Bottom Line: Both indoor and outdoor pests can be controlled using Integrated Pest Management strategies, which emphasize less-toxic solutions that cause the least environmental damage.

Chemicals in pesticides designed for home use have been linked to adverse long-term health effects. Less than 2% of the insects you encounter in the garden will be pests! A great majority of insects in your yard are either beneficial or neutral. In the interest in keeping them alive, take a targeted, selective approach to dealing with the insects that are pests. When managing pests in your home, use as little pesticide as possible, buy less toxic products, and when possible manage them without chemicals.

Indoor Pests: Ants, Spiders, Cockroaches, Fleas, Rats & Mice
Outdoor Pests: Aphids, Mosquitoes, Snails & Slugs, Yellow jackets

Take Action:

• Use less toxic products and dispose of your chemicals properly. For store listings and IPM information on various pesticides visit http://flowstobay.org
• Find out what's bugging your garden at: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/menu.homegarden.html
  
• Find an expert at the Bio-Integral Resource Center in Berkeley. Click on "Ask the Expert."
  
• Aerosols and home foggers widely disperse chemicals, find alternatives.
  
• Avoid Metaldehyde Snail Baits and Pyrethroids which are toxic and generally avoid products that end in "thrin". Find alternatives.
• Locate an Eco Wise Certified Pest Management Professional.

All above information gathered from the San Mateo County Wide Water Pollution Prevention website: http://flowstobay.org.

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