Roaches, spiders, flies or fleas and other creepy crawlies may not seem to be important in the survival plan. Sometimes they seem to be more of a nuisance then anything but the reality is that they carry many nasty diseases and can become a real problem WTSHTF if you aren't prepared to handle them. Remember that the plague was spread by rodents with fleas. Conjunctivitis is often spread by flies especially in livestock. Mosquitos carry west Nile and malaria. Those illnesses don't even address the facts about newly antibiotic resistant illnesses that can be triggered by a simple bug bite or sting and spiral into something life threatening.
The simplest way to rid ourselves of bugs is to run down to the store and buy bug spray or call the exterminator for the house. Pets get the chemicals squirted on their neck and fed orally. That may be fine for now while it is available but there may come a time when those remedies aren't available or the bugs become resistent to them. They also come with having to spray some pretty nasty chemicals in your house and on your pets.
So just in case you can't buy those easy bug sprays or don't want to use so many toxic chemicals in your home and yard lets look at some different ways to get rid of the pests. Something to be aware of before you consider herbs and essential oils is that many of them should not be applied to pets directly because they can cause severe reactions and sometimes death. Also remember that most essential oils should not be applied directly to the skin "neat". They should be diluted by adding a few DROPS to a carrier oil before applying. You can use any number of oils especially ATSHTF but I usually either use sweet almond oil or a good olive oil.
Rather then spraying everything in sight with all kinds of concoctions it may be easier to think like a bug:) IF you know what they like and dislike then you can create a place that repels bugs instead of one that attracts them. Remember that bugs like roaches and fleas prefer damp, dark, moist places so seal up any cracks and make sure there are no water leaks under the sinks and tubs. Stop dripping faucets and be sure to clean the dishes, counters and sinks before bedtime rather then feeding the bugs while you sleep. You can also start OUTSIDE your home first which will make the bug population less of a problem before they even decide to visit the inside.
The first thing to do outside the home is to attract those creatures which eat bugs. Don't bother with the bird feeders and seeds because you want bug eaters not seed eaters. Hang houses and gourds for Martins and wrens. Make or buy houses to attract bats too. Some tipped over broken clay pots and piles of stones and bricks make nice homes for frogs and lizards. Make multiple piles since lizards can be territorial. Heavy mulch provides a humid environment that the lizards and frogs need. Flowering vines provide cover and a source of nectar for the lizards. Chickens and guineas also help control bugs with guineas being given special credit for tick eating. All of these will eat more then their weight in bugs. Having a combination of them means that you have a better chance of controlling a better variety of pests.
There are many herbs which repel bugs and insects and I will give specific lists for the various ones (what's taking so long? Right? :)) but rather then just list them I think it would help to know HOW to use them. If you grow your own herbs then you can plant them around the perimeter of the foundation of your house. Don't just plant one kind in each spot. Intermingle them so that you will repel bugs from all areas. Place potted herbs inside the house and beside the entrances or on window sills. Be sure to touch your herbs frequently and even go so far as gently bruising them to release the oils and scents into the air. Make bouquets and garlands of fresh and dried herbs and hang them near doorways, windows, inside cabinets or wherever pests are a problem. Make potpourries or sachets to place in drawers, closets and cabinets. To make a sachet simply sew or tie a bag from scraps of material and fill them with your herbs then tie or sew them shut. Use a mixture of herbs and replace them when they lose their scent.
If you are using essential oils you will need something to bind the oils. Dried shredded corn cobs, cedar or pine chips, or Epsom salts work well. You can add a few drops of essential oils to Epsom salts or other "binders" and place in bowls under the sofa or other large furniture where bugs and fleas may hide. Or place several drops of essential oils on cotton balls and place them where the bugs may be a problem like under and inside cabinets or in corners. You can also place some bug repelling essential oils on a light bulb diffuser and as it heats up it will release the repellents into the house. If you are using fresh herbs or citrus peels then you can make a tea to infuse the air by heating them on the stove or in a small potpourri crock. Just simmer them slowly don't use a hard boil.
Below you will find the list of bugs and insects and which herbs repel them. Below that are a few recipes for sprays. Whether you use essential oils or grow fresh herbs there should be something that is available near everyone. Some herbs like pennyroyal should NEVER be applied directly or ingested as it is poisonous to pets and humans. Others like pyrethrum should be used with great care and never on cats. Do proper research for potential side effects of oils and herbs!
Roaches: cucumber (use peels and juice to repel them), bay leaves, eucalyptus, rosemary, tansy, pyrethrum, feverfew
Use a mixture of sugar and baking soda to feed them and it will kill them after they eat the soda.
Ants: cucumber, peppermint, spearmint, citronella, lavendar, pyrethrum, tansy, feverfew
Flies: orange oil or peels. Lemon oil or peels, lemon verbena, lemon balm, peppermint, cloves, lavendar, eucalyptus, cedar, juniper, basil, wormwood, pyrethrum, tansy, feverfew
Fleas: lemons, lemon balm, lemon grass, lemon verbena. Eucalyptus, rosemary, pennyroyal (grown around their pen but never sprayed on the dog or fed to the dog) pyrethrum, rue, feverfew, lavendar, peppermint, fennel
Dog collars can be made from natural cotton ropes or bandannas soaked in a tea infused with a mixture of the SAFER ingredients listed above like the citrus oils and eucalyptus, fennel etc and tied around the dogs neck.
Spiders: eucalyptus, peppermint, orange, lemon, lavendar, oregano. Chestnuts and black walnut hulls around the foundation or in corners.
Mosquitoes: basil, lemon grass, lemon verbena, lemon balm, lemon peel, pyrethrum, tansy, feverfew, catnip, fennel, thyme, clove oil, celery, cedar, rosemary
The basil, lemon herbs, celery and fennel can be picked and crushed fresh to release the oils and then rubbed on the skin to repel mosquitoes and flying insects or infused into an oil and used as a topical spray.
Chiggers and ticks: peppermint, oregano, lemon grass, basil can be rubbed or sprayed on ankles and pants legs
Acorn tea or tobacco tea can be used on some garden pests but should be used with care and only as a last resort. It can also be sprayed around the house foundation. Wear gloves and long sleeves. Test a small area to make sure it doesn't harm plants. Avoid spraying the fruits or vegetables.
To make tobacco tea boil one gallon of water with one package tobacco. Cover and let steep for a day. Strain and use in a spray bottle.
Spider spray repellent: mix 1/2 cup vinegar, 2 tblsp hot chili powder, 1 qt water and use as a spray ( adapt this for any combination of herbs for whichever bug you are trying to repel)
Or 1 qt water,5 drops liquid dish soap, 5 drops essential oils (citrus, tea tree, lavender OR peppermint) (this too can be adapted using any combination of herbs for whichever pest you are trying to repel)
Room spray: 1 tsp rubbing alcohol, 25 drops mixture of essential oils, 2 cups water shaken in a spray bottle.
I know this is alot of information but hopefully there will be something for everyone which will be helpful. Use what you can and ignore the rest. Whether you grow it or buy it there are ways to fight bugs when they try to invade and conquer. As always do your research about the safety of herbs and essential oils. This is just given for information purposes and your decision of how to use it is your own responsibility. Be safe and be smart.
Southern Wood Elf