for caterpillars. Also, enrich the soil with mulch (For more information on mulch, read the guide to mulch) and compost to make your plants stronger and more resistant to caterpillar infestation.

Guide on how to make a compost
Apply chemical pesticides: There are many chemical pesticides you can use to get rid of caterpillars. You can buy the following pesticides in feed stores and garden shops, and online on the Internet:

• Bifenthrin concentrate: Mix this pesticide with water and spray it on affected plants. This product is most effective when you're treating large areas of your garden. Caterpillars die on contact with the pesticide, and the pesticide also acts as a repellent against migrating caterpillars.
• Permethrin dust: Sprinkle permethrin dust over fruits, vegetables, shrubs, or trees to repel and kill caterpillars. Permethrin dust is completely safe, and does not hurt your plants. You may apply it weekly on your plants to keep them protected from caterpillars, beetles, and whiteflies.
• Deltamethrin dust: Similar to permethrin dust, Deltamethrin dust is very easy to apply, and gets into tiny places where caterpillars hide. It holds moisture better than other dust pesticides and works quickly. It may last for several weeks if you live in a dry environment.
  

Be careful when using commercial chemical pesticides, because they may harm your plants if you apply too much of them. Read the instructions carefully or call the manufacturer if you have some questions on how to use the product.

You don't have to get rid of caterpillars if they are not destroying all your plants. Many people just leave caterpillars alone, and wait for them to become butterflies. Don't rush to kill caterpillars, because they may be the reason why your garden is still alive and thriving.

Source : howtogetridoffstuff

How to Get Rid of Plastic Bottles

Did you know that in the United States alone, there are 40 billion plastic bottles used each year for beverages alone? About two-thirds end up in landfills. No matter how you look at it, this situation is not doing any good for the environment. You need to get rid of plastic bottles the right way.

Recycling is one of the best ways to help Mother Nature. Plastic bottles can be used in more ways than you can imagine. Below is a list of ways you can save the environment through recycling plastic bottles. How to Get Rid of Plastic Bottles?

Plastic Bottles as Sand Bags - Who would have thought that even plastic bottles can be used as sand bags? Sand bags can be messy when they break, and handling them can prove to be difficult. To avoid handling big and messy sand bags, use two-liter plastic bottles and put sand in them. Make sure that the sand is dry so that it can be easily moved. Every time you are stuck in an extreme weather condition, feel free to get a bottle and sprinkle sand under your car tires to get you on the way in just a few seconds.

Potpourri Holder - To make potpourri holders, you should first cut the bottom of the plastic bottle and then fill the cut part of the bottle with potpourri. Cover the open part with silk or curtain lace. Glue this to the outside of your plastic bottle. You will have to cover the raw edges using lace or ribbons.

Ice Packs - If you have large plastic bottles, you can fill them about two-thirds of the way with water. Freeze them so that you'll always have ice packs on hand. If the ice packs melt, you'll have cold water to drink instantly. If your plastic bottles are are in 250, 300 or 300 milliliters, fill half a bottle with water and then freeze it. The next morning, you can fill it with juice or just fresh tap water so you or your kids can enjoy cold drinks without bringing bulky ice packs in their lunch box.

Decorative Containers - Cut the top of the plastic bottle. You will use the bottom part to create decorative containers. Paint the outside of the plastic bottle. If you don't want to paint it, you can cover it with fabric or decoupage it (Tips on how to decoupage). Create a hinge out of ribbon. Or, you can create small holes to attach two bottles together. You can do this by wiring the bottoms of the plastic bottles. With this, you now have a container that has an opening. You can have a piece of ribbon, a button or glue on a bead to use as a handle. You can now use your decorative container to keep candies, jewelry or small gifts.

Substitute Funnel - You can simply cut off the base of the bottle and then turn it upside down. After this, you are done. It is that simple. You can now use a substitute the funnel you just lost. Filling jugs or putting oil in your car has never been this easy.

Ocean in a Bottle - Just our in half a bottle of water and half a bottle of oil. Add glitter and food coloring. That's it! If you want something for your baby to play with, you can use smaller bottles.

Wind Socks - To use a plastic bottle as a wind sock, cut off the base of a two-liter plastic bottle. Use a hole punch to create four holes spaced evenly at the topmost area of the cylinder. Tie a fishing line to each hole, preferable a 12-inch piece for each. Attach all these to a big swivel snap. Sand the plastic bottle and decorate it. You can paint it and color it with your desired designs. Once it's dry, create holes every inch around the base. Tie a ribbon in each hole. You can have different colors for each hole, or have the same colors for all of them. You are now ready to hang it up for display.

Plastic Butterfly - Create a stencil using cardboard in the form of a butterfly, 6x6 or maybe even 4x4. Trace the butterfly out onto your precious plastic bottles. After tracing, cut it out. Bend the butterfly by applying pressure at its center. Bending will create arches on the butterfly. Just put some design on the wings by painting it in any color. Stick it up using putty. (For other uses of putty, read 18 silly uses for silly putty)

Seed/Plant Starter - Cut off the bottom of the plastic bottle and then fill it up with sand. Put in some water and add some seed to the sand. Put the top of the bottle (the portion that you cut) back to its body using tape. Keep it in a warm place. The seeds will be germinating and when they are all tall enough, you can transfer the seedlings to your garden. If you don't have a garden, you can transfer the seedlings to a larger pot.

Door Stop With No Bending Required - You can cut an old soda bottle into two equal halves. Create a hole at the center of the cap and then secure the "stick" with a dowel to create a handle. Weigh the bottom because you should be able to lift it. After weighing the bottom, you can glue the top back on. The plastic bottle will have to stand with the handle you created. The handle should be sticking out at the top. Of course, you will need to decorate this so you may consider wrapping it in lace and satin. Secure it with decorative roses and cording. Expect the handle to stick up to door knob level. This way, you can close and open the door very easily.

If you have no time to recycle, you have to at least cooperate with some of the community guidelines in terms of waster management. Usually, there are special curbside collection areas in your town intended for collecting items for recycling. You can also get rid of plastic bottles by putting them in a bottle bank. If you enjoyed this article, you'll surely enjoy learning how to make a recycling program.

Source : howtogetriddofstuff

How To Get Rid Of Meal Worm

At any given house, there will almost always be pests. Most of these are insects and while some of them are not really harmful to humans, having anything that is crawling and in large numbers isn't really something you'd want to see first thing in the morning. Dirty and unkempt houses, in particular, are very much a haven for creepy crawlies who want nothing more than to just grub and get fat on your stash of food. Countless housewives have screamed their hearts out at opening a cupboard only to see an insect staring at them in the face, or perhaps opening a carton of cereal or food only to see little insects or worms wriggling in abandon at their bed of food. To say that it makes a very bad start of your day is an understatement indeed. How To Get Rid Of Meal Worm?

One of the most common wrigglies you will most likely find in your cupboards amidst cereals and flour is the meal worm. Meal worms are not really worms. They are the larval form of the meal worm beetle, and three types have been identified: the lesser meal worm, the yellow meal worm, and the dark meal worm. Not all types can be present in one area though. Like all insects of their kind, the meal worm beetle go through four stages of life: the egg, the larva, the pupa, and the adult. The larva form is what you know as the pests in your house. While in this form, the insect looks like a worm that endures several molts. Before a molt, the insect is white in color before turning brownish-yellow as their outer ridges begin to harden.

Meal worms are also part of nature's clean up crew. In the wild, they are responsible for scavenging rotting debris, bird carcasses, and even animal droppings. If you have ever lived in a farm, you will usually find meal worms burrowing under logs and neglected, littered corners of the barn or the grain facilities, mainly munching on their surroundings.

Ways to Get Rid of Meal Worms

The main reason why meals worms are such a pest is because of their fondness to your cereal and baking products, and they do this in groups. It is not unusual to one day open your flour bin to see hundreds of them wriggling in unified joy. They also tend to love dark places and are active around the clock, never resting, so they have usually have plenty of time to damage insulation, which happens to be one of their favorite meals. Aside from that, their diet also ranges to carpets, clothing, and artificial plants.

Meal worms are prolific insects. Fortunately, there are several ways to get rid of them.

1. Keep your pantry clean and dry. Meal worm beetles lay their eggs in dirty places, preferably a dirty pantry. The reason for this is that dirty pantries are a very good source of food for them to scavenge. Like ants, meal worms thrive on bits and pieces of scraps, even decaying matter.
   Wipe down whatever spillage your pantry will have. Their favorite food are usually grain-based products such as cereal or crackers so if you have those scattered around, immediately sweep them or clean them up. Wet or moist atmosphere is also conducive to the growth of most of the household pests as opposed to hot or humid environment so be sure to at least keep the place comfortably dry.
2. Throw away all food that are contaminated by the meal worms. At any given time, with the right incubation condition, a meal worm beetle can lay from between 70 to 100 eggs that ultimately hatch into larvae in one week. You can probably imagine the number of meal worms that can populate your food stash if left unchecked. It might seem wasteful but if one pack of cereal has several meal worms, chances are the others beside it has them as well so throw them out; meal worms are never solitary. Once you've disposed of the contaminated foods, don't stop there. Spray the entire area with disinfectant, clean and dry, and then replace the food.

3. Put all your food in airtight plastic containers. Tupperwares and plastic containers are perfect holders for your food. They protect it as well as prevent pests and insects from eating through them. You might wonder if storage bags are also okay; they're not. Meal worms can simply eat through the bags. Make sure that the plastic containers are sealed tight. Any cracks or openings, no matter how small, are valid entry points for the worms. Remember, they're small and can get in into small openings given the chance.
   Also, if you will not be using some dried foods for a while, put them in your freezer. Two things are accomplished by this: one, meal worms will not be able to get to them, and two, the cold will kill those that are already in there that you haven't found yet.
4. Hire an exterminator. A professional exterminator will be able to get rid of any pest infestation in your house, including meal worms. They will be able to do a better job of eradicating the pest problem since they have been trained for just the job and they have much more experience dealing with these insects than you. They also have the necessary materials to get the job done.

5. Gather the meal worms and sell them. There is one big advantage to meal worms: they are typically used as food source for pet reptiles and birds. They are also commonly used as fishing bait, so don't be surprised if you see meal worms in your favorite pet shop.
   Knowing that they are prized as feeds, you can gather all the meal worms that you have and then sell them for a sum, either to your friends or to other people. Try putting up an ad on the Internet about it. More often than not, you will have buyers interested in them. In this way, you can get rid of them while making some extra side money to boot.

The good thing about meal worms that get born and hatch in the house is that they're not harmful to you or make you sick, so don't panic if you just found out that the food you ate have them. In fact, in some countries, meal worms are eaten just like any other delicacy. Still, if you really feel that you need to get rid of them (and you won't be faulted for this), then the above tips should help a lot.