Doug wrote- >We swear by Frontline Plus, once a month. >[http://www.1800petmeds.com/pselect.asp?LV=201&PG=Frontline%20Plus] > >The other topical medication, Advantage, doesn't work as well.
Although I didn't like the thought of Frontline initially, it has served this household well for >10 years. With 3 big dogs and southern heat/mild winters, fleas were winning for a while. The trick we learned initially was to treat 2 of the 3 life stages, for us yard treatment (from the local feed store- one year it was a spreader type and another it was a hose attachment depending on who you talked to) and Frontline broke the cycle and then we only needed to keep up the Frontline. (Read carefully and be cautious of the kids playing with the dogs after frontline application, it is a neurotoxin IIRC.) Regarding all other pests in "this old house", I rely on the "bugman". The local service comes once a month for spraying and termite control, but they help keep the 100 year old house free of visitors that come from large gaps around molding, etc. The spiders originally carried picket signs and now I hardly see any. For a month or so of "phone book tossing"- 3-4 inch thick phone books thrown like a horse shoe are generally heavy enough (and moving with enough velocity) to stun (if not smash) a large house spider... and then it is easier to step on the book with my usually bare foot. The bug guy said that it is tough to spray for some spiders and we had "spider bait" trays around the house until we had dogs (not good around kids either). I read somewhere that there are lizards that will feed on spiders and palmetto bugs (large carolina roaches), I seem to recall geckos(?) My reason for not investigating further was I didn't know how much food density they needed, or if the dogs would think they were a "toy". And "how do you keep track of the lizard's where bouts (and if he/she escapes)? Good luck, Dee _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
