ecobites.com

Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

Fleas in the garden? 

Diatomaceous Earth - It is deadly to any insect and usually completely harmless to animals, fish, or fowl, even when used in their food.

Most insects have a waxy outer shell covering their bodies. Diatomaceous Earth eventually scratches through this shell causing the insect to dehydrate, which leads to eventual death.

Diatomaceous Earth is a benign, non-toxic product, and generally a safe material derived from age-old fossils of freshwater organisms and marine life, then crushed to a fine powder. Observed through a microscope, the particles resemble minuscule bits of  broken glass and are very abrasive.

Diatomaceous Earth has little to no health effects to humans or pets as long as it has not been treated for use in such things as swimming pools - look for “Amorphous Freshwater Diatomaceous Earth” and a “silica-content” of less than 1.5% to ensure that it is safe to use on pets or around people or farm animals.

It is recommended that a breathing mask is used when spreading the powder as it is very fine. On the downside, Diatomaceous Earth will kill  all  insects - even good ones - so it should be used carefully!

PHOTO: Diamotaceous Earth powder looks like snow when spread over the yard. The boxer dogs are unsure of this new look to their 2 storey kennel and yard.

Fleas in the carpet - The most effective method is the vacuum cleaner. Vacuum the carpet well and particularly the edges and corners. Dispose of the dust carefully by sealing in a bag or by burning the dust. Wash the vacuum cleaner bag with hot soapy water. 

Testing for fleas in the carpet - Try placing a large bowl of hot water in the middle of a room over night. The heat will attract fleas and they will jump into the water. See how many you can find.

Fleas on your dogs - Animals need not suffer from flea bites.

Use this age old remedy that has been passed down through the generations and is proven to be very effective:-

Take 4 litres of water. Add four to six teaspoons of white vinegar to it, and give it to it to your pets as their only drinking water. (During the winter, give them four teaspoons. During the summer ( flea season ) give them six teaspoons).

Most users of this method haven't seen a flea since and some have reported not seeing fleas for over 10 years with this treatment.

It works on any animal and even farm yard hens that are prone to lice, etc.

NOTE: It is important to only use only organic white or red vinegar and or cider vinegar because some commercial vinegars are made from wood pulp. 

All  of the commercial flea preparations are bad for the health of your pet.