Essays

Insects are a nuisance. Ants, flies, mosquitoes interrupt our home life and we always try to get rid off them. We use insecticide, sprays, fly poison and mosquito coils. Somehow, they keep coming back in undiminished numbers, much to our disgust and discomfort. The only course of action then is to minimize their presence as much as possible.

Mosquitoes are more than a nuisance. They are carriers of deadly diseases, like dengue fever and malaria. The most effective way to get rid of them is to prevent them from breeding. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in water. The larvae that hatch spend a good few days in water before they transform themselves in pupae and finally to young mosquitoes, in water they breed fast. So we should not leave any water stagnant at any period of time. All vessels in and around the house should be either overturned or should be regularly sprayed with insecticides. Likewise, drains and other water passages should be cleared regularly for the same reason.

Adult mosquitoes have the habit of hiding in dark corners in and outside the house. Thus it is a good idea to clean out these places once in a while to ensure that these pests are not making their home there. Cobwebs and dirt should be cleared out whenever and wherever they occur. In addition to a mosquito-free home, we would also have a spider-free home.

A spider-free home has a few advantages. Squeamish occupants of the house will not be compelled to stream everytime they see a spider. The house will look neat and clean. Most of all, one will not act engulfed by strands off spiderweb everytime one ventures into a rarely frequented corner of the house.

A lot of people simply dump their rubbish in open bins. Such carelessness invites flies to the rubbish- In this rubbish, the flies breed and multiply. Then they come into the house and infect the food items that are left uncovered. All sorts of diseases are carried by the flies. Consumption of such food can only bring diseases and sickness.

To prevent flies from going about with their dreadful tasks, it simply requires covering all rubbish and food. If the flies cannot breed and do not have access to one's food, then one cannot catch any disease carried by the flies. Yet many of us do not bother with such simple preventive measures, I, for one, prefer to have a fly-free home to eat in and to live in peace, I have seen people literally sharing their food with flies. Such indifference can only bring unwanted consequences. They are risking their health and well-being.

Ants and cockroaches are particularly difficult to get rid of. The safest thing to do is not to leave any edible thing lying around the house. All the eating utensils should be cleaned properly and kept in cockroach proof containers. As cockroaches thrive in filth, the house, especially the kitchen should be kept scrupulously clean, Periodic checks should be done to ensure that ants and cockroaches are not overrunning any neglected corner of drawers and cabinets.

Cleanliness is the best policy here. A dirty house invites all sorts of pests. A clean and regularly maintained house has no place for the pests to breed and no food for them to feed on. Thus they keep away and the occupants have a pest-free environment to live in and enjoy to the fullest.