NSU Newsroom
SharkBytes
Horizons
This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
Other NSU News Sources
News Releases Archive
Contact
Division of Public Relations and Marketing Communications
Nova Southeastern University
3301 College Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314-7796
SharkBytes Archives
SharkBytes Categories
- Academics
- Alvin Sherman Library
- Athletics
- Campaign Corner
- Community News
- Featured Center Stories
- News and Upcoming Events
- NSU Achievements
- NSU Alumni Spotlight
- NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale
- NSU Camps
- NSU Health Care Centers
- NSU Research Spotlight
- Nutrition Tips
- Looking Ahead
- Pride Bites
- Recreation and Wellness
- Regional Campuses
- Staying Green
- Student Affairs
- University School
Contact
Division of Public Relations and Marketing Communications
Nova Southeastern University
3301 College Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314-7796
Simple and Green Pest Control Tips
Source: https://www.allstategoodhandsnews.com
Did you know that mice turn up their noses at peppermint? Or that ants and roaches hate Tex-Mex? Some easy tricks and common household ingredients can help keep nature’s nuisances at bay, without harming kids, pets or other wildlife.
Be a Menace to Mice
- Peppermint has been an anti-mouse strategy for centuries. Some swear the strong smell keeps mice from being able to find food. Soak cotton balls in pure peppermint oil (found in health-food stores) and place in small cups near their entry points. Planting peppermint in your yard may help too.
- No cat? Borrow some cat hair from a friend or a groomer, and place it around holes. Better yet, block those holes altogether. Stuff them with copper mesh, which won’t rust like steel wool. Cover larger openings and the space behind air vents with hardware cloth that has a mesh size less than a quarter-inch.
Keep Ants Far Away
- Ants depend on their scent trail: Wipe it out with undiluted white vinegar.
- They also avoid cayenne pepper. Other pests, including cockroaches and squirrels, avoid it too.
- Ants can’t digest cornmeal, but they don’t know that. Put piles of it near a problem anthill, and ants will eat it and slowly starve. This solution takes some time, but it’s safe for kids and pets.
Banish Biting Bugs
- Mosquitoes track you by the carbon dioxide you exhale. Mask it with citronella. Lemongrass (not the citronella plant) is the source of this oil. Plant this lovely ornamental around your patio or in portable pots. Bedbugs don’t like extremes. Chill a room at 32°F or below for several days to stop these pests cold. And wash and dry bedding at the hottest settings for at least 15 minutes. You can also set the legs of your bed in plastic cups filled with a little mineral oil, to keep bugs from climbing up.
- Many insects go toward the light. But bugs avoid yellow bug lights—use them near doorways, driveways and sidewalks. Place mercury vapor or incandescent lights around the perimeter of the property to lure insects away.