There are lots of pests in this world, and at some point everyone will find themselves battling a pest. Pest can invade our garden, our home, buildings the list goes on and on. Pests can be bugs, plants or animals. Just the mention of fleas, cockroaches, dandelions, mold, mice and rats can elicit strong emotions. Pests present a health hazard to your family, pets, and garden.

It is important to know how to properly control these pests that invade our lives. It is nearly impossible to eliminate pests, but it is imperative to control these invasive pests. There are various methods of controlling pests these can include chemical control, biological control, mechanical methods, or a combination thereof.

Mechanical pest control is usually the most cost effective and if implemented before a vast infestation takes place can produce desired results. Mechanical methods include hand picking (such as pulling weeds) and traps (such as a mouse trap). Mechanical methods of pest control are usually the most environmentally friendly.

Biological pest control includes insecticides that are derived from plants or other naturally occurring substances such as microorganisms.

Chemical pest control includes the use of more toxic synthetic pesticides. Chemical pest control is not environmentally friendly and is never considered as an organic method of control.

Integrated Pest Management is the coordinated use of pest and environmental information along with available pest control methods, including cultural, biological, genetic and chemical methods, to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment. (Proceedings of the National Integrated Pest Management Forum. 1992. American Farmland Trust)

Integrated Pest Management stresses the use of complementary methods of pest control such as the introduction of natural predators. This method of pest control is much more ecologically sound than relying on chemical methods.

The first step in pest control is to identify the problem. Particularly when plants are involved, the problem may involve poor growing conditions instead of an attack from an invasive pest. Sometimes identifying the pest is obvious, if you see a mouse scurrying across the floor it is obvious you have need for pest control. The next step is to identify how serious the infestation is, or is this just one mouse that has found its way into your home, or is there a family of mice that has taken up habitation in your home. One mouse can often easily be eradicated using a mouse trap or possibly the family cat. However if you have a large infestation of mice, you may need to resort to stronger chemical methods or find it necessary to hire a professional exterminator to rid your home of the pest problem.

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At the first site of a home invasion of bugs, dont run for the spray gun. First, learn a little about the insect and how much of an invasion has really occurred. There just may be an easy way for you to get rid of the pest without putting yourself, your family, or your pets at risk. However, if a showdown is what it takes, there are some steps you should take to keep your home environment safe and healthy for your family.

The behavior of certain pests can help you eliminate them. For example, if your problem is cockroaches in your kitchen, you can set out baits in the corners of cabinets or hide them behind appliances against the wall. This is because cockroaches tend to follow along walls when they scout for food and water. No matter what insect has invaded your home, knowing your opponent will help you choose an effective and economical way to eliminate your infestation.

The pest may decide to avoid a showdown. Run them out of town by removing sources of food, water, and shelter. Most insects come into your home for these reasons. If the necessities for life are not there, they will go elsewhere. You may need to have a leaky faucet repaired and store food in sealed containers. You may also need to seal cracks under doors, next to windows, and around drainpipes to keep the insects from entering your home. Throwing out unnecessary paper boxes and paper bags can also eliminate places for insects to hide.

Use baits first because they are usually clean and have little or no odor. However, you must place them away from kids and pets. A child or pet may be attracted to bright colors or mistake the bait for a toy or treat.

You may also want to try an organic solution that is less harmful to the environment and often has fewer odors. However, organic does not mean it will be completely harmless to you, your family, or pets. You still need to follow the manufactures safety precautions when using organic pesticides.

To get ready for the showdown, read the label first. And read all of it, so you will know how to apply the pesticide, how much pesticide you need, where and where not to apply it, and most importantly, what to do in case of an emergency. The special warnings not only tell you to keep it out of your eyes, for example, but what to do if you spray and its carried to your eyes.

If sprays are necessary, only use what is approved for home or indoor use and use only the recommended amount. Inside your home a chemical can be toxic, especially those designed for the outdoors. Chemicals designed for the outdoors often remain toxic longer inside than they would outdoors, because outdoors the chemical will breakup and disperse to some degree, but inside the wind and elements are not there to help this happen. When spraying indoors, you may want to air out the house before you close it up for the night.

Dont over do it. More is not better when it comes to chemicals in and around your home. Use the amount recommended on the label. The manufacturer of the product makes recommendations with the expectation that you will use it properly for the right insect, in the right volume, and in the right environment.

Dont forget to dispose of unused pesticides properly. You will find the disposal instructions on the label. And dont transfer the pesticide to another container or use the pesticide container for something else. Of course, keep stored pesticides away from children and pets. In the United States, every 15 seconds a poison control center takes a call. Most of the calls are concerning a child and a substance the child found in the home.

If your home has been invaded with pests, dont be fast on the trigger. Take a little time to learn about your opponents and then run them out of town. But if a showdown is the only way to rid your home of the pest, be the quickest on the draw by selecting a product designed for the pest and one that is suited for use in your home. For more information on products or pest, please go to www.pestproductsonline.com. For our organic selection, visit http:www.pestproductsonline.comst_organic_category.htm.

Are you irritated by your itchy scalp? Do friends and officemates make fun of you because you always scratch your head? If you are experiencing this common problem, then chances are you have lice. Start to get rid of it now!

1. What are lice?

Lice are small parasite-like insects. Their home is on the hairs of people. They eat by sucking a small quantity of blood from our scalp. Lice usually thrive on scalps of 3 to 12 year-old kids. Girls are much more susceptible to lice than boys.

2. Lice facts:

- Lice do not pose a significant risk to our health

- Lice can easily spread from one person to another

- The feeling of itchiness is caused by the lice bites

- Frequent scratching of the scalp can cause further inflammation

- In rare cases, the skin can be infected which may trigger infection

3. How to treat lice:

Lice shampoos and lotions can be directly bought over-the-counter or can be prescribed. The medications are based on the lice treatment history of the patient. Do not experiment on these treatments because they are very much like insecticides. Follow your doctors advice or instructions carefully. The directions on the shampoo or lotion should be strictly followed so that the treatment can be effective. Your doctor may also ask you to buy hair rinses that are made to untangle hair.

These lice treatments most often than not, completely eradicate lice although continuous usage is needed for it to take affect. Seven to ten days is the common treatment period for lice by this method. Before stopping medication, you should be positive that all lice are killed since they can easily reproduce and come back with a vengeance.

4. Lice removal tips:

- Lice lay eggs attached to the base of the hair. In addition to using medication, it is recommended, especially for children ages 2 to 6, to manually remove the eggs from the hair one by one

- Combs with fine bristles should be used to comb your childs hair after taking a bath

- Shampoo hair 3 up to 4 days in a span of 2 weeks. The hair should be wet before combing

- Beddings and clothes that are just worn by someone with lice should be washed in very hot water

- Store clothing and anything else that can not be washed in bags that are airtight for two weeks, such as toys or bedcovers

- Carpet and upholstery in homes and cars should be vacuum cleaned regularly

- Submerge objects like brushes, combs, headbands, hair ties and barrettes in rubbing alcohol or shampoo for lice treatment for one hour, or dispose of them

- Do not utilize hair dryers to dry the hair of your child after putting on the anti-lice medication. Some chemicals in the shampoo or lotion are flammable

- Shampoos and conditioners should not be used prior to lice treatment application

- Sprays or pest control should not be used to kill lice. It could do more harm than good. It can also be poisonous

- Lice treatment should not be used or applied to a single person for more than three times. If the lice are still there after three applications, the medication should be changed.

- One lice treatment should be used at time. Do not alternate it with another

What are the 10 most dangerous pests? What are antimicrobials and how do they protect us? What do the most effective insect repellents contain?

Find answers to these questions and more on the Consumer Specialty Products Association’s public information Web sites, DeetOnline.org, AboutBugs.com and AboutGerms.com.

The sites provide in-depth information on disinfectants, pest repellents and other everyday products that help provide a cleaner, healthier living environment.

Read on to find out more about the Web sites and how they can help you.

* DeetOnline.org: From choosing and using repellents to protecting yourself from insect-borne diseases, DeetOnline.org provides eye-opening information on and benefits of using DEET-containing products. These products – along with cautionary measures such as wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants and checking for ticks immediately after spending time outdoors – are your best bet for keeping insect- and tick-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus and Lyme disease, at bay.

Spotting repellents containing DEET is now easier thanks to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which approved adding the acronym to labels, clarifying its cumbersome scientific name. The site answers frequently asked questions and contains helpful links to information about this active ingredient.

* AboutBugs.com: Effective pest control starts with knowing more about the everyday insects that can threaten your health, including houseflies, cockroaches, lice, dust mites and spiders. For instance, did you know that ordinary houseflies have extraordinarily bad habits that can affect your health? Flies can pick up disease-causing germs, transferring them to food you eat by touching surfaces with their legs or mouths.

Aside from taking a critical look at these pests, the site also shows how pest management products help people, animals and crops. It also provides in-depth information on West Nile virus, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

* AboutGerms.com: Most germs, or microbes, are so small, they can only be seen with a microscope. From the plates you use to the water you drink, germs are ever-present – and some are harmful.

AboutGerms.com offers a comprehensive look at germs and the antimicrobials that help protect your health and home. Antimicrobial products are used to clean and disinfect homes, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, schools and offices, and to purify drinking water.

You can defeat ants, cockroaches, spiders, fleas and bedbugs. They’re more than a nuisance. They can cause medical problems:

Recent studies attribute cockroach allergens as the number- three contributor to children’s asthma.

Of the 10,000 spider bites reported each year, about 20 percent come from the brown recluse spider, one of six poisonous spiders in the United States. A bite from one of these spiders can take months to heal.

Adult fleas are not only a nuisance to humans and their pets, but can cause medical problems including flea allergy dermatitis, tapeworms, secondary skin irritations and, in extreme cases, anemia.

Bedbugs feed mainly on the blood of humans at night when people are asleep. As they feed, they inject a salivary secretion into the wound that often causes the skin to itch and become swollen. Scratching causes sores that may become infected.

The best way to control indoor pests is to prevent them from entering your home. Eliminate standing water in or around your house. Stack wood away from your house. Store food in sealed containers. Keep a clean kitchen. Caulk cracks and crevices indoors and out. Bathe pets regularly so that fleas and Lyme disease-carrying ticks aren’t transported inside.

However, even the cleanest, well-caulked home can be inviting to many pests, says Bayer Advanced entomologist Ken Kukorowski, PhD. But there′s a simple, do-it-yourself approach to eliminating pests.

Bayer Advanced Home Pest Control, now available with a battery-operated sprayer, kills ants, roaches, spiders, fleas, bedbugs and other pests on contact and lasts for up to nine months indoors. No other do-it-yourself home pest-control product protects for a longer period of time.

Spray it into cracks, crevices and other spots where insects hide indoors. Outside, spray a three- to four-foot band alongside the foundation of the house as well as around windows and doors to create a barrier to keep bugs out. Always be sure to follow the instructions on the label.

All Bayer Advanced products carry a money-back guarantee.