Pests (or Guests)

Recently I got a call from a lady who was panicking because of her neighbors plans to control clover mites. Apparently the neighbor hired an exterminator to spray his trees with cyfluthrin for the mites. The person who called me is chemically sensitive as is her dog, who is still sick from pesticide exposure a couple of years ago. The neighbor was afraid the clover mites would infest him or his dogs. This is, of course, nonsense. Clover mites do not infest people or animals. They live on the ground and feed on a variety of plants, mostly grasses. Clover mites are best controlled by removing all vegetation from within about two feed of the house, particularly grass. Make sure all cracks and crevices small enough to admit them are sealed. If they get in the house, just wipe them up with a soapy rag.

Cyfluthrin is not harmless. Cyfluthrin is a neurotoxin with a similar mode of action as DDT. Acute
exposures can cause stinging skin, tremors, convulsions, decreased blood pressure, and labored breathing. Cyfluthrin products also contain several inert ingredients that are not disclosed. The industry calls them trade secrets. Some inerts found in cyfluthrin based pesticides include Xylenes, which can cause eye, throat and nose irritation, labored breathing, lung inflammation, nausea, vomiting, mild liver toxicity, impaired short-term memory, and hearing loss in exposed humans. Another inert ingredient is Ethylbenzene . It causes throat irritation, eye irritation, damage to liver and kidneys, dizziness, and incoordination in humans. And the last are Trimethylbenzenes, which are highly volatile solvents that can cause skin and eye irritation, nervousness, tension, bronchitis, disruptions of the ability of blood to clot, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and loss of consciousness. Cyfluthrin is also highly toxic to honey bees.

Which would you prefer to have around your house? Clover mites, which are absolutely harmless, or a cyfluthrin pesticide which is potentially very dangerous.

I have finished a book on this subject, called “Pests (or Guests) & How to Manage them Safely and Effectively”. This booklet is absolutely free to anyone and everyone in North America. We have to quit exposing our children, our pets, and ourselves to toxic pesticides. There is no reason the woman who contacted me had to get sick or her dog had to get sick simply because her neighbor had clover mites. If you want a copy of the booklet for yourself or for your business, school, medical facility or anywhere, please let me know. You can contact me at askthebugman2013@gmail.com and I will send it to you in pdf format.