<soapbox> It's not just overreacting that is a problem. So is not taking basic precautions. Having actually had a neighbor to whom this happened (blew up his house), I'd like to remind people to...
<soapbox>
It's not just overreacting that is a problem. So is not taking basic precautions. Having actually had a neighbor to whom this happened (blew up his house), I'd like to remind people to turn OFF any ignition source BEFORE using bug bombs. Turn off the hot water heater. Turn off the heat or A/C at the thermostat. Do NOT leave something cooking on the stove OR in the oven. And for Gods sake remember to keep the pets outside until after you've opened the windows for a couple hours to dissipate it.
I dunno. According to the Internet, there's no such thing as being "too extreme" when trying to get rid of certain unwanted pests. In this case, it was a cockroach... But how many people would say...
I dunno. According to the Internet, there's no such thing as being "too extreme" when trying to get rid of certain unwanted pests. In this case, it was a cockroach... But how many people would say "Totally justified" if it was a spider?
...most people are way more likely to justify intense responses to cockroaches than spiders? I'm about as arachniphobic as they come (like, diagnosable bad) but even I recognize that spiders...
...most people are way more likely to justify intense responses to cockroaches than spiders? I'm about as arachniphobic as they come (like, diagnosable bad) but even I recognize that spiders aren't pests the way cockroaches or bed bugs are. I don't think anyone uses a bug bomb to get rid of spiders.
Of course it helps that spiders are generally solitary and are much easier to kill with straightforward physical violence than cockroaches are.
A 2004 Mythbusters Episode covered a similar situation, whereby… considerable overuse of "bug bombs" could create an explosive fuel/air mixture. The episode also found a documented US case of such...
A 2004 Mythbusters Episode covered a similar situation, whereby… considerable overuse of "bug bombs" could create an explosive fuel/air mixture. The episode also found a documented US case of such an explosion.
I'm not a science guy, so pardon my ignorance here. But from I've read on this subject, the insecticide/pesticide way isn't going to work forever for us as evolution will cause these creatures to...
I'm not a science guy, so pardon my ignorance here. But from I've read on this subject, the insecticide/pesticide way isn't going to work forever for us as evolution will cause these creatures to simply evolve and eventually fight every chemical combination we can throw at them, just as they have done in pre-history and through the ages. The proper way to defeat them is perhaps through organically or biologically evolved components such as the pesticides produced out of Neem plant (Azadirachta indica). If that isn't enough, maybe microbiologists or agricultural scientists can research and find a better way for us?
I’m not an expert, but my understanding of evolution is that it’s unlikely to matter for killing bugs in the house when there are plenty more of them outside where there isn’t any pesticide. This...
Exemplary
I’m not an expert, but my understanding of evolution is that it’s unlikely to matter for killing bugs in the house when there are plenty more of them outside where there isn’t any pesticide. This is assuming the inside and outside bugs are a single interbreeding population and you’re not killing enough of them to matter.
Evolution happens more rapidly for isolated populations such as on islands. A human disease in one person is like an island. Antibiotics can kill off the entire population that doesn’t have resistance, leaving just the resistant bacteria.
Similarly, when using pesticides on fields, setting aside part of the field as a place for non-resistant pests to live is a recommended technique.
I'm very doubtful that there will exist an insect that's completely immune to all combinations of pesticides. That would only happen if we use all possible types all at the same time. What's more...
I'm very doubtful that there will exist an insect that's completely immune to all combinations of pesticides. That would only happen if we use all possible types all at the same time.
What's more likely to happen is that they'd evolve a particular type of pesticide, the type most common, in which case we simply switch to another formula.
Evolution is not a straight up upgrade process. Species lose abilities and adaptations all the time as the the environment changes.
Of course, if all else fails, we fallback to a simple flame thrower, or a 20000v zapper.
Yeah I've been guilty of going a little too hard after a "palmetto bug" a few times. I haven't caused any major property damage yet but when one of those suckers flies right at your face one too...
Yeah I've been guilty of going a little too hard after a "palmetto bug" a few times. I haven't caused any major property damage yet but when one of those suckers flies right at your face one too many times the nuclear options starts to look appealing.
It's not just overreacting that is a problem. So is not taking basic precautions. Having actually had a neighbor to whom this happened (blew up his house), I'd like to remind people to turn OFF any ignition source BEFORE using bug bombs. Turn off the hot water heater. Turn off the heat or A/C at the thermostat. Do NOT leave something cooking on the stove OR in the oven. And for Gods sake remember to keep the pets outside until after you've opened the windows for a couple hours to dissipate it.
</rant>Mirror, for those hit by the paywall:
https://archive.is/qxWSn#50%
I dunno. According to the Internet, there's no such thing as being "too extreme" when trying to get rid of certain unwanted pests. In this case, it was a cockroach... But how many people would say "Totally justified" if it was a spider?
...most people are way more likely to justify intense responses to cockroaches than spiders? I'm about as arachniphobic as they come (like, diagnosable bad) but even I recognize that spiders aren't pests the way cockroaches or bed bugs are. I don't think anyone uses a bug bomb to get rid of spiders.
Of course it helps that spiders are generally solitary and are much easier to kill with straightforward physical violence than cockroaches are.
A 2004 Mythbusters Episode covered a similar situation, whereby… considerable overuse of "bug bombs" could create an explosive fuel/air mixture. The episode also found a documented US case of such an explosion.
I'm not a science guy, so pardon my ignorance here. But from I've read on this subject, the insecticide/pesticide way isn't going to work forever for us as evolution will cause these creatures to simply evolve and eventually fight every chemical combination we can throw at them, just as they have done in pre-history and through the ages. The proper way to defeat them is perhaps through organically or biologically evolved components such as the pesticides produced out of Neem plant (Azadirachta indica). If that isn't enough, maybe microbiologists or agricultural scientists can research and find a better way for us?
I’m not an expert, but my understanding of evolution is that it’s unlikely to matter for killing bugs in the house when there are plenty more of them outside where there isn’t any pesticide. This is assuming the inside and outside bugs are a single interbreeding population and you’re not killing enough of them to matter.
Evolution happens more rapidly for isolated populations such as on islands. A human disease in one person is like an island. Antibiotics can kill off the entire population that doesn’t have resistance, leaving just the resistant bacteria.
Similarly, when using pesticides on fields, setting aside part of the field as a place for non-resistant pests to live is a recommended technique.
I'm very doubtful that there will exist an insect that's completely immune to all combinations of pesticides. That would only happen if we use all possible types all at the same time.
What's more likely to happen is that they'd evolve a particular type of pesticide, the type most common, in which case we simply switch to another formula.
Evolution is not a straight up upgrade process. Species lose abilities and adaptations all the time as the the environment changes.
Of course, if all else fails, we fallback to a simple flame thrower, or a 20000v zapper.
Yeah I've been guilty of going a little too hard after a "palmetto bug" a few times. I haven't caused any major property damage yet but when one of those suckers flies right at your face one too many times the nuclear options starts to look appealing.
::nodding vigorously::