dean1484
dean1484 MegaDork
4/16/17 11:39 a.m.

So in my everlasing quest to be thrifty I have been looking around at various bug killers.

I have used Home Defense Max in the past and I really dont know if it is any good or not. I have used it every 3 months or so to treat the perimiter of the foundation and the sill plates. I also use it at vents andother places around the home where I see that bugs could get in.

The active ingredieants in this stuff is Bifenthren @ .05%. I have done a little home work and found that it is described as a long lasting version of the Bug killer called Pyrethren (we will get to that in a moment). I have also found that I can get Bifenthren it in concentrate (like as in a 25% concentrate) so I can mix my own. The benefits to this is I can use my pump sprayer that is much easier to use than the cheep sprayers that come with the Home Defence Max bottles. I have been dumping the home defence max stuff in to my pump sprayer anyway as it can spray farther and is more accurate as well as easier to use. and then ther eis the cost.

Home defence Max is about $20 a gallon for the .05% stuff they sell you. I can get 32 ounces of the %25 stuff for about $32. IF you do the math this works out to be pennies on the doller savings.

Then there is Pyrethren. This is a fast acting bugg killer that I have been using for years. I get in concentrate and use it on orchids and other plants. It is a fantastic product. It will kill ants on contact instantly. In fact it kills just about any bug on contact. The issue is that it is a very short lived product. In fact it sais you can eat the vegetables you spray with it the next day (I have not tried this).

Does anyone have any recommendations as to home insect control? I have a big place with a small bar and a good sized shed that I treat regularly to keep the pests under control and so far it has been working with the ortho home defense but I am looking for better and or cheer options.

This is what I am looking at.

AMAZON LINK

Dr. Hess
Dr. Hess MegaDork
4/16/17 11:56 a.m.

My dad has had good results with this stuff: bug killer E36 M3

But, yeah, buy the concentrate and mix it yourself.

stroker
stroker SuperDork
4/16/17 9:37 p.m.

What I'd really like to get is a retail version of the timed aerosol release systems they use in institutions like hospitals. Anyone know of one?

Ricky Spanish
Ricky Spanish Reader
4/17/17 12:27 p.m.

Want organic pest control? Get a housecat.

Housecats are the #1 predators on the planet in both variety of prey and volume of prey.

The only thing my inbred brothers won't touch are stinkbugs. Everything else is fair game. Yes, I will lock them in a room with a wasp and come back later to a resolution.

Sky_Render
Sky_Render SuperDork
4/18/17 2:40 p.m.
Ricky Spanish wrote: Want organic pest control? Get a housecat. Housecats are the #1 predators on the planet in both variety of prey and volume of prey. The only thing my inbred brothers won't touch are stinkbugs. Everything else is fair game. Yes, I will lock them in a room with a wasp and come back later to a resolution.

My Corgi would do the same thing if my wife wouldn't freak out every time the puppers tried to eat a bug.

STM317
STM317 Dork
4/18/17 3:46 p.m.

I'd look into ways to keep the bugs away to begin with. Mint will supposedly keep many bugs and spiders away. Maybe try planting some around? It will spread quickly though, so keep that in mind. Or use some mint oils or dried mint leaves around doors and windows.

D2W
D2W Reader
4/19/17 12:49 p.m.
Ricky Spanish wrote: Want organic pest control? Get a housecat. Housecats are the #1 predators on the planet in both variety of prey and volume of prey. The only thing my inbred brothers won't touch are stinkbugs. Everything else is fair game. Yes, I will lock them in a room with a wasp and come back later to a resolution.

I hear you on the predator thing. My wife has a male maine coon. Besides the fact that he is huge, he likes to sneak attack me. Thank god he is only playing because his claws are like razor blades.

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