You have what's called DIGGER BEES. There are thousands of species throughout the world and what's most interesting about this bee is that they tend to nest in close proximity whether they're a communal or solitary species. The net result is that you can have thousands of them in the yard and they can appear "suddenly" and almost overnight. This will usually happen in the spring.

Now if they're a communal species, they will be closely linked to a central nest. This will be in an area the size of a kitchen table. But if they're solitary, they will be dispersed over a large area, maybe most if not all of the yard, with hundreds if not thousands of individual nests.

Based on your message, there would have to have been some nests in the yard last year which were obviously successful. What we find commonly happens is that nests will start small and innocently one year and then explode the next year. Since some of these species can lay thousands of eggs, just a few in the yard one season can easily become a few thousand a year later.

To control the problem you'll need to apply the granules and liquid spray listed in our Digger Bee article. These products are quite strong and will provide quick results. The organic option would be to substitute the products listed in our article with ECO GRANULES and BUG PATROL (these are listed on this site). Keep in mind the products listed in our article are more "traditional" pesticides and will no doubt work faster. The ECO Granules and Bug Patrol will be shorter lived; expect to get about a month from the ECO Granules and just 1 week with the Bug Patrol.

It's also important to understand the "surge" in population you're seeing is because you have a lot of pupae hatching. This is the third stage of the bee and when lying in the ground, these cannot be killed by the treatment. Since they don't all hatch at the same time, it will take several treatments to eradicate them because every time there are new ones hatching after you spray, you'll start seeing new ones in the yard. This is perfectly normal. So don't feel the spray isn't working when you first start using it. We've found it can take 4-8 weeks for the pupae to all hatch out so be diligent and stay the course if you want to get rid of them once and for all.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Digger Bee Control:  http://www.bugspray.com/articles99/diggerwasps.html

ECO Granules:  http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/granules/eco-exempt-granules

Bug Patrol:  http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/concentrates/bug-patrol-rts

Go with any of the following: MULTIPUPOSE INSECE KILLER, BUG PATROL RTS or NBS REPELLENT.

The Multipurpose can be used with any of these SPRAYERS and will both kill and keep these beetles away for a week or longer. The Bug Patrol comes in a hose end sprayer so just hook it to your garden hose and spray away. It will work like the Multi Purpose in that it will both kill and repel for a week or longer. The NBS is just a repellent so it won't kill anything. It can be sprayed with anything.

All these products are organic and safe to be used on the building.

We have a few options and I expect one will serve your needs adequately. Here are some suggestions.

The first would be the "strongest" option. It's federally exempt due to the fact that it uses food grade actives and is very safe for use around people and animals. ECO IC is a concentrate that can be used inside and outside the home and will no doubt control all the pests you're likely to encounter. It's not a pesticide but it does act like one in that it kills target insects and supplies a lengthy residual or residue that will remain active for some time.

The second option would be the BUG PATROL RTS. This is an organic spray that can't be used inside but instead is designed for use around the home. It's highly effective on tough to kill bugs like roaches and ants. By spraying once a quarter (every three months), you'd knock down the local insect population and in theory effectively reduce the odds of any coming inside. This approach is actually  much more effective compared to waiting till you see them inside and then spraying where everyone lives. Getting bugs outside the home, before they get inside, is a better approach and this product is one of the best organic options when using this method.

The third option would be the HOUSE PLANT INSECT KILLER. Labeled for use inside the home, on house plants and pretty much anywhere, it's ready to spray (comes in a can) and is very handy to have for spot treating. Use as needed or every 2 months. It won't be the most cost effective material to use if you're house is large but it might have a place in your overall program since it can be used as much as needed, is organic and can be applied on any vegetable plant inside or out in the yard around the home.

Lastly, you could opt for a total non pesticide approach with the pure INSECT REPELLENT. This product is to be used outside only and is mostly used as a paint or stain additive. When used in this fashion, it can repel pests for 1-2 years including all the ones you listed above. When used as a spray, results won't be as long but you should still get 2-3 months of residual. This would be the most "green" option as it's not a pesticide and won't kill anything. Given the location of the home, I'm not sure this will prove effective enough for your needs but it might.

In summary, all of these options are included on this site and considered non toxic when compared to traditional pesticides. Hopefully one of these options will fulfill your requirement. Here are links to the products mentioned above:

ECO IC:  http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/concentrates/eco-exempt-ic-concentrate

Bug Patrol:  http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/concentrates/bug-patrol-rts

House Plant Killer:  http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/aerosols/houseplant-insect-killer-10-oz

Insect Repellent: http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/repellents/nbs-repellent-insect-spray

We have a small presence of springtails in our bathroom and would like the most 'green' friendly product that you can recommend.

Thanks J.D.

Springtails can become quite a problem once they start entering the home. As explained in our SPRINGTAIL CONTROL ARTICLE, they seem to be a real problem up under slab homes and when they are, common entry points to the home will be under sinks and tubs. Do you have a slab home? If so, treatment in the pipe trap (the trap is the place where the pipes pass through the cement) may be needed.

Also explained in our article is the fact that springtails thrive out in the soil surrounding the home and from there migrate which leads to seeing them in the home. Since there is no chemical strong enough to stop the migration, the real key to keeping them out is taking care of them around the perimeter of the home. This can be done with the granules and liquid sprays listed in our article. If you are able to establish a zone around the home which is free and clear of springtails, the odds of any getting inside are greatly decreased.

Since you asked for green products, I have taken some time to list our alternative and organic product choices we know will work on springtails. These are products we have found to work well around the home and all are from a new line of products which are as safe and green as you can find. Use them in place of any products which appear in the article and if you're confused at all, give us a call for more clarification but it's pretty straight forward here. For example, instead of the Bifen Granules, use the ECO GRANULES. Made from food oil extracts, it's so safe ECO Granules are totally exempt from needing federal registration numbers from the government.

We also have liquid concentrate replacement options. Instead of the Cyonara or Bifen concentrates listed in the article, you can use the organic spray we have listed here called BUG PATROL. It's certified for organic gardening and we know it works well for springtails. This would be sprayed around the home with the purpose of establishing a "buffer zone" where there are no springtails between your house and the yard. When a big enough springtail free zone is established, you will no longer be seeing any in the home.

Lastly, for inside the home, use the MOTHERS EARTH DUST in place of the Deltamethrin Dust. Mothers Earth is DE Dust and very effective yet safe to use inside. If you prefer the aerosol treatment instead, go with the ECO KO EXEMPT. Again, totally exempt from EPA numbers, the ECO works well on springtails and is a very "green" solution.

Here are direct links to all these products and information:

http://www.bugspray.com/article/springtail.html

http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/granules/eco-exempt-granules

http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/concentrates/bug-patrol-rts

http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/dust/mothers-earth-diatomaceous-dust

http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/aerosols/eco-exempt-ko-contact-aerosol-14-oz

jonathan

www.bugspray.com

We have some organic sprays that work on spiders and roaches. The BUG PATROL RTS is probably your best bet and a good one for use around the home. It's organic and can be used safely on the house and plants without a risk to people or pets. As the label states it's approved for organic gardening so it's got the needed seal of approval. It also comes with a ready to spray nozzle. All you need to do is fit it onto your garden hose and turn on the water; no mixing needed as the included sprayer does all the work.

Here is a direct link to the Bug Patrol:

http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/concentrates/bug-patrol-rts

I look forward to hearing from you.

ECO KO AEROSOL would be a great product that works well and is very safe to use. As explained in our product catalog, it uses food based ingredients so it's essentially non-toxic to mammals. The Aerosol would be the easiest product to use since it's ready to spray and comes in a can. But when it comes to spiders, it can sometimes take a little more effort to get good results. You don't mention where or what kind of spider you have so without this information, I don't know where the nest sites might be so let me make the following suggestion.

If you notice a lot of spiders around the house, particularly on the outside, you should consider some outdoor treatments. This will help keep out most any invasive insect including spiders. Two good actives which are very safe to use around people and pets would be either the ECO IC CONCENTRATE or the BUG PATROL RTS. Both work well on spiders and are what I would call pet friendly for sure.

Here are direct links to these items:

http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/aerosols/eco-exempt-ko-contact-aerosol-14-oz

http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/concentrates/eco-exempt-ic-concentrate

http://www.non-toxic-pest-control.com/concentrates/bug-patrol-rts

jonathan

www.bugspray.com

Ladybugs can be a tough and persistent pest once they find your house and move in for the winter. Most people think of ladybugs as a "good bug" since they like to feed on common garden variety pests like whiteflies and aphids. As our LADYBUG CONTROL article explains, there is another species of ladybug present in the Unites States which has been imported and released on purpose. Originally the intention of importing this ladybug was all well and good but it was later learned this species hibernates during the winter. That by itself was no major problem but when it turned out the place they most liked to hibernate was on our homes and other man made structures, this insect was quickly categorized as another "invasive pest".

Once your home is marked and scented as a good place to live, ladybugs in the local vicinity will find their way to your home. This will usually happen every spring and fall. It's during this time that treatments should be done. Cypermethrin outside and Baygon inside are two very effective products to use but there are organic alternatives. The BUG PATROL RTS is certificied for organic gardening and strong enough to knock down ladybugs as is MULTI INSECT KILLER. Use either on the outside of the home and attempt to spray as much of the siding and overhangs where you see these invasive ladybugs active. Once inside the home, use the ECO KO AEROSOL for a quick knockdown and lasting residual. Made from food grade active ingredients, ECO Aerosol is both fast acting and safe to use around children and pets. Expect to treat a few times in the fall and then again in the spring. The following year the invasion should be a lot less noticeable and maybe barely detectable depending on how well you knock down the current population in your first year of treating. If you have further questions, please give us a call on our toll free at 1.800.877.7290.