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  • Answered by
    Heather on
    January 1, 2011
    Certified Expert
    A.

    I am not an expert, but I have heard that mixing equal parts of flour, sugar and either baking soda or boric acid (Borax laundry detergent) is an organic, environmentally friendly and effective rat killer. Place it in areas that the rats go and they will eat it. The baking soda one is supposedly also safe for domestic animals as it kills the rats by swelling their stomach, and domestic animals like cats and dogs are able to relieve the swelling by belching and, therefore, are not hurt by the poison.

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  • Answered by
    Nikki on
    January 3, 2011
    Certified Expert
    A.

    No, they are not the same. They are two different types of bugs. That being said, their treatment is very similar. Here are some articles to help you with dealing with them:
    https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/mealybugs-white-residue-on-plants-leaves.htm
    https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/spider-mite-treatment.htm

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  • Answered by
    WillCreed on
    April 8, 2018
    A.

    Stickiness is a tell-tale sign of mealybugs, but not spider mites. Treat the mealybugs with a solution of 5 part water, 1 part alcohol and a squirt of liquid soap. The key to success is less what you use to spray and more how thorough you are in spraying the entire plant, including all leaf and stem surface.If you miss even a few, they will reproduce and come back later.

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  • Answered by
    Nikki on
    January 12, 2011
    Certified Expert
    A.

    Plant garlic and/or onion plants in a pot or around the base of your prized garden plants. No more aphids!

    However, one of the most effective ways to eliminate these pests is by spraying plants with neem oil. It's not only effective against aphids, it's also organic and harmless to pets and people. You can find more information here: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm

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  • Answered by
    Nikki on
    January 28, 2011
    Certified Expert
    A.

    While basically any type of vegetable or cooking oil may work (by suffocating the bugs), I would recommend the use of neem oil instead. It is very effective and safe for beneficial bugs as well as for humans and pets. Here is some information that may help:
    https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm

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  • Answered by
    Heather on
    January 30, 2011
    Certified Expert
    A.

    This article has some suggestions:
    https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/greenhouses/ridding-greenhouse-of-ants.htm

    https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/get-rid-of-ants.htm

    A systemic solution was recommended by another extension service, but they did not name a product. A systemic product I like is neem oil. It gets into the plants and will kill off anything that eats the plants, so I would add that to the TAMU recommendations.

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  • Answered by
    Nikki on
    February 10, 2011
    Certified Expert
    A.

    They are less active in cold, but cold is not a guarantee that they will be eliminated. Consider spraying the plants with neem oil. We have found it to be very effective on killing scale. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm

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