Garlic For Pest Control

Garlic naturally deters many insects including common garden and house pests.

Searching for non-toxic ways to keep the home and garden pest-free just involves a quick trip to the produce section of the local supermarket. Fill your shopping bag with some fresh garlic, onions and dried red peppers for a simple, chemical-free insect treatment. Does this Spark an idea?

Significance

Using garlic as a pest control helps keep many household and garden bugs at bay. Some of the bugs repelled by garlic treatments include fleas, mosquitoes, cockroaches, ants, cabbageworms, flea beetles and caterpillars.

Useage

To use garlic as a natural pest control, the Capital District Community Gardens offers up a recipe of garlic and pepper spray ideal for keeping sucking insects off garden plants. Mix together 6 minced cloves of garlic, 1 tbsp. of crushed red pepper, 1 minced onion, 1 tsp. pure soap and 1 gallon of hot water. Blend in a blender and let sit for two days. Strain and fill a spray bottle. For ants and cockroaches, leaving cloves of garlic in their path helps keep them away. For flea repellent, mix garlic into pet food.

Warning

To use garlic as a flea repellent, it is important to remember that raw garlic is not recommended for cats, warns the EarthEasy.com website. Instead, use a powdered garlic as a substitute. Using garlic spray around the home may leave behind a garlic odor.

Tags: cloves garlic, flea repellent, helps keep, Using garlic

Orange Termite & Pest Control

Orange oil can kill pests on contact.

Orange oil extract for termites and other insect pest control contains some advantages over traditional insecticide treatments. However, orange oil's effectiveness is questionable and not recommended for very large termite infestations. Does this Spark an idea?

Active Ingredient

Orange oil contains the active ingredient d-limonene, which kills many types of insects, including termites, fleas, wasps and ants. This agent kills insects when they come in contact with it.

Treatment

Orange oil pest treatment products come in sprays, aerosols or shampoos, except for termites. Termite colonies must be located, often inside of trees or wooden structures. Holes are drilled into the wood and the orange oil pumped in.

Disadvantages

Orange oil evaporates more quickly than conventional insecticides and must be reapplied more often. For termites or carpenter ants, the queen must be killed or she will keep producing replacements for those killed. However, whether the queen can come into contact with d-limonene during application is doubtful.

Tags: contact with

Easy Homemade Bug Killer

Try easy-to-make bug killers as the first weapon to battle insects.

Each year, according to the environmental information website Earth Easy, North Americans use around 136 million pounds of pesticides at home on lawns and gardens, more than the amount of pesticides used by farmers. Motivated by environmental concern or the desire to save money, people sometimes wish to try a homemade pesticide for the house or garden. Though not all homemade bug killers are made of earth-friendly ingredients, many are. Simple household products and a few things from the the herb garden or spice rack can sometimes be effective weapons to battle bugs. Does this Spark an idea?

Common Ingredients

The ingredients used for homemade pesticides are noxious but usually nontoxic. A list of all the ingredients people use to make homemade bug killers would be a long one. Ingredients often suggested include items such as cayenne pepper or garlic from the garden, nettles or horsetail from the weed patch, tobacco resins, diatomaceous earth, oils such as neem or pennyroyal, and odds and ends such as cider vinegar, dish-washing liquid and even grit. When you create your own remedies, make small batches because you won't be using preservatives in the recipe. Label your finished products carefully.

Garden

Aphids and mealy bugs are two major garden pests. You can make a bug killer with a few drops of liquid dish-washing soap and canola oil. Add these to a quart of water in a spray bottle and spray the tops and undersides of the leaves on each plant. Diatomaceous earth sprinkled around the garden beds can kill insects and grubs. An easy-to-make recipe that is a general propose bug killer for the garden is to combine two tablespoons of cayenne pepper with a few drops of liquid dish-washing liquid and a quart of water. Spray this liquid on the tops and the undersides of leaves.

Ants

Common black or red ants may die when sprayed with a solution of half cider vinegar and half water, to which you add a few drops of dish-washing liquid and a few drops of an essential oil such as tea tree oil, peppermint oil or eucalyptus. Spray this into ant hills or areas where ants are seen. Fire ants are more of a challenge. Some people find it effective to bait the area surrounding the nest with grits. Others inject dry ice or boiling water deep into the nest through a length of PVC pipe. Be sure to cover your skin completely when exterminating fire ants.

Fleas

If you have fleas in your house, you can kill them with a strong solution of rubbing alcohol mixed with a degreasing dish-washing liquid and water. Place 1 tbsp. of alcohol and a few drops of dish-washing liquid in a jar and fill with water. Comb out your pets with a flea comb and quickly dip the comb in the solution to kill the fleas. You can also place this mixture in a spray bottle and spray around the house where fleas have been seen or pets sleep.

Cockroaches

Melissa Kaplan of the Natural Pest Control website recommends an unusual recipe to make a nontoxic roach bait for roach infestations. Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup shortening or bacon drippings, 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup flour and 8 oz. baking soda. Add a little water to make a doughy consistency and roll the dough into small balls. Place the dough balls in cupboards and drawers, behind the refrigerator, or anywhere roaches hide.

Tags: dish-washing liquid, bottle spray, cayenne pepper, cider vinegar, drops dish-washing, drops dish-washing liquid, drops liquid

Electric Repellents For Bedbugs

Electronic devices are useless at repelling bedbugs.

Electronic devices that claim to repel bedbugs, mosquitoes, cockroaches or other household pests have never been proven to be effective. Manufacturers claim their devices emit ultrasonic sounds or electromagnetic pulses undetectable to human ears but that are intensely annoying to insects, including bedbugs. However, as of June 2011, it's difficult to find any study that proves these claims are true. Entomologist Richard Pollack notes that the only thing these devices reduce is "the thickness of your wallet." Does this Spark an idea?

Identification

Electric insect repellent devices can range in price from $20 to $50 and vary in size and shape; although, typically they're spherical or cube-like and about the size of clock radios or computer speakers. Some devices plug directly into an electrical outlet while others use a cord or batteries. Some may emit a small light to show that the high frequency noises are being emitted because humans can't hear these noises; the devices claim to use sonic, ultrasonic, or electrically produced energy waves that annoy rodents and insects.

Legal Warnings

In 2001, the United Stated Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued warnings to more than 60 manufacturers and retailers of electronic insect repellents and ordered the manufacturers to provide solid evidence that their devices work. Most have yet to do so, except for two companies, Lentek Instruments and Global Instruments, which settled out of court with the FTC in 2003. Despite the settlement, these devices are still available for sale over the Internet, in stores and through TV offers as of June 2011.

Bedbug Management

Treating a home or business for bedbugs involves a complicated process. The nearly flat bodies of bedbugs make them able to hide in tiny cracks and crevices. Homes have to be vacuumed, all clutter has to be removed, and all cracks in walls and floors need to be sealed to eliminate hiding spots. Cornell University recommends hiring a professional exterminator for two or more spray or fumigation treatments. Over the counter "bug bombs" or sprays for other insects will not kill bedbugs or will not kill enough bedbugs to eliminate an infestation.

Studies

Studies done on other insects, such as mosquitoes, the Indian meal moth and cockroaches, show that electronic insect repellents did not work, states retired Ohio State University entomologist Jack DeAngelis. There has never been a study published in an esteemed peer-reviewed scientific journal as of June 2011 that recommends the use of ultrasonic or electromagnetic insect repellents.

Tags: insect repellents, June 2011, Electronic devices, electronic insect, electronic insect repellents, never been, other insects

Buy Neem Oil

Pesticide and skin tonic - neem oil does them both. This rich oil, which is ground or distilled from the Azadirachta indica plant of Southeast Asia, is used as a non-toxic, organic pesticide on a wide variety of crops including vegetables. It is also a common ingredient in cosmetics and even shows up in some toothpaste brands. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Decide whether you need neem oil for a cosmetic or an insecticide. Obviously neem face cream isn't going to help your plants, and you don't want to spray a pesticide--neem-based or not--on your face.

2. Shop for the best deals among online retailers such as PlanetNatural or GreeNeem for pesticide use or Neem Products for cosmetics. You should also scout local stores. Most garden centers will either carry neem-based pesticides or be able to order them, and neem cosmetics can be found in almost any health food store and in some supermarkets that stock "natural" or "health" sections.

3. Check to make sure you're getting the right concentration. You can make your own insecticides sprays from pure neem oil; if you're buying a diluted product make sure that it is at least 70% neem. For cosmetic products, note whether neem is high or low in the list of ingredients. There is no rule for how much neem should be in cosmetics; you just need to make sure you're not paying a lot of money for "neem" on the label but not in the bottle.

Tags: make sure, neem cosmetic

Traditional Pest Control Products

Mosquitoes are a common outdoor pest, especially during the summer months.

Nothing can ruin your garden or put a damper on your party than pests like mosquitoes, ants, gnats, roaches or other insects. There are a number of control methods often employed in homes for killing and repelling various pests that can be found in virtually any hardware store. Does this Spark an idea?

Citronella Candles

Citronella is a plant that produces a scented oil known to repel insects. Various companies produce candles that, when burned, create a perimeter laced with the scent of citronella that keeps insects, particularly flying ones like mosquitoes, at bay.

Bug Zappers

Bug zappers are used outdoors and help eliminate flying pests. They consist of hanging bright lights that draw in insects like moths. However, the light is covered by an electrified wire grate, which instantly zaps and kills the insect as soon as it tries to land.

Mint Spray

Mint has a very strong scent that repels insects because it contains compounds like ketones, esters and aldehydes that can act as neurotoxins to various insects, keeping them at bay. Several pest control sprays, particularly those claiming to be all natural, may contain mint that can be sprayed in problem areas. Mint spray can also be made at home by seeping mint leaves and straining the extract into a spray bottle.

Fly Paper

Fly paper is extremely sticky paper that hangs in areas where flying insects like mosquitoes, flies or gnats are a problem. The paper is usually laced with a sugary syrup that draws the insects in. When they land they are stuck until they eventually die.

Ant/Roach Traps

Ant and roach traps have small entrances allowing insects to enter and are usually supplied with some type of bait, which draws the pests in. Once inside, the insects will find themselves on an adhesive floor, where they will be trapped and eventually die. Another variation of the trap is one which supplies poison-laced food, which the ants or roaches bring back to their colonies, where it is distributed, killing them off.

Tags: like mosquitoes, insects like, laced with

Make Vegan Bug Repellent

Either when camping or at home, bugs can be everywhere. To keep them at a safe distance, most people turn to bug repellent as the answer. Though it is often effective, it is usually filled with a number of toxic chemicals. Here is an all-natural alternative that is safe for almost everybody.

Instructions

1. Take 1 cup of filtered or distilled water and heat it to just above room temperature. Pour it into a small mixing bowl. Add 1 2/3 tablespoons of citronella oil into the bowl. Stir the solution thoroughly until it is a consistent color.

2. Add 1 1/4 tablespoons of lavender essential oil into the bowl. Again, mix thoroughly until it is a consistent color and texture. It should just be a very light brown.

3. Put in 8 to 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil into the bowl. Add one drop of peppermint essential oil into the bowl. Stir the final solution until all the ingredients are completely mixed.

4. Pour the solution into a plastic or glass spray bottle and secure the lid tightly. Shake the bottle vigorously, mixing the solution evenly.

5. When using this bug repellent spray, focus on open skin areas because exposure of the bugs to the solution will keep them away. You can also use it on cloth, but then you will need to use several sprays.

6. Try using it lightly around the house or camp sight to help prevent insect entry. If you still have problem with the bugs around you try putting small amounts of organic apple cider vinegar and different parts of your clothes that you did not spray with the repellent.

7. You can keep this repellent for well over a month, but it is best to keep it in a cool place like a refrigerator. If you do this you must make sure that the temperature is not set too low, or you will get frost on the top.

Tags: into bowl, essential into, essential into bowl, bowl Stir, consistent color

Home Remedies Citronella Plant Spray

Making your own citronella insect spray is easy and effective.

The citronella plant is commonly believed to be a scented geranium. However, another type of plant is the true citronella. It is a grass, similar to lemon grass, and is called Cymbopogon nardus. Essential oil that is distilled from this plant is an effective remedy for mosquitoes and other insects. When you mix it with water and spray your plants, many types of insects will either flee or die. Does this Spark an idea?

Making a Spray

Making essential oil is a complicated process that requires special equipment and large quantities of plant material, so purchase a bottle of citronella essential oil for your homemade spray. Combine 1 cup of water with 3 tbsp. citronella oil and 2 cups apple cider vinegar or white vinegar in a spray bottle. Try to use all your spray as soon as possible to avoid loss of effectiveness; store any leftovers in the refrigerator.

Types of Insects Affected

In order to be effective, citronella essential oil spray must come into direct contact with the troublesome insects. This means that flying insects, such as white flies, are hard to kill with this type of remedy. If you have a greenhouse, you can saturate the air and hope for the best. However, the best use of citronella oil spray is on soft-bodied insects such as aphids, which exist and feed on your plant.

Effectiveness

Natural insect control products are generally effective for shorter periods of time than their chemical equivalents. Citronella oil disrupts a neurotransmitter in insects, according to the Clemson University Cooperative Extension website. After a rain or overhead watering, citronella oil spray will wash to the ground, so spray your plant after this occurs. Keep an eye open for insects and continue spraying every day or two until they are gone.

Cautions

Undiluted essential oils can burn your skin, plants with which they come in direct contact and other objects. Do not apply full strength citronella spray on your plants and use caution when working with it, or any essential oil, to ensure that it does not come into contact with your skin. Never drink citronella essential oil and do not allow children or pets to consume it or have direct contact with it.

Tags: citronella essential, citronella spray, contact with, direct contact, spray your

Draw Bugs & Insects

The insect population is Earth's largest animal population.

Drawing insects might seem a difficult task because of the enormous variety of insect shapes and sizes. But, many insects share similar features, which makes drawing them easier. For example, termites and ants have bodies that are about the same in length, color and number of segments (three). And there are other facts that make drawing insects easier: many insect body parts have instantly recognizable shapes. For example, the body of ladybugs is a simple oval. The more time you spend drawing insects, the more visual aids you'll discover to improve your drawings.

Instructions

1. Form the insect's body by draw an oval on your paper of any size, and ensure its length is greater than its width. You can also form the body by drawing a chain of three ovals, like a figure eight with an extra oval on top.

Choose the first option to draw bugs like cockroaches and beetles, which appear to have only a single body segment. Choose the second option if you want to draw insects whose three body segments are visible, e.g., ants, bees, termites.

2. Make legs. Draw three pairs of "L"-shapes, with three of them extending from body's left side, and three from the right side. For your first few bug drawings, space the legs evenly along the body's width so you see each leg clearly.

Experiment with different leg lengths, but keep this idea in mind--many flying insects have short legs. These include fruit flies and termites. (Mosquitoes, however, have long legs.) Therefore, if you want a flying insect, try making short legs first.

3. Create wings. This step is optional. If your insect doesn't fly, move onto the next step. If your insect does fly, draw wings as teardrops, whose thinner portion attaches to the center of the body, and whose wider portion extends out toward the rear left and right of the body. Experiment with drawing the wings at different angles with the body. The wings of the dragonfly, for instance, form 90-degree angles with the body. The angle of fruit fly wings, by contrast, is less than 45 degrees.

For more attractive insects like butterflies, turn your paper counterclockwise one-quarter turn so the head is on the left. Draw a curvy "M" slightly above the body, and as long as the body. Then, connect the left and right ends of the "M" with a curve that bows downward to touch the body.

4. Draw antennae as a pair of curves that sprout from the head and arc left and right. Experiment with different lengths and curvature amounts, with these facts in mind--many flying insects (e.g., fruit flies, termites, bees) have very short antennae, while cockroaches and crickets have long antennae.

5. Add details for realism. Draw horizontal lines across the lowest oval of insects with three body ovals. These lines represent the body's segments. Also, draw tiny lines or curves on the insect's legs, if the insect frequently crawls (e.g., cockroaches). Color the insect's body if the color is clearly visible (e.g., grasshoppers, ladybugs, black beetles).

Tags: Experiment with, insect body, left right, angles with, angles with body

Easy To Make Mosquito Repellent

Nobody likes having mosquitos around.

There aren't too many drawbacks to nice weather, but mosquitoes are definitely one of them. These annoying little biters aren't just a nuisance; they can spread pathogens and leave behind a nasty itch. Though chemical repellents like DEET are the most effective means of repelling mosquitoes, homemade repellents provide a more pleasant, natural alternative at times when the bugs aren't so heavy. Try a few commonly used ingredients to make your own homemade bug sprays and repelling treatments. Does this Spark an idea?

Garlic

Unfortunately, eating garlic doesn't help repel mosquitoes, according to a 2005 study at the University of Connecticut. However, if you don't mind smelling like garlic on the outside, use either fresh garlic or garlic juice as a natural, homemade repellent. This can simply involve preparing a clove by slicing it in half, scoring it and then rubbing it against your skin. Alternately, make a garlic "perfume" by mixing one part garlic juice, one part rubbing alcohol and three parts water in an atomizing spray bottle. This gives you a portable spray that you can use on the go.

Lavender

Lavender flowers have a strong scent that deters mosquitoes, and it's one which many people consider pleasant enough to use as a perfume or cosmetics scent. Create your own lavender-scented body products that you can use even when mosquitoes aren't an issue. Vigorously rub fresh flowers or leaves against your skin to release their scent oils, or make a lavender perfume from purchased essential oil (one part oil, 10 parts rubbing alcohol, 20 parts water). Alternately, infuse a light cooking oil (such as almond or walnut) by soaking lavender in it for about a week and rub the scented oil on your skin.

Vinegar

Vinegar is commonly used and anecdotally recommended as a mosquito repellent. You don't need to do much with it other than rub it on your skin. You might, however, try different combinations of vinegar to see which ones have the best balance between smelling nice to you and being effective against mosquitoes. Apple cider vinegar and rice vinegar both have mild, pleasant smells, though white vinegar has a bit more of a punch to it.

Citronella

The same plant essential oil that's used to create repellent candles for outdoor areas is one that you can buy where perfume essential oils are sold. Citronella oil is made from oils taken from the lemongrass plant and has a pleasant, fresh smell that's good for rubbing on your skin or including in a perfume mix.

Combos

After experimenting with individual repellent ingredients, try mixing your own combinations to see what kinds of results you get. For example, try making a combination citronella and lavender perfume, or mix garlic and vinegar for a potent yard repellent.

Tags: your skin, against your, against your skin, commonly used, garlic juice, lavender perfume

Diy House Fly Trap

Use a cut piece of fruit to bait your housefly trap.

Houseflies come into the house, attracted by the scent of food. They contaminate food, and they also lay their eggs in animal waste or in moist organic matter. There are many ways to kill houseflies, including swatters and electric zappers. You may also trap them and kill them or release them outdoors. Putting together a housefly trap is a straightforward process that uses materials found around the home. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Empty a 2-liter soda bottle and remove the screw top.

2. Cut the top away from the soda bottle with a sharp knife. Make the cut just 1 inch below the space where the soda bottle curves out to the main body of the bottle.

3. Fill the bottom 2 inches of the cut bottle with bait. Ripe fruit and pieces of lunch meat are all good choices for housefly bait.

4. Push the top of the bottle into the bottom part, the mouth of the bottle pointing down. This creates a funnel that the flies can get into but from which they cannot escape.

5. Punch two holes opposite to one another in the top inch of the bottle.

6. Thread a 1-foot length of string through both the holes and tie it into a loop.

7. Use the loop to hang the trap up where there are many houseflies. When the trap is full of houseflies, block the entrance with a wet cotton ball and throw it away.

Tags: soda bottle, bottle with, housefly trap

Home Remedy For Mosquitoes In The House

Mosquitoes are vectors for some of the world's worst diseases.

More than 3,000 different species of mosquitoes exist, some of which spread diseases such as West Nile virus, encephalitis, malaria and dengue fever. You may not live in a place where these diseases are a problem, but the sheer nuisance of an active mosquito population in your home may feel just as dire. If you'd rather not call in the exterminator, it is possible to control mosquitoes naturally. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Outside the House

1. Check under your house for standing water. Even a small leak in the pipes under your home may provide ample space for mosquitoes to live and breed. The protection of the indoor space provides enough warmth for the insects to overwinter.

2. Get rid of clutter, both inside and outside the house. Water-collecting objects such as cast-off tires, materials waiting to be recycled and children's toys are obvious culprits. Decorative ponds, birdbaths, fountains, disused boats, non-running vehicles and potted plants are all mosquito attractants.

3. Clean up the yard. Discard yard waste in the open spaces, gutters, ditches and streams both on and adjoining your property. These objects obstruct the natural flow of water in the micro-ecology of your property, giving mosquitoes the room and protection they need to live a long and healthy life.

4. Mow regularly during the summer; make sure that your property is well-trimmed. This lets water evaporate more efficiently, which means it is less able to collect. If there is a vacant lot adjacent to your property, report the problem to city or local services.

5. Check your septic system. Ensure that wastewater never appears on the surface, and that any and all cesspool vents are tightly sealed with fine screens.

Inside the House

6. Watch the doors and windows. Install fine screens on all windows; make it a family rule to keep doors closed at all times. Keep big, healthy citronella plants by all access doors. These plants chase mosquitoes away from common entry points.

7. Pour plenty of plain, white vinegar into all your sink drains; let them sit for at least 20 minutes before running any water. The vinegar kills any mosquito breeding points inside the drains. After the initial treatment, repeat the process once a week.

8. Inside the house, run a couple of house fans on high speed. Entomologists at Michigan State University discovered that fans disperse the carbon dioxide produced when you exhale. Carbon dioxide is a major mosquito attractant.

Tags: your property, fine screens, under your, your home

Do Termites Buzz Like Mosquitoes

Termites, though very quiet, eat and destroy more than wood

Most of us are not real fond of the termite or the mosquito. But while mosquitoes are generally mere annoyances, termites can destroy homes and other belongings. There are many varieties of termites, most of which rarely make a sound. Does this Spark an idea?

About Termites

Termite varieties include the dry wood, damp wood, mound-building and subterranean, which is the most destructive. Termites are social insects that have existed for more than 55 million years and eat dirt, plastic, PVC tubing, fabric and drywall. A colony can consume about 15 pounds of wood in a week. They eat wood from the inside, so it is virtually impossible to know they are there until it is too late, especially considering most do not make a sound.

Sounds

Subterranean termite soldiers may find themselves in compromising situations and bang their heads to attract other soldiers. The banging of heads makes a loud vibrating sound. Winged termites, known to eat fabric and clothing, sometimes make a buzzing sound when circling around.

Considerations

It is true that both the mosquito and the flying termite may orbit around you with a buzzing noise. The fluttering of the termite's wings creates the buzzing sound. Once the termites lose their wings at maturity, though, they try to find a secluded place in your home to start a new colony that silently causes destruction that can go unnoticed for years. All you notice is the wings they dropped.

Tags: buzzing sound, make sound, more than

What Are The Differences In Bowfin & Grinnel Fish

Bowfin or grinnel fish use roots and weeds to create a nest.

The bowfin is an elongated, cylindrical fish inhabiting slow moving backwaters in North America. It is hence also called by names such as "mudfish," "cypress trout," "dogfish," "black fish" and "grindle" or "grinnel." The "grinnel" is not a separate species, but simply another name for the bowfin. This species is found around the Florida peninsula, the Mississippi basin and along the Gulf Coast, where it eats other fish, amphibians, insects and crayfish. The bowfish or grinnel possesses certain characteristics, making it possible to distinguish it from other fish.

Anatomy

These fish have a particularly long back or dorsal fin. The American eel is the only other fish from Alabama with a longer dorsal fin. The bowfin possesses cycloid scales covering their body, but a scaleless head, which contains two barbels. The bowfin has a bony plate that lies between the underside of its head and its bottom jaw. The bowfin's back has an olive green to brown color, while its ventral surface is much lighter, grading from a light green to cream. The bowfin's caudal or tail fin appears to be circular and possesses a single lobe. The bowfin's mouth contains numerous sharp teeth. This species can weigh up to 15 pounds and can grow to a length of 3 feet.

Coloration

Mature male bowfins and young individuals of both sexes possess a false eye marking near their caudal fin. This dark marking, which is surrounded by a ring of either orange or yellow color, draws the attention of a predator to the tail area of the fish. Predator fish swallow their prey head first and while this hunter is concentrating on the tail eye-spot marking, the bowfin can escape by swimming away in the opposite direction.

Reproduction

This species spawns in weed beds during spring. The male fish uses roots to create a round nest that can be up to 3 feet in diameter. The male spawns with more than one female and guards the young fry until they are roughly 4 inches long. These young bowfins follow their father, who protects them from predators. During this time, the young fish remain in a tight group or school, but separate after they leave the care of the male.

Ancient Species

The bowfin is a primitive fish species, which lived during the Jurassic period. It is the only surviving member from an order which has otherwise become extinct. Other species in this order are known only through fossils, which have been dated to the Cretaceous, Eocene and Jurassic periods.

Tags: other fish, This species

Rail Slide In "Infamous"

Infamous is a PlayStation 3 third-person action title that immerses the player in a comic style world and the choice between using his or her powers for good or evil. The main character is endowed with 16 different powers that have various types of upgrades, depending on whether the character is good or evil. The "Induction Grind" ability, or rail slide, is part of the "Electric Drain" power. It is actually quite simple to rail slide in "Infamous" once the power is granted for completing "The Good Stuff" mission in the sewers of the first island area.

Instructions

1. Use the left thumb stick to move Cole around the environment and look for a power line running between rooftops or a set of train tracks.

2. Use the left thumb stick to make Cole run toward the power line or train tracks.

3. Push the "X" button to make Cole jump.

4. Use the left thumb stick to cause Cole to land on top of the power line or train track and he will initiate the rail slide automatically.

Tags: left thumb, left thumb stick, power line, rail slide, thumb stick

Fly A Micro Mosquito

The Micro Mosquito is a small remote-controlled helicopter designed for indoor use. It uses two sticks and a dial to manage the throttle and stabilize and steer the craft. The left control stick moves up or down to control vertical thrust. The right control stick moves in four directions: up and down to control the helicopter's forward or backward movement and left and right to control the helicopter's spin. The dial on the middle adjusts the helicopter's trim: the spin of the helicopter while hovering without signals from the right control stick. The controller also has a small on/off switch beneath the trim control. Sliding the switch to the right turns the helicopter on to prepare it for flight.

Instructions

1. Push up gently on the left thumb stick to increase throttle to the helicopter. Continue to push up until the helicopter lifts off the ground. Once the helicopter is off the ground, ease off of the throttle lever slowly until the helicopter stops gaining altitude and begins to hover.

2. Turn the dial in the center of the remote with your right hand to adjust the trim of the helicopter. If the helicopter is rotating clockwise, spin the trim control counter-clockwise. If the helicopter is rotating counter-clockwise, spin the trim control counter-clockwise.

3. Push the right-hand stick to the right to rotate the helicopter clockwise. Push the right-hand stick to the left to rotate the helicopter counter-clockwise.

4. Press the right stick forward to move the helicopter forwards. Pull it backward to move the helicopter backward.

5. Push the left thumb stick down slowly to lower the helicopter. Push up on the throttle just before the helicopter reaches the ground to slow the descent rate for a smooth landing.

6. Lift the helicopter off the ground using the left control stick and hover the helicopter a foot above the ground. Hold the helicopter at that altitude for five seconds and land the helicopter. Repeat this exercise with different target altitudes to learn to maintain altitude.

7. Hover the helicopter 2 feet above the ground, then put it into a spin using the right control stick. Try to maintain a steady altitude with the left control stick while you stop the helicopter's spin. Practice spinning the helicopter in different directions.

8. Mark two targets on the ground, a takeoff target and a landing target. Place the helicopter on the takeoff target facing toward the landing target. Have the helicopter lift off, then tilt the right control stick forward to have the helicopter fly toward the landing target. Attempt to land on the target. Repeat this several times with the helicopter facing in different directions to learn horizontal flight.

Tags: control stick, right control, right control stick, landing target, left control, left control stick, trim control

What Are The Dangers Of Mosquito Spray

Mosquitoes can be dangerous, but a chemical remedy is not always best.

In light of the West-Nile virus outbreak that began in the early 2000s, widespread concern has developed about mosquito bites. Indeed, a mosquito with prior exposure to the disease can infect a human by biting him to feed on his blood. Once a human has come into contact with the disease, it can be deadly; however, using chemical mosquito repellents pose a danger all their own.

Breathing Problems

According to Current Science Online, scientists have associated mosquito repellents, particularly those containing the chemical DEET, with a group of common breathing problems. In a survey study the Malaria Research Centre performed, 57 percent of the doctors who participated in the survey reported that patients who began to have breathing problems such as asthma or bronchial irritation, required treatment. Also, there is evidence that some who incur exposure to these chemicals who were not previously asthmatic may develop asthma after having come into contact with these chemicals. The asthma doesn't necessarily go away, even after exposure to the chemicals has ceased.

Absorption Through Skin

According to collier-mosquito.org, absorption through the skin is a serious health hazard. Once inside your skin, it enters your bloodstream and can damage your lungs, kidneys, or other vital organs.

Even if not enough DEET gets through the skin to cause widespread damage, skin irritation is possible. Westnile.ca.gov indicates that people have broken out into rashes, for example, when using mineral oil or alcohol-based chemicals to fend off mosquitoes.

Neurological symptoms

Babies and young children are especially vulnerable to brain damage. The IPM Institute indicates that exposure to DEET and permethium could lead to motor dysfunction and learning disabilities in children.

Motor dysfunction and learning disabilities are not the only hazard that mosquito repellent and its associated chemicals pose. According to the collier-mosquito.org, in October 1989, there were reports of five individuals--three in New York and two in Connecticut--who came down with seizures, all in a two-day period.

Misuse

According to westnile.ca.gov, organophosphates can be especially harmful, and can lead to fatality if you misuse them. IPM Institute describes them as a highly poisonous group of pesticides that negatively affect the central nervous system, cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

Tags: According collier-mosquito, breathing problems, come into, come into contact, contact with, dysfunction learning, dysfunction learning disabilities

Repel Flies Naturally

Flies are common insects found in and around campsites. Beyond being nuisances, flies breed in fecal material, and carry bacteria and viruses that can infect humans. In addition, some fly species even cause painful bites. Learn to repel flies naturally from your campsite and ward off these unsanitary pests in a safe and natural way.

Instructions

1. Eliminate food and pet waste in and around your campsite. Animal feces, rotting foods and other organic wastes attract flies. Repel flies naturally when you eliminate the things they like. Place all food waste in bags or sealed containers. Remove any animal feces and animal carcasses found in and around your campsite.

2. Use bug tents and protective netting. Repel flies naturally with a physical barrier. There are many forms of protective bug tents widely available at your local sporting goods stores. Enclose your campsite with protective netting to keep flies away from you.

3. Make natural fly repellent strips. Many essential oils are naturally effective at repelling flies. Some of these include, citronella, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemongrass and lavender. Cut several strips of fabric from old clothing. Dot each strip with several drops of your essential oil of choice. Hang the strips around the perimeter of your campsite to repel flies and a host of other insects.

4. Try natural insect repellents. There are many natural insect repellents available that do not contain harmful chemicals. Naturapel and Bug-Off are two popular varieties that are completely natural and 100 percent deet-free. Apply the natural repellent to your camp gear as well as your clothing every few hours.

5. Burn citronella scented torches and candles around your campsite. Citronella is a known natural repellent of mosquitoes as well as flies. Place several citronella tiki torches around the perimeter of your campsite to repel flies. Keep them burning as long as you are near your campsite.

6. Hang homemade fly paper around the perimeter of your campsite. Cut paper bags into 4-inch-long strips. Mix together 1/2 cup of corn syrup and 1 cup of sugar in a bowl. Spread a thin layer of the mixture over the surface of the paper bag strips, using a spatula. Hang the homemade fly paper from trees found around the perimeter of your campsite. The homemade fly paper attracts the flies and keeps them from entering your campsite.

Tags: your campsite, around perimeter, around perimeter your, perimeter your, perimeter your campsite

Measure An Inseam

Measure an Inseam

You must know your inseam size to purchase trousers that fit correctly. Obtaining the measurement is quick and easy. Just follow these steps Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Obtain an Inseam Measurement Using a Person

1. Have the person stand fully clothed, in a normal, comfortable position. The person must be wearing shoes with a standard heel.

2. Measure the right leg from the underside of the crotch (known as the top inseam point) to the bottom side of the ankle (the lowest inseam point).

3. Show the person where the hem will fall. Verify the length, if desired. This is the time to make changes in the length.

4. Write the measurement down.

5. Repeat, using the left leg. Measure carefully, the length is not always the same.

Obtain an Inseam Measurement Using a Pair of Pants

6. Find a pair of pants that fit exceptionally well. They must fit properly both in the waist and the length. Trousers loose in the waist hang lower on the body. Using them makes the measurement inaccurate.

7. Lay the pants on a table, on their right side.

8. Smooth the trousers flat.

9. Lift the left leg out of the way and measure from the crotch to the bottom of the right hem.

10. Take note of the measurement.

11. Flip the pants over and repeat with the left leg.

Tags: Inseam Measurement, Inseam Measurement Using, inseam point, left Measure, Measure Inseam, Measurement Using, Obtain Inseam

Prevent & Treat Tick Bites

Protect yourself from tick bites.

Ticks are small bugs that feed on human and animal blood. They can spread infections and transmit diseases, the most common being Lyme disease in humans. Ticks are often found in humid wooden areas, grass and mountains. They are also commonly found on outdoor pets, who then bring the ticks inside the home. Because they can transmit disease, it's important to prevent and treat tick bites as soon as they are found.

Instructions

Prevention

1. Maintain your lawn if you have one. Cut your grass frequently as ticks often reside in taller grass. Rake and dispose of dead leaves on your lawn. Consider the use of outdoor chemical repellents if ticks have been a frequent problem for you or one of your neighbors in the past.

2. Tuck your pants into your socks and wear long-sleeve shirts if you're going to be spending a lot of time outdoors in areas where ticks may reside. Consider wearing light-colored clothes as well, since this would make it easier to spot any ticks crawling on you.

3. Use a DEET bug repellent on your skin. When applied, DEET can protect your body for several hours. If you want to treat boots, camping equipment and other clothing, use a permethrin repellent. Carefully follow the directions on the bottle when using any kind of repellent.

4. Inspect your clothes for ticks before entering your home. If you find any, immediately remove them and put your clothes in a dryer on high heat to kill any remaining ticks.

5. Consider the use of a tick collar on any outdoor pets you may have.

Treatment

6. Disinfect the bitten area with a cotton ball dipped in rubbing alcohol.

7. Remove the tick if it's still stuck inside your skin. Use tweezers or put on some disposable gloves before touching the tick. Gently pull out the tick from your skin using the tweezers or your fingers. Make sure not to make any sudden jerks or twists when removing the tick as this may leave the tick's mouth parts stuck in your skin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dispose of the tick. Do not crush or kill it in your hands as doing so might contaminate your hands with the tick's blood and cause infection.

8. Avoid scratching your tick bites. Although tempting, this will aggravate the bite and cause swelling.

9. Consider the use of calamine, zinc oxide or topical steroid ointments. These over-the-counter options will reduce any pain or inflammation from the bite.

10. Put ice on the bite for 15 minutes at a time. An ice pack, crushed ice in a towel or a bag of frozen vegetables will all do the trick. Make sure not to keep the ice on for over 20 minutes in one sitting as this can cause frostbite.

11. Contact a doctor if you start getting headaches, fever or chills after being bitten by a tick. These might be indicators of an infection.

Tags: your skin, tick bites, Make sure, outdoor pets, your clothes, your hands, your lawn

Buy Cheap Aquariums

Fish

Your dream is to line a wall of your house with a fine array of feisty fish, but you don’t have a million dollars to do it. While some equipment may be pricey, you can buy inexpensive aquariums to help offset the cost. Read on to learn buy cheap aquariums.

Instructions

1. Look for sales. Many pet stores run regular specials on aquariums, especially set-ups when they want to get rid of a certain item.

2. Browse pet stores. Even better than the sales, some stores will have large, odd-shaped or unused aquariums clogging up floor space or crammed in the back room. Ask the manager if there are any he wants to get off his hands for a reasonable price.

3. Check out moving sales. If people are moving a ton of stuff, especially in a hurry, they’ll be glad to let go of their aquariums.

4. Look in classifieds and online. Pet categories will often feature used aquariums that people want off their hands.

5. Talk to people. If you speak to enough people, you may find a few who have unused aquariums simply taking up space in their basement or garage they’d gladly give you a good deal on.

Tags: unused aquariums

Net Curtain Ideas

Use net curtains to create a romantic atmosphere.

Like sheer curtains, net panels let light shine through and give a dreamy or whimsical dimension to any room you put them in. Often they are less expensive than other types of window treatments, which makes them an ideal choice for experimentation. Choose solid netting, or netting with patterns and you will have an easy-to-use fabric ready for any room of your house. Does this Spark an idea?

Fairytale Window Treatment

Netting can easily be bunched and manipulated to create ruffles and ruching, and it's easily dyeable, which makes it a good choice for a little girl's room. Soak two panels of net curtains in a fabric dye color of your choosing. Once they have reached the ideal color and have dried, hang them on the curtain rod, and pull each side back into a holdback on either side. Pull the top draping down to create a soft U shape, and then twist end over the hold back to create ruffles. Tie a ribbon around each side ruffle and your look is complete. You can create a similar feel with by using the netting as a valance at the top of your window. Just drape it over curtain brackets on either side of the top of your window. Pull down the center to a soft U-shape so that equal lengths of fabric hang evenly over the sides of your window.

Bed Canopy

Netting is used in tropical locales over beds to keep mosquitoes from coming in, but it also gives a very soft, romantic feel. You can have the same effect in your own bedroom by. Attach the net curtains through curtain rings around a large suspension hoop. The hoop can then be attached to the ceiling, so that the curtain opens at the front of the bed. Drape it softly over your bedding, or open it entirely so that it hangs on either side of your bed.

Shower Curtain

Use one or two net curtain panels on your shower rod for a modern, minimalist look. You can style it as a window treatment, with two curtain holdbacks on either side to create draping, or you can leave it closed à la those Hollywood's sexy shower scenes. The fabric curtains should be for decorative purposes, as they can hold mold and mildew and will let water through onto the floor. For functionality sake, you will want to have a plastic curtain to come between the shower and your netting.

Tags: either side, your window, create ruffles, each side, either side your

Fix Net Curtains

Repairing net curtains seems challenging. You have to fix a hole in fabric that is almost nothing but holes. Repair net curtains by creating new "bars" on a base of organdy fabric. Use a sewing machine with a zigzag stitch, then cut away the excess fabric with small sharp scissors. Follow the pattern of the net to fix any type of net curtain.

Instructions

1. Cut a circle of organdy 3 inches wider than the area that needs repair, using scissors. Try to match the organdy to the color of your net curtains.

2. Pin or baste the organdy circle to the back side of the net curtain. Center the area that needs repair.

3. Set your sewing machine on a zigzag stitch slightly wider than the "bars" in the netting you need to replace. Set the stitch length very small. You may need to sew a few samples on scraps of organdy to get the proper settings.

4. Sew along the remaining net, starting at the end of the organdy circle, until you reach the hole. Follow the pattern of the net.

5. Stitch across the hole and along the pattern of the curtain to the other side of the organdy circle. The extra 1 1/2 inch of stitching holds the new bar in place.

6. Stitch in this way until all the missing "bars" are replaced. Follow the pattern of the remaining netting.

7. Cut away the excess organdy with small, sharp scissors.

Tags: Follow pattern, organdy circle, area that, area that needs, away excess

Herbs & Plants That Repel Rats

Planting herbs and plants can deter rats.

Rats are rodents that you surely do not want in your house, garden or lawn. They not only eat almost everything they find, but also are carriers of disease. Many people prefer to avoid using poison to deal with rats because of the risk to people, pets and the environment. If this is the case, consider growing plants and herbs that deter rats. Does this Spark an idea?

Peppermint

Peppermint has a pleasant aroma to most humans. However, rats dislike the smell. By planting peppermint trees in the landscape, you can keep rats at a distance. Make a peppermint spray by chopping some mint leaves and adding them to boiling water. Let the mixture steep. Strain the solution into a spray bottle and spray it over areas that are infested by rats. Dip cotton balls in mint oil and leave them wherever you suspect rats, especially around windows and doors. Leave some in the drawers, cupboards, under sofas and other places that are visited by rodents. The peppermint smell tends to dissipate in a few days and thus needs refreshing. In addition to rodents, peppermint also repels fleas, ticks and ants.

Vegetables

Garlic is used to keep fleas and ticks away from the house. However, it is also can keep rodents away from the house and garden. By planting garlic in the garden, rodents will be kept at bay. Garlic contains several sulfur compounds that result in a pungent odor that is disliked by rodents. Make a simple spray by adding garlic cloves to boiling water. Strain the liquid in a spray bottle and spray it in areas where you see rodents. Alternatively sprinkle garlic powder around the house or around the garden to repel rodents. Tomato plants grown around the garden can help repel rodents from entering the premises. Dispersing tomato plant leaves around the house and garden will help in keeping rats away.

Flowers

Some flowers also will deter rodents. Daffodils can be grown to keep rodents away during spring. Marigolds have a strong smell that is disliked by rodents.The lavender flowering plant has purple budlike flowers that emit a fresh scent that people enjoy, but will keep rodents at bay.

Herbs

Oregano, sage, black pepper and cayenne are effective in repelling rats and other rodents. Homeowners can sprinkle herbs on soil, plants, doorway cervices and in cracks around the house. These herbs have a strong smell and a boundary made by these herbs will protect the area against rodents.

Tags: around house, house garden, keep rodents, around garden, away from

Drainage Pipe Installation

Efficient drainage is very important for the sewage system, both for the house and the lawn. A drainage pipe is one of the most important components of the drainage system; without a good drainage pipe, sewage system problems range from leakiness to a bad stench to harm to plants. A poorly laid drainage pipe also makes a fertile breeding ground for termites and insects. Does this Spark an idea?

Selecting a Pipe

Installing a drainage pipe takes time, effort and planning. It is the key to a good drainage system, which in turn is where proper water flow starts. The first step to installing a drainage pipe starts is selecting the drainage system. There are many kinds available. Select the right type depending on the intended use. For homes, a simple one with perforated or non-perforated ridges will do. For heavier uses, such as for landscaping, an ADS solid pipe is necessary.

Installing the Pipe

The next step is to dig trenches from the connecting or the starting point of the drainage system to the end. The starting and ending points, once determined, are the locations into which you have to fit the pipe. The starting and ending points usually span the length of the drainage system, which starts at a place in the house or lawn and ends at an outside sewage receptacle where the water is drained out. Dig the trenches from the start to the end. Once this is done, dig a slope into the trenches so when the pipe is laid, the flow of water is easy and unclogged. It is advisable to keep the formula of sloping at approximately one and a half inches for every 50 feet of running water.

Trenches

The pipe has to be laid into the trenches so it can take water from the start of the drainage system and take it out at the other end. The next step is to cover the trenches up. When done neatly, you can grow grass on this covered area. This means there is no trace of the pipe. This is the hallmark of an efficiently laid drainage pipe.

Tags: drainage system, drainage pipe, drainage system which, ending points, from start

Homemade Recipes For Lawn Care

Homemade lawn care recipes is an effective way to reduce gardening costs and tailor make your fertilizer, herbicide and compost to your yard. It is essential to find out what nutrients are lacking in your soil to determine what to add in your recipes. Conduct a soil pH test to ensure that it is within the range of your grass. Based on the results, mix up your own lawn care concoction. Does this Spark an idea?

Fertilizer

Allow your grass to green up before applying any homemade fertilizer. Applying fertilizer to dormant grass in early spring will usher in a host of annoying weeds. Mix up one can of beer and one can of soda. Both beer and soda provide carbohydrates to grass to microbes living in the soil. Add in 1/2 cup of ammonia for providing nitrogen to promote growth. Pour 1/2 cup of mouthwash to use as an insecticide and 1/2 cup of dish soap to allow the recipe to coat the grass. Place ingredients in a hose end sprayer and apply evenly across your lawn by walking back in forth in an imaginary line. Water the area thoroughly. Make sure you apply early in the morning to ensure the liquid soap won't burn up your yard from dehydration.

Herbicide

Mix up your own herbicide for spot treatments for weeds. Covering your lawn with herbicide can kill off grass. Use this recipe for areas with thick weeds and protect surrounding plants and grass with towels. Pick a day that isn't windy to prevent the spray from traveling to other vegetation. Combine 1 cup of vinegar, 1/4 cup of dish soap and 1/4 cup of salt. These ingredients are able to penetrate the waxy covering on weeds and cause them to dry out. Spray the weeds down to a couple of inches from the base of the plant, so that the ingredients do not dry out surrounding grass. You may need to spray weeds again in a couple of weeks to ensure their death.

Compost

Choose a flat area in your yard for your designated compost pile. Compost piles are generally 3 to 4 feet in diameter and 4 to 5 feet high. Pick an area that will not ruin the aesthetics of your landscaping. The right mix for compost is a 3 to 1 ratio of brown organic material and green organic material. Brown material includes dead leaves, manure and twigs, which supply carbon to the lawn. Green material lawn clippings, vegetable peelings and coffee grinds, which provide nitrogen to the yard. Avoid throwing in wet manure, meat, pet waste, dairy products or bones. Spread the green and brown materials in layers. Add enough water to wet the compost pile, but do not soak the pile. Turn the pile every three days for two months. Water your compost when your pile gets too dry.

Tags: your lawn, your yard, beer soda, compost pile, dish soap, lawn care, organic material

Organic Mosquito Repellent For Pets

Nontoxic repellents keep cats happy and healthy.

Mosquitoes can be just as annoying for pets as they are for humans and fortunately, there are ways to keep them off your pets using organic mosquito repellents that will keep them free of bites. Essential oils mixed with a carrier liquid are effective at keeping the biting bugs at bay and are easy to make at home. Growing some plants outdoors in the garden or in pots also keeps some bugs out of the yard and away from your pets.

History of Herbal Repellents

Herbal crops and tinctures have been used for thousands of years to repel insects, and the list of herbs that are effective repellents is long. Their effectiveness in repelling mosquitoes and other insects has been scientifically demonstrated. In 2001, an article was published in Science Daily's website about the University of Iowa's research on catnip as better mosquito repellent than Deet.

Best Herbal Mosquito Repellents

Mosquitoes do not like the scent of catnip, garlic, pennyroyal, rosemary, lemon grass or basil. The essential oils can be mixed with a carrier liquid to put on the pet's fur or collar to repel a variety of insects, including fleas, mosquitoes and flies.

Making the Compounds

Infusions of these herbs will repel many insects and the carriers can be oil or alcohol based, like witch hazel or rubbing alcohol and mineral oil. Essential oils are placed in the carrier liquid and shaken to distribute the essential oils. Repellents made with fresh herbs are typically simmered in water for 30 minutes and sit overnight, after which they are strained and put in spray bottles. They are stored in the refrigerator and applied when needed.

Putting the Compounds on Pets

Most dogs wear collars and the stronger infusions can be placed on the dog's collar or the liquids can be sprayed on their coats. Essential oils, even when they are diluted, are too strong for cats and can be toxic to them. Hydrosols are byproducts of making essential oils and they can be used safely on a cats' fur or collars. The hydrosols are as effective as the essential oils in repelling mosquitoes on cats.

Cultivating the Herbs

Besides being placed on the pet, the herbs can be grown in gardens, pots or planters. They will keep some of the mosquitoes at bay, and are also attractive additions to any yard or patio. The top mosquito repellents that are easy to grow in pots are rosemary, basil, catnip and lemon grass. They can even be brought in the house in the winter and placed in a sunny window, and taken out in the spring to discourage mosquitoes from flying into your patio or yard.

Tags: carrier liquid, essential oils, keep them, lemon grass, mixed with

Propagating Castor Beans

"

Popular Mechanics" ranks the castor bean as one of the world's top 10 dangerous plants, and also named it the most likely poisonous plant to be in your garden right now because of its frequent appearance in nurseries. Although castor oil has been used as a home remedy for ages, the castor bean contains ricin, which is a poison. Ingesting castor beans can be fatal, so keep them away from pets and small children. Despite its deadly qualities, the castor bean plant is an attractive addition to the garden and grows well in the right conditions. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Find a soil site that receives plenty of sunlight.

2. Amend heavy soils with organic matter a few weeks before you plant castor beans. As noted by the Purdue Department of Horticulture, castor beans aren't too picky about the pH of the soil, but they do need good drainage conditions. Incorporate the organic matter thoroughly into the top 3 or 4 inches of the soil.

3. Soak the beans in water for 24 hours before you plant them. Soaking helps the seeds germinate faster after you plant them.

4. Plant the castor bean seeds in the spring. Castor beans need 140 to 180 days of warm temperatures to become established. Cover the beans with 1 to 3 inches of soil.

5. Water the soil thoroughly and keep it moist during the germination period. Castor beans usually emerge within 14 to 21 days.

Tags: castor bean, before plant, inches soil, organic matter, plant them

Difference Between A Male Mosquito & A Crane Fly

Difference Between a Male Mosquito & a Crane Fly

Crane flies are two-winged flies that look a bit like large mosquitoes. It is easy to confuse the two but they have differences in body, habitat, food, and behavior.

Description of Crane Flies

European crane flies are the most common crane fly. These tan-colored insects, with long slender legs and delicate wings, are an inch in size. Their wing span is two inches. Crane flies differ from mosquitoes by having a V-shaped suture on their thorax and a lack of ocelli (simple eyes). Crane lies are rather clumsy and have a fatal attraction to house lights.

Habitat

Crane flies inhabit areas with rotting organic matter. They live in moist areas such as woodlands, flood plains, and streams. The adults do not feed. However, crane fly larvae eat at grass roots and can become landscaping pests.

Male Mosquito Description

Mosquitoes are smaller than crane flies and have fuzzy antenna. They weigh 2.5 milligrams and fly at 1 to 1.5 miles per hour.

Habitat

Male mosquitoes, like the females, live in stagnant ponds and cesspools. Male mosquitoes, unlike females, do not have piercing mouth parts and can not bite. Males are nectar eaters.

Hazards

Crane flies do not pose a medical danger. Male mosquitoes do not bite but do breed mosquito larvae. The resulting female mosquitoes bite and carry diseases, such as West Nile Virus and encephalitis.

Tags: Crane flies, Male Mosquito, Male mosquitoes, Between Male, Between Male Mosquito

Electronic Vibrations To Keep Bugs Out

Electronic vibration devices are used instead of pesticides or sprays.

Different electronic devices are on the market that claim to keep the bugs out of your home. Other devices claim to keep insects, such as mosquitoes, away from you while you are outside on the patio. These devices are controversial because of some of the scientific data, such as the study conducted by Utah State University, does not agree with the claims of the manufacturers. Does this Spark an idea?

Devices

Two main electronic devices are sold by different manufacturers. One device sends electromagnetic signals through your homes wiring. The other uses ultrasonic frequencies to reverberate through the home. Your pets can hear these vibrations and signals, the manufacturers claim that the devices will not harm the pet. The study from Utah State University states that even though rodents and insects will become afraid of the vibrations, the pests will eventually become accustomed to the signals and return.

Effect

Barb Ogg from the University of Nebraska conducted research on these devices and found that the ultrasonic equipment did not work. Even though some pests, like bugs and insects were repelled by the vibrations, not very many of the bugs left the home. According to Ben West and Terry Messmer from Utah State University, the electromagnetic vibration devices also did little to repel rodents and bugs.

Federal Trade Commission

The Federal Trade Commission warned the manufacturers of these electronic vibration devices in May 2001 about the claims the manufacturers were making. According to the report, the FTC went after six manufacturers and charged them with false advertising. Later the FTC sent letters to several manufacturers stating the claims must be backed up by scientific evidence. None of these devices were taken off the market, but the FTC continues to monitor the manufacturers to ensure they make claims that can be verified.

Claims

Even though the FTC warned these companies about the claims of the electronic vibration devices, the devices continue to sell in great numbers. One thing the FTC does allow the manufacturers to claim is that the devices repel rodents, insects and bugs of all kinds, but cannot claim the device eliminates these pests permanently. The companies can also claim that the device cause vibrations or signals that pests do not like, which is true. Companies have been vague in their advertising of these products, but continue to hint at the suggestion these electronic vibrations work permanently.

Tags: vibration devices, claim that, State University, Utah State, Utah State University

Use Bounce Dryer Sheets To Control Gnats

Bounce dryer sheets keep clothes static-free, soft, fragrant and are inexpensive.

Fungus gnats are not a threat to humans or animals, yet their presence can be annoying. Bounce dryer sheets are actually effective at repelling adult fungus gnats, according to the HortScience website; however, more testing needs to be done to determine how best to use this product to repel insects. Fungus gnats emerge indoors from the humus-rich soils in houseplants, such as African violets, geraniums, cyclamens and foliage plants. Fungus gnats are approximately 1/8- to 1/10-inch in size and look similar to a mosquito with slender legs, a grayish-black body and wings. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Pull a Bounce dryer sheet from its box.

2. Rub the dryer sheet briskly over clothing to keep gnats away from you.

3. Tuck the dryer sheet into your pocket. Your body heat helps circulate the linalool fragrance in the dryer sheet, thus repelling the gnats. Linalool is a monoterpene alcohol with a flower-like odor. This colorless liquid is used for making perfumes and cosmetics.

4. Cut a dryer sheet into strips and tape them to the sides of plant pots that contain soil rich in organic matter. This may discourage gnats from laying their eggs in the dirt and producing more of the pests.

5. Pull out a few Bounce dryer sheets and place them in unobtrusive areas around your home and greenhouse to repel gnats.

Tags: dryer sheet, Bounce dryer, Fungus gnats, Bounce dryer sheets, dryer sheet into, dryer sheets

Safe Insect Repellents For 2yearold Toddlers

Mosquitos have been linked to West Nile virus.

With mosquitoes linked to West Nile virus, and ticks spreading Lyme disease, more people are turning to insect repellents for protection. There are many repellents using different ingredients at different strengths, and knowing which is right for your family can be confusing. Does this Spark an idea?

Two Effective Ingredients

Products containg DEETand picaridin are most effective.

The Centers for Disease Control lists two ingredients it believes have proven most effective in insect repellents. These ingredients, DEET and picaridin, are both approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Child-Safe Repellents

Only DEET products are recommended by the AAP.

Picaridin and DEET are both considered safe for children over two months of age. While the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has not released an opinion or recommendation regarding the use of picaridin on children, it has declared repellents with up to 30 percent DEET to be safe for children and babies over two months. There is no EPA-approved repellent for children under two months of age.

Natural Ingredients

Recent years have seen the development of several insect repellents with only natural ingredients, most of them botanical. These products vary widely in efficacy and safety. For example, oil of lemon eucalyptus-based repellents are registered with the EPA and deemed effective, but their use is restricted, and they are recommended only for people age 3 and up. Other botanical-based repellents, containing primarily soybean oil, are touted as the safest for kids, but they are short-acting and much less effective.

Tags: insect repellents, linked West, linked West Nile, most effective, Nile virus, over months

Garlic Juice Benefits

A bunch of garlic bulbs.

Garlic has been used as a medicine for around 5,000 years, according to Home-Remedies-For-You.com. It is a natural antibacterial agent and it contains the antioxidants germanium and selenium, according to the website. Extracting the juice from garlic by puréeing the cloves, pressing and straining provides a liquid form of the herb that can be added to other juices, mixed into food or taken alone to boost the immune system and lower blood-pressure and cholesterol, according to HappyJuicer.com.

Lowers Cholesterol

According to WebMD, some studies have shown that consuming garlic may lower bad cholesterol. While garlic lowers bad cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), it may raise good cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, according to All4NaturalHealth.com.

Improves Heart Health

Garlic juice (in supplement form) has been proven to lower high blood pressure, according to All4NaturalHealth.com. It is also a natural blood thinner, which may be beneficial in preventing heart attack. However, this blood-thinning property can prolong bleeding and lead to difficulty with blood clotting, so people taking blood-thinning medications should not consume garlic juice, according to WebMD.

Disinfectant

Garlic juice contains allicin and other sulfur compounds with antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties, according to EarthClinic.com. Home-Remedies-For-You.com suggests mixing the juice of two or three cloves of garlic with water to create a disinfectant solution. The solution can be applied directly to wounds with a cotton pad. After applying the diluted juice, pus should begin to drain from the wound. The website recommends wiping the wound clean with fresh water, allowing it to dry and covering with fresh gauze.

Immune Booster

Nutrients essential to immune system heath including manganese, vitamin B6 , vitamin C, protein, thiamine, vitamin A and riboflavin are all found in garlic juice, according to All4NaturalHealth.com. It also contains beneficial minerals such as calcium, copper, iron, phosphorous and potassium and antioxidants, according to the website.

Tags: according All4NaturalHealth, according All4NaturalHealth also, according website, All4NaturalHealth also, garlic juice, Garlic juice

Citronella Plant Propagation

Citronella is a variety of geranium.

Citronella is a geranium variety that produces a scent that repels mosquitoes. The scent increases in intensity when you crush the plant leaves. Propagate a citronella geranium by taking cuttings off the plant in early fall, before the first killing frost. Does this Spark an idea?

Cuttings

Cut 3- to 5-inch-long shoots off the citronella for propagating new plants. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the shoot before sticking it into the rooting soil. This prevents the leaves from rotting in the soil. Citronella produces roots more quickly when you dip the cut end of the shoot in a powdered rooting hormone, available at garden supply stores.

Propagation

Cover the propagation tray with a clear plastic to create a humid environment, similar to a greenhouse. Move the tray to a warm area that receives filtered sunlight. It is important to open the cover every day to check the soil moisture and refresh the air. Mist the shoots and soil with water as needed to keep the soil moist but not wet.

Transplanting

The citronella shoots will produce roots in approximately four weeks. Transplant the new citronella plants into 3-inch diameter pots once the roots are approximately 1 inch long. Grow the new plants indoors in an area that receives full sunlight until the weather is appropriate to move them outdoors.

Tags: area that, area that receives, leaves from, roots approximately, that receives

Diy Organic Garden Spray

At one time or another, most gardens require maintenance beyond pruning and watering. Pests and illness strike even the healthiest plants, necessitating the use of herbicidal, fungicidal and insecticidal sprays. Many gardeners prefer to avoid harsh chemical sprays that may be harmful to people and pets, and instead opt for organic treatments. Creating homemade organic garden spray is a viable option for gardeners with mild to moderate pest infestations, and for those seeking to prevent infestations from occurring. Several formulas for simple and easy to prepare spray solutions exist, including some made from common household goods. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Homemade Organic Fungicidal Spray

1. Combine 5 tsp. of baking soda and 1 tbsp. canola oil with 1 gallon of water. Mix the ingredients until the baking soda is completely dissolved.

2. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle. The oil will stay suspended on the top of the water so it is important to stir the mixture while pouring it into the bottle.

3. Apply a light layer of the solution to all parts of the plant, including under the leaves, to treat powdery mildew, brown patch and black spot. Reapply the solution following heavy rain.

Homemade Organic Insect Repellent Spray

4. Smash two bulbs of garlic with a hammer or meat tenderizer to break the cloves apart. Use two large bulbs or three smaller bulbs.

5. Place the garlic in a food processor with two fresh habanero peppers. Pour 1 cup water into the food processor and pulse the ingredients until a thick paste is formed.

6. Strain the paste through cheesecloth to separate the solids from the liquid. Mix the liquid with 1 gallon of water to dilute it.

7. Pour the garlic-pepper water into a spray bottle. Shake the mixture before applying it.

8. Spray the aerial portions of the plant and the soil at the base with the garlic-pepper solution to repel slugs, snails, flies and other insects. Reapply the mixture as needed.

Homemade Organic Herbicidal Spray

9. Combine 1 gallon white or cider vinegar, 2 tbsp. orange oil and 1 tsp. liquid soap. Shake the ingredients to combine them.

10. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle.

11. Spray the mixture on weeds, root suckers and other unwanted vegetative growth to kill it. Reapply it after three days to ensure the job is done.

12. Use the spray on hot, windless days for best results.

Tags: Homemade Organic, into spray, into spray bottle, spray bottle, baking soda, food processor, gallon water

Remove Water From A Pool

A submersible pool pump will drain approximately 12 gallons of water per minute from your pool.

If you own a swimming pool, at some point it will probably need to be drained. Pool owners may choose to drain their pool for a variety of reasons, such as contamination, general maintenance or repair, or just in preparation for winter. Unfortunately, draining the pool isn’t as simple as pulling a plug, but with the right equipment and some diligence, you can have an empty pool in no time. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Turn off the circuit breaker that supplies power to your pool's filtration system. Locate and turn off the automatic water fill valve. The location of this valve varies by pool, but you can probably find it near a spigot on the outside of the house.

2. Look for the cleanout port in order to gain access to the sanitary sewer line or septic tank. The cleanout port is typically located in the ground and has a square indentation for a wrench on the top.

3. Remove the cleanout port cover using the wrench and insert the drainage hose into the port. Connect the other end of the drainage hose to the submersible pump. Place the drainage pump into the pool’s deepest area. Once you turn on the pump and insert it into the pool, it will drain at approximately 12 gallons per minute.

Tags: cleanout port, approximately gallons, drain approximately, drain approximately gallons, drainage hose, will drain

Keep Ticks Off Of My Land

Maintaining a well-groomed lawn will help reduce tick infestation on your land.

Related to spiders and mites, ticks are blood-feeding arthropods that act as carriers of serious maladies including Lyme disease, encephalitis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. They are typically transported on animals including mice, dogs and deer, and easily attach themselves to human hosts as well. Outdoors, ticks thrive in warm, humid environments. While completely eradicating ticks on land would be virtually impossible, it is possible to reduce tick populations via habitat modification, physical barriers or chemical treatments. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Eliminate Common Habitats for Ticks

1. Rake leaf litter, weeds and brush throughout the affected landscape to reduce the moist areas that attract ticks.

2. Mow your grass regularly and discard the clippings to eliminate moist ground cover that attracts and shelters ticks.

3. Ticks thrive in the moist shelter of groundcover such as moss and pachysandra.

Eliminate, trim or restrict groundcover and subshrubs including bushes and plants, which provide ideal shelter for tick populations.

Create Physical Barriers

4. Deer fencing can significantly reduce tick infestation related to local fauna.

Install deer fencing around the perimeter of your property to prevent deer and other wildlife from transporting ticks onto your land.

5. Design a living border around the perimeter of your property using species of plants and trees that are not attractive to deer. Juniper, rose and hydrangea shrubs are effective, as are hickory, Colorado spruce and black pine trees.

6. Install a three-foot border of gravel, mulch or wood chip between your land and surrounding wooded areas.

Apply Pesticides or Chemical Treatments

7. Spray a pesticide containing beta-cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, esfenvalerate, permethrin, pyrethrins or tralomethrin around the yard perimeter and in any shady plant beds. Open, sunny lawns do not typically house ticks and will not need treatment.

8. Place tick tubes along the perimeter of the affected land. Bi-annual applications in the spring and summer are effective ways to attack tick populations during their larval and nymphal stages.

9. Apply a natural tick repellent, such as lemon eucalyptus oil, citronella or rose geranium essential oil, to the perimeter of the affected land. Anecdotal evidence suggests that these are safe alternatives to commercial pesticides.

Tags: reduce tick, tick populations, your land, affected land, around perimeter, around perimeter your

Garlic Fly Repellent Myths

Flies have long been a bane of mankind, leading people from the earliest times to try to find ways to repel them. While some folk repellents are effective, others are not, particularly those regarding the consumption of garlic. Does this Spark an idea?

Garlic Myths

Legend has it that eating garlic will keep flies and other insects away from you. While strong garlic breath may be effective at keeping other people and vampires away, no studies have ever shown eating garlic to be effective at repelling insects.

Garlic Facts

Garlic-based spray products are often effective at keeping flies and other insects at bay. Rather than consuming them yourself, garlic sprays are intended to be applied to plants or other areas from which you want to keep flies.

Other Repellents

Crushed mint, bay leaves and eucalyptus work to keep flies away when hung around the house or yard. Pine Sol sprayed on the surfaces you want to protect has also been reported to repel flies.

Tags: keep flies, eating garlic, effective keeping, flies other insects, other insects

Geranium Oil As A Mosquito Repellent

Mosquito repellent made from geranium oil is not as effective as others.

Most mosquito repellents contain DEET or other chemicals, so many have tried to find a natural replacement for them. While some believe that geranium oil can work as a mosquito repellent, its effectiveness is questionable. Does this Spark an idea?

Uses

Many claims have been associated with geranium oil over the years. Organic health proponents have maintained the oil can help cure depression, relieve stress, fight dry skin and kill lice. Most of these claims have not been proved in scientific studies.

Warning

A study done by Donald R. Barnard and Rui-De Xue for the Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology in Gainesville, Florida, found that the effectiveness of geranium oil as a mosquito repellent is rather limited. While it was able to repel mosquitoes for a couple of hours, its longevity was eclipsed by chemical repellents, which can work for up to eight hours in some cases.

Function

Studies have shown that the best "natural" mosquito repellents usually contain more than just one type of oil. According to the Mississippi Department of Health, Bite Blocker, a repellent that contains geranium, soybean and coconut oil, can repel mosquitoes for up to 3 1/2 hours, longer than any repellent that contains only geranium oil.

Tags: claims have, claims have been, have been, mosquito repellents, repel mosquitoes, repellent that

Fix Things With Magnets

Magnets are a cheap and easy way to fix many small problems in your home. Small or large magnets can help keep items in place (such as faulty drawers), or simply keep your home organized. Using magnets, you will be able to conceal problems easily and avoid many costly repairs.

Instructions

Use Magnets to Fix Things

1. Use two magnets if you have a drawer or cabinet door in your home that simply will not stay closed to help keep it shut. Take two magnets that can connect to one another (one positive, one negative). Then, using double-sided tape, attach one magnet to the inside panel of the door or drawer, and the other on the door or drawer itself. Make sure the two ends meet up and will connect to each another. Your door or drawer should stay closed now, but open easily when you pull on them to open.

2. Fix damaged computer monitors or televisions. The damaged screens are caused by exposure to a magnetic force. For instance, if your TV or computer monitor sits inside a wall unit with doors that have a magnetic closure, this can severely damage your screen over prolonged exposure. One way to fix this is to take a simple refrigerator magnet (don't use a powerful magnet, it may damage it further), and rub it across the entire screen. Then, using the same magnet, attach it to the end of an electric drill (it will connect magnetically to the end), and turn the drill on so the magnet is spinning. Run the drill/magnet across the screen as it is spinning for about 5-10 seconds. You will see the damaged pixels return to normal.

3. Hold objects in place. For example, you can use a large magnet to hold an ironing board in place for storage. When using an ironing board that is attached to the wall and folds down for use, you can attach one magnet to the tip, or pointed end of the ironing board, and another magnet to the wall. Be sure that the magnets line up. When you fold the ironing board up against the wall, the magnet will be able to hold it in place.

4. Organize your home. You can use magnets on the refrigerator to hold important reminders, calendars or photographs. Magnets can also be used on a metal picture frame or metal frame around a mirror in a bedroom, bathroom or office to hold similar items. You can also purchase small, lightweight hooks to attach to magnets (with double sided tape), and use the hooks to hold things like hair bands, necklaces, computer cables or other small items in the bedroom, bathroom or office. Be sure to keep the items lightweight though. If the item is too heavy, it will pull the magnet down and not keep your items in place.

Tags: ironing board, your home, door drawer, attach magnet, bathroom office, bedroom bathroom, bedroom bathroom office

Heal Insect Stings

take the bite out of a bee or wasp sting.

Instructions

1. If you are attacked by bees or wasps, remove the stinger by scraping it out with a finger nail, nail file, knife, or the edge of a credit card. Make sure you get under the stinger and pop it out. Do not use tweezers as this may push more poison into your skin.

2. Wash the wound area well with warm, soapy water and apply peroxide or alcohol.

3. Ice packs can help reduce swelling from a sting. The heat from a hair dryer or heating pad can help reduce inflammation. Apply moistened, crushed aspirin paste to the sting site. Applying the ammonia household cleaner to the wound may help with pain. Or try McCormick's Meat Tenderizer, but you must use this immediately after being stung for it to work.

4. Take an over-the-counter antihistamine. If you know you are allergic to bee or wasp stings, or if you experience symptoms of anaphylactic shock (itching, swelling of the face, throat and eyes, dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, reddish rash, cramping or numbness), go to the emergency room immediately.

Tags: help reduce

Control Mosquito Larvae Without Chemicals

Mosquitoes feed on mammals' blood.

Mosquitoes are common yard pests that feed solely on blood. In addition to inflicting painful, itchy bites, mosquitoes also spread diseases like West Nile virus and parasites like wolf worm. Their larvae develop in shallow, stagnant water and develop into pupae that swim to the surface to breathe. By preventing or killing mosquito larvae in your yard, you lessen your likelihood of contracting a mosquito-borne illness as well as prevent annoying bites.

Instructions

1. Clean your gutters and clear your yard of debris like old tires, wood piles and dog toys. Mosquito larvae can develop in a very small amount of water, and debris tends to fill with water. Gutters are among the most common locations for mosquitoes to lay eggs because they provide a moist, quiet hiding place for the larvae to develop.

2. Dump water from bird baths, dog bowls and other water receptacles daily. This discourages mosquitoes from laying eggs and kills any larvae that have taken up residence in the water.

3. Pour a small amount of apple cider vinegar in areas where mosquito larvae are developing. This substance is nontoxic to animals but will kill the mosquito larvae. It will not harm plants so is safe to use liberally around the yard.

4. Plant citronella around your yard. Mosquitoes hate the smell of citronella and will avoid yards with citronella plants. Larvae that hatch in these yards will quickly leave. Citronella herbs have a pleasant, slightly lemony smell. Create a barrier of these plants around your yard, planting them in any locations you commonly notice mosquitoes and their larvae.

Tags: your yard, larvae develop, around your, around your yard, mosquito larvae, small amount

Identify Cellulitus

Identify Cellulitus

Cellulitis literally means "inflammation of the cells." In practice, however, it refers specifically to acute skin infections, usually caused when opportunistic bacteria invade a break in the skin. Cellulitis is common and occurs in 2 to 3 percent of the population each year. It is generally not serious, although complications such as gas gangrene can be lethal. The following steps will show identify cellulitis.

Instructions

1. Obtain the patient history, especially in regard to a recent injury or surgery at the infection site. Common presenting complaints include localized pain and swelling. The incubation period depends on the specific causative organism.

2. Examine the infection physically. Cellulitis infections are hot, red, swollen and tender. The borders are usually not sharply marked or elevated. The local lymph nodes also may be infected.

3. Conduct general laboratory tests. The white blood cell count is elevated in 42 percent of cellulitis cases, and the C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation frequently is elevated as well.

4. Perform a gram stain from a needle aspiration of the soft tissue. This may be helpful in immunocompromised patients for determining a course of treatment. The causative organism also may need to be cultured in patients with chills and high fever, indicating bacteremia. These procedures are rarely done in uncomplicated cases of cellulitis and the diagnosis is normally made clinically.

5. Use imaging studies to rule out other possibilities such as fasciitis or osteomyelitis. Ultrasound also may be used to evaluate existing suppuration and guide a needle aspiration.

Tags: causative organism, Identify Cellulitus, needle aspiration

Clean The Bottom Of A Tropical Fish Tank

The bottom of your fish tank can easily become dirty if not regularly cleaned.

Keeping the bottom of a tropical fish tank clean is one of the most important steps to overall tank health and maintenance. Aquarium gravel acts as a trap for all sorts of dirt and debris in the tank, from leftover fish food to fish waste. The bottom of the tank can quickly become a breeding ground for algae and bacteria if not kept properly clean. Cleaning the bottom of your fish tank is simple and can be done in just a few minutes each week.

Instructions

1. Place the 5-gallon bucket on the ground next to the tank, and place the end of the siphon tube into the bottom of the bucket.

2. Submerge the entire head of the siphon vacuum into the aquarium at approximately a 45-degree angle.

3. Start the siphon by vigorously moving the siphon head up and down in the water column to build pressure, being careful to keep the siphon submerged as you do so. Alternately, you can submerge the head of the siphon in the aquarium and suck on the other end of the siphon tube to get the flow started. Make sure to drop the tube into the bucket as soon as the flow of water arcs over the tank side, or you may wind up tasting your fish water.

4. Sink the head of the siphon tube into the aquarium gravel, starting in one corner of the tank, and lift back out to suck up debris.

5. Continue siphoning the gravel, moving in rows across the tank, until you have drained out 10 to 15 percent of the tank water.

6. Remove the siphon from the tank slowly to allow the water to drain into the bucket, and refill the tank with dechlorinated water.

7. Repeat this process once a week or every other week, cleaning a new patch of gravel each time.

Tags: fish tank, head siphon, siphon tube, tube into, your fish, bottom your, bottom your fish

Make A Tesla Coil

A Tesla coil, named for its inventor Nikola Tesla, is a high-voltage resonant transformer that can be used to produce long electrical discharges. They are relatively simple to construct from easily obtainable materials, and the light shows they produce are fascinating to watch. To make a very simple Tesla coil, follow these steps.

Instructions

Make the Parts

1. Find a transformer rated at 9,000 volts or better and 30 milliamps. Many people opt for neon sign transformers, which are relatively easy to find. Others use oil furnace ignition transformers or automotive coil transformers, which produce much more subtle effects.

2. Make a capacitor by layering the five sheets of polystyrene alternating with the four metal plates. The plates can be copper or aluminum foil or just very thin aluminum plates.

3. Make the spark gaps with the four L brackets and the bolts. Put the round end caps on the ends of the bolts.

4. Wrap a heavy-gauge bare wire six or seven times around a cylinder form at least eight inches in diameter. Poke holes in four pieces of PVC pipe and thread the wire through to form your primary coil. The holes in the PVC should be about 1/8 inch apart.

5. Wind the enameled wire tightly around the three-inch PVC form for your secondary coil. This one should have about 500 turns. Varnish the coil with several heavy coats and make sure it dries evenly.

6. Wrap 20 turns of enameled wire on two separate 1? inch diameter PVC pipes for your radio-frequency chokes (RFCs).

Assemble the Parts

7. Mount the doorknob on top of the secondary coil. This acts as the top discharge terminal. Set the secondary coil inside the primary coil and attach both at the center of the piece of wood.

8. Attach the four remaining PVC pipes to the underside of the board. Attach the spark gaps, radio frequency chokes, to the top of the board. Slip the transformer underneath, and put the capacitor on top of the transformer.

9. Attach a ground rod to the wire leading from RFC 2 to the primary coil.

Tags: primary coil, secondary coil, coil This, enameled wire, form your, secondary coil This, spark gaps