What can I do about the bugs and spiders on my patio so I can enjoy the outdoors?
Question:I live in Louisiana and have a condo. I am unable to go out side and enjoy the lake behind my condo because the bugs and spiders are everywhere. Okay I am exaggerating, but you get the idea. What can I do to get rid of the bugs so I do not have to put bug spray on every time I go outside. Oh, a bug zapper is out of the question. My condo association would not allow that.
Answers:
well before you go stomping on spiders, realize that spiders eat other bugs, so you may want to leave them, as without them, the other bugs would increase.
You could get tiki torches filled with citronella oil and line a path down to the lake (if the land is yours), or just set citronella candles out if you aren't sure about staking the torches into the ground. Alternately you could get a (assuming there are no nearby outlets) battery powered fan to keep the air (and the bugs) moving.
If there aren't a lot of pets around you could try sprinkling things like pyrethrum power or diatomaceous earth powder around, both of which you can probably get at a garden supply place. They are more effective on smaller insects, but they might help. They are all natural, but not good for pets if over-exposed.
Keep the patio CLEAN...hose it down frequently, be sure to flush the cracks in the concrete and between wood slats/joints. Use a yellow light bulb.
Also, if it's flies; hang a quart size ziplock baggie or two in the area. I didn't believe it until we did it...keeps flies away. The light reflected by the bag and water really "bugs" flies.
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