When the Chickasaw Indians crossed the Mississippi around 1300 and settled what is today Huntsville, they probably had problems with many different kinds of pests. Like most people, they tried various home remedies to live a pest-free life. Some of these techniques worked and some failed. Others became part of folklore, and that’s the subject of this post.
We’re not exactly sure when the first professional pest control technicians arrived in Huntsville. But it was probably sometime in the early 1800s, when the first white settlers arrived. However, we are pretty sure that they did not recommend any of the below courses of action.
Clean Houses Don’t Have Bed Bugs
Clutter is commonly associated with rodent infestations. But clutter and cleanliness have nothing to do with bed bug infestations. Like most pests, food sources attract bed bugs. In this case, that food source is blood. Even a tiny drop or two will do. Once these pests infiltrate your home, they are very difficult to eradicate.
Sometimes, the problem is not in your home at all. When you return home from a trip, your luggage often contains more than clothes and souvenirs. That’s especially true if you were camping or if you stayed in a hostel. Again, once one bed bug comes into your home, hundreds more are almost sure to follow.
Use Cheese on Mousetraps
Okay, this myth probably got started a little later than 1800. Still, many people believe that cheese is the best bait to use on a mousetrap.
That’s not true either. Small, scurrying rodents like mice need lots of quick energy, and that usually means sugar-heavy foods. Bits of cookies or crackers, as well as pieces of sugar cube, usually work well. Peanut butter also has a high sugar content, but it’s a little trick to spread peanut butter onto the mechanism without springing the trap.
My Cat Deters Rodents
There may be some truth to this myth. Cats sometimes have a deterrent effect, and they still have that hunting instinct. But mostly, cats just lay around. Their carnivorous tendencies only surface every once in a while. Perhaps more importantly, most cats do not see household mice as a threat or a food source.
In fact, cats might have the opposite effect. Mice and other pests may care little about cats, but they care a lot about pet food. Most owners keep pet food in open containers, and that’s basically an engraved invitation to rodents and insects.
I Have a Sonic Disrupter
It seems almost too good to be true. High-frequency sound waves that only affect pests drive them out of your home with no muss and no fuss. As the old saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
Over the years, the Federal Trade Commission has repeatedly told these companies that they must back up their claims with scientific evidence. Generally, the evidence just is not there.
In the pest control realm, there is a big difference between myth and reality. At A Plus Pest Control, we use evidenced-based techniques to deliver results that often exceed our clients’ expectations. Call us today and find out what we can do for you.
