ivy@aicchi.UUCP (Iverson) (01/19/86)
************** Last year, a new pet - a reptile - arrived into the family, complete with a retinue of scale mites. A herpetologist recommended the choice between careful doses of commercial insecticide, or accepting the mites as part of life, since this variety was no health threat to the reptile itself and could not spread to anyone or anything else in our home. Weighing the cosmetic gain of my never having to look at the mites against the chemical threat to the pet's health, I decided upon an enthusiastic cleaning of the terrarium and a few baths for the beast, all of which only made it easier to see the mites. Then, I read an article concerning the ecological function of caffeine in plants, which concluded that it was, first and foremost, a natural insecticide (and not part of a healthful, human diet). The reptile was less than thankful when I brewed up a big pot of strong coffee, cooled it in the sink, and dunked him into it for a ten minute bath, repeated the bath the next day and also cleaned the terrarium with the brew. The mites, however, must have had an even stronger opinion, as they promptly vanished without trace and haven't been seen since. And since then, for reasons but poorly understood, I myself still drink coffee. (Once in the morning, does it.)
booter@lll-crg.ARpA (Elaine Richards) (01/22/86)
So dousing lizards with coffee removes parasites? Hmm. The little bugger should have been grateful you didn't use a commoner herbal remedy... GARLIC :-) E ***** I think Eucalyptus leaves/buds repel bugs, too.