Pest control is an important issue in Thailand with ants, spiders, cockroaches, mice and snakes all making the list. A lot of time is spent trying to control them in the house and garden and efforts are being made to make sure that this is happening in an environmentally friendly way.

People have different reasons for focusing on pest control and the environment. Some people care generally about the health of the planet, others want to control pests without creating an unsafe environment for children and pets. In Thailand, many properties are near water – ponds, streams, the ocean – and people don’t want to contaminate the water source. Restaurants and resorts of course think about food handling and want to make sure that kitchens are free of contaminants.

It is important to be careful when choosing environmentally safe products because some are not as safe as advertised or do not work effectively.

Insect Growth Regulators (IGR’s) work. They are products or materials that interrupt or inhibit the life cycle of a pest. If an animal cannot reach adulthood it is not capable of reproducing. It is not an insecticide but is a man-made protein which affects certain insects or groups of insects. For example, flea eggs and flea larvae that are exposed to IGR never actually develop into adult jumping, biting and reproducing fleas. Methoprene, nylar and hydropene are all the active ingredients to look out for and are available in liquid concentrates and aerosol dispensers

Ultraviolet is often used in Thailand for controlling flying insects. When flies see ultraviolet light they're naturally lured towards it and are then captured, killed or contained. Zappers are the most commonly used traps and electrocute flies effectively. The only problem with these traps is that they leave insect residue behind and are therefore unsuitable for kitchen areas.

Natural sprays such as CedarCide insect repellant can be used for ants, carpet beetles and fleas. This product contains cedar oil and is completely chemical free. It can even be used on pets. Different plant oils are used in natural sprays and have various results with insects in the home.

Traps are used liberally in Thailand. They range from exterior humane trapping devices to catch snakes or other small animals to the less humane glue traps which are used inside to catch mice and other small rodents. These are chemical free and generally very effective.

Controlling pests is an ongoing problem with most households in Thailand, but it can be an environmentally safe process with effective results. Cut out the chemicals, become more creative, search for natural products and the little critters will be out in no time.

This article is provided courtesy of Phuket Villas & Homes as part of the company's corporate responsibility programme.