YUCK!!! Flying insects

Hi! I'm just wondering if anyone here knows of any effective pet-safe methods of keeping flying insects from getting inside. And this would include those icky Boxelder bugs and Japanese Beetles. I was looking at a couple of sprays earlier today, but I would prefer to avoid chemical use if possible.

Wow, that sucks! How are they getting into your home? Eeks, Iv'e never had that problem other then mosquito and flies. When I visited family in Kansas, a cicada flew in their home, freaked me out, the thing was screaming and huge!!!!!!!!

The bottom of the front door doesn't fit tightly enough so I think that's one way they can get in.

Originally Posted by Lorie D.

The bottom of the front door doesn't fit tightly enough so I think that's one way they can get in.

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First time Iv'e heard of Japanese Beetles coming into a home through door cracks, but there's a first time for everything! One thing I know is they do follow a chemical trail, like ants........I am a gardener/landscaper and we use 2 tablespoons ivory dish detergent, 1 teaspoon rubbing alcohol to a gallon of water as a spray for ants, aphids, Japanese beetles, and several other pests. It kills small insects very easily and destroys their chemical trail.

A old house I used to live in had problems with ants, geckos and palmento bugs (also known as GIANT flying roaches!) getting in under the front door. I used to spray around the doors and windows with 1/2 and 1/2 vinegar solution and that helped with the creepy crawlies (well, not so much the geckos but they were cute so I didn't mind ). I've also heard that ammonia solution works but that stunk too much for me.

Good luck!

The vinegar solution might be worth trying, and I'll also try the dish detergent--rubbing alcohol solution. Do these solutions have to be wet in order to keep insects out or can they be dry?????

Originally Posted by Lorie D.

The vinegar solution might be worth trying, and I'll also try the dish detergent--rubbing alcohol solution. Do these solutions have to be wet in order to keep insects out or can they be dry?????

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I just put the vinager solultion in a spray bottle and sprayed it around the cracks. It would dry, but as long as the smell was there it did cut down on the bugs. I had to reapply about twice a week. Of course, my house always smelled like I was coloring easter eggs but it was worth it!