by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: July 10, 2008   Last Updated: November 18, 2009

Make sure your doors and windows have screens is the first line of defense against invading insects. Your home must be air tight home and have absolutely no areas that are open to the outside. Windows when opened must be securely screened with no torn places and no open areas around the screen. Your air conditioner, if it is the window variety must be sealed tightly to see no open spaces will permit crawling and flying little critters to crawl in uninvited. This is the answer to the question as to how to keep insects out and it is something you work toward, but it does not always work that way.

Just try keeping lady bugs out in the fall. It almost seems they can evaporate themselves and then become alive on the other side of the window. Of course they can't but they do somehow find a tiny little opening somewhere. Older houses that are known to have areas inviting to such creatures are especially prone to be invaded with these dainty little bugs come autumn. And too, although you want an air tight house sometimes a little air needs to get through, therefore very few houses are one hundred percent bug proof.

Speaking of bug proof it's the tenacity of roaches that test most of our skills at keeping them out of our homes once they have taken up residence. Once they take up residence and start propagating themselves you will be overrun with roaches in no time. The only sure way of course of keeping them out is to have absolutely no way they can get in. Even if you have termite control and you have your home sprayed or treated for roaches once a month they will get in if there are loosened molding in the flooring around the floor. If you see where this is beginning to pull away from the wall, you can be sure roaches will find a way in - if there are any in the neighborhood, that is. You neighbor in the next apartment, as an example, may have an ample supply.

If there are openings in the ceiling molding they could also get in there. If you see the molding pulling away from the wall, seal this off with a heavy clear tape and you will see for yourself how many unwelcome roaches had thought to take up refuge in your warm house. Also make sure the seams around the ceiling and the walls offer no easy routes for them.

If you are an organic gardener and are familiar with how to take care of pests in your garden you can also use this method to spray your house for bugs, roaches included. One sure way of making sure your summer cottage will not be overrun with bugs during

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