Bugs from Rain - How to get rid of them?

Question

Worms and beetles are crawling under the door!!!! What's a natural way to repel them and keep them outside? We are trying to get the landlord to put on correct weather stripping around the door asap. What products can you recommend that really work as far as bug killers?

Answer 1

Dry up the area, & see if there's excess water coming from gutters. Maybe the landlord can extend them where the runoff goes or clean them out so they don't overflow? Have him eliminate any debris to reduce moisture under and around the foundation & plug up cracks that they can enter in. If mulch is used make sure it's scratchy like pine needles & lava rock around the building.

Spread Diatomaceous Earth around entrances.
DE is made of the fossilised remains of diatoms (a type of algae), which have a hard shell made of non-crystalline silica. It's applied to where the insects live and picked up by the insect’s exoskeleton by static electricity. The Diatomaceous Earth causes abrasion cuts in the insect’s cuticle and once exposed the insect can no longer retain its moisture and will die from contact with DE within a few days.

Harvard's website recommends using sticky traps which "will not only capture earwigs but will strongly indicate population levels and potential routes of access. Experience shows that traps placed at floor level in moist areas do best. Traps should be kept fresh because it takes a good sticky trap to hold earwigs."
http://www.uos.harvard.edu/ehs/pest_earwig.shtml
Good luck! Hope this helps.

Answer 2

The best natural way to accomplish this, is to lay a bath towel along the bottom of the door to cover the opening. Stuff it along the crack somewhat to make a tight fit. No bugs will get through and it will also keep the cold air from entering the home during the night.

**Billy Ray**

Answer 3

There used to be a product on the market called Buchach. It' a powder that you would sprinkle in front of your door. The bugs walk in it and die. Don't know if is still available. Another choice is Diamateous Earth/ A natural product which you would sprinkle in front of the door. It is made of a kind of earth that very sharp edges that cut the bugs and they die from the injuries.

Answer 4

I tried mixing mouthwash with soap and it seems to help. it got rid of the bugs and it is supposed to help where they can't leave eggs or mate. i haven't tried adding tobacco juice because i can't find it yet in our town, but supposedly it's supposed to help too, when added to ingredients, crazy? maybe, but it helped me.