|
|
|
This Week's Experiment - #327 Safe Insecticide
I spent some time this week helping Lisa with her flowers. This time
of year, the insects really chew on the plants, so we have been battling them.
Some of the pests require commercial chemicals to kill, but often Lisa uses
things from the kitchen. To make an environmentally friendly insecticide,
you will need:
a 2 liter soda bottle
dish detergent
water
a spray bottle
a teaspoon measure
Add 4 teaspoons of dish washing detergent to the soda bottle. Then fill it
with water. Put on the cap and shake it a bit to mix. Then pour it into
the spray bottle. Use this to spray plants that are infested with aphids, mealy bugs, or other insect pests.
How does something so simple work? It has to do with the way insects
breath. Instead of breathing through a nose and mouth, insects breath through holes in their abdomen called spiracles. Imagine what it would be like if you
had holes along your waist that you breathed through. The body of the insect
is covered with a waterproof cuticle layer. That causes water to flow off the
insect, so it does not drown. The soap solution sticks to this cuticle
instead of flowing off. The cuticle layer actually pulls the soap solution
into
the spiracles to drown the insect.
For the spray to work it must be sprayed onto the insect, so it can reach the
spiracles. Just spraying a spot where the insects will walk does not work.
Still, if you spray directly onto the creatures, the soap solution will kill
ants, roaches, crickets, aphids, and many other insects. It will also kill
spiders, so be careful not to spray these useful, pest-controling creatures.
It is not dangerous to birds, lizards, snakes, younger brothers, or other
similar creatures. Still, you should not spray your younger brother, even if
he
does normally avoid soapy water.
Have a wonderful week.
From Robert Krampf's Science Education Company
PO Box 60982
Jacksonville, FL 32236-0982
904-388-6381
krampf@aol.com
|
|
|
|
Nicholas Academy Index
|
|
Artists, wars, armour, castle games, recipes, geography, quizzes, fashions, pictures of weapons, music, old world maps, women of medieval times, medicine, language, and more.
|
Arabic, German, Japanese, Spanish, French, Italian, Latin, Russian. Games, free software downloads, free online lessons, newspapers, discussion groups, articles, history, culture, quizzes.
|
Play language arts games, improve your vocabulary, create customized puzzles, make your own book! Download free software in the form of shareware, freeware, and demos.
|
Math games, quizzes, fun websites, printable charts, coloring books, tools. Algebra, geometry, fractions, multiplication.
|
Play music games, take free music lessons, explore music theory and history, find great posters.
|
|
Explore animation, filmmaking, build online cities, create and share works of art, write stories, create your own web site, read creativity articles.
|
Science games and quizzes, fun science websites, posters, coloring books, kits, experiments, forensics labs and more.
|
Coloring books, countries of the world, games and quizzes, software downloads, posters, computer jigsaw puzzles, printables.
|
Science can be fun and understandable. Free Experiment of the Week, featuring experiments that are unusual, safe, dramatic, cheap, and fun. From Robert Kramp's Science Education Co.
|
Fun and affordable space items for kids, including toys, games, kits, food products, and more.
|
|
Educational science kits kids will love! Early science kit, DNA explorer kit, robot challenge, forensic lab, volcano kits, crystals.
|
All in one project labs, light kits, sound kits, motion and metal detectors, clap on/off kit, nerve tester and shocker.
|
Civil rights, African American writers, parts of speech, medieval, periodic table of elements, music, astronomy, world maps with flags, literature, poetry, dinosaurs, biology, cats, Japanese anime.
|
Coloring books for kids and adults. Civil war, plants, animals, states, middle ages, cultures, geometric designs, puzzles.
|
Online, via email or through the regular mail. College, accredited high school, free reading and phonics courses, foreign language, history, religion, and more.
|
|
Test your knowledge with these fast, fun, and educational quizzes. Roman numeral addition, world capitals, presidents in order, the elements, world flags, and more.
|
Roman numerals, addition, multiplication, order of statehood, state and world capitals, order of presidents, chemical elements, parts of speech, spanish numbers.
|
Reading systems, loan programs, flashcard, worksheet and test makers, game creators, free curriculum, board games, percentage calculator, a puzzle creator and more.
|
SAT, GED, ACT, practice tests, exam preparation. Standardized test practice, content standards listed by state, sample items, scope and sequence, aptitude, essential skills.
|
New and used low cost books and textbooks. Websites with open source books and loan programs.
|
|
Templates, ideas for personal, educational, children's, business sites, design tips and tools, registration and hosting information, step-by-step instructions, quick and easy web page, web building just for kids.
|
Books, posters, videos, software kits, curriculum, courses. Save on teaching supplies, receive free educational materials.
|
This site map lists nearly every page on our site, along with a short description.
|
|
|
|
Educational Poster Store
Hundreds of educational posters in different subject areas. Parts of speech, medieval, solar system, biology, world maps, Einstein, Martin Luther King. Science, math, literature, art, music, english, geography, social studies. If you don't know exactly what you're looking for, this is great to browse for ideas.
|
NASA Website Links
Educational resources include worksheets such as mazes, coloring pages, shuttle model instructions, crossword puzzles, space food tray instructions and grocery list, and more. See the Space Station Sky Watch, view a NASA Astronaut Application or the Space Shuttle Launch Schedule, learn about the U.S. Space Camp and Women in Spaceflight.
|
Zoobooks
Get a free Zoobooks issue and a tiger poster. Zoobooks are the all-in-one, everything-you-wanted-to-know but-didn’t-know-who-to-ask guide to the world’s most fascinating animals, birds, reptiles, and insects. For kids five to twelve.
|
|
