Ask Mary Beth: Monkey balls repel insects (2024)

FAQs

How to use monkey balls for spiders? ›

Monkey balls are also called osage oranges or hedge apples. They're the fruit of the tree Maclura pomifera. The weird, bumpy fruit looks a little like a lime-green brain and contains a substance that repels spiders and many insects. It works best if you cut a fruit in half and set one of the halves out in a dish.

The fruits are not edible for humans and are basically a ball of latex with white, sticky glue. Some people swear they can be used for pest control. Mammoths reportedly swallowed the fruit whole.

Maclura pomifera has many names, including mock orange, hedge apple, hedge, horse apple, pap, monkey ball, monkey brains and yellow-wood.

They put them around the foundation of their homes or in the basem*nt to deter co*ckroaches, spiders, boxelder bugs and crickets. This however seems to be folklore. There is no scientific research to support hedge apples are an effective insect repellent.

Myth: "Hedge apples" (Osage orange fruit) or horse chestnuts can be used to repel spiders. Fact: The story that the fruit of the Osage orange tree (also called hedge apple, monkey ball, or spider ball) can repel or ward off spiders turns out to be extremely widespread in Midwestern states, where the trees are common.

Spiders don't tolerate the smell of peppermint and will avoid every area where it is applied. You can also use eucalyptus oil to the same effect. Vinegar: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and spray it directly onto any spiders you see.

To use hedge apples as a way to manage pests, pick them up in the fall from local markets, place them in areas where pests appear, and change them when needed. Other natural pest control methods include using essential oils, spreading diatomaceous earth, applying boric acid, or utilizing vinegar.

Supposedly, there's an easy way to repel spiders in areas of the home where you don't want them: hedge apples. The natural chemicals in this funky-looking fruit of the Osage orange tree are believed to deter spiders and other pests.

Although it is now popular to use hedge apples to repel insects and mice, this old wives' tale appears to be folklore. There is no scientific evidence that hedge apples are efficient insect repellents.

So the trees continue each fall to drop their rubbery, green, brain-shaped fruits, assuming woolly mammoths or giant ground sloths will devour and digest them, spreading their seeds across the land and helping the trees expand their timber empire, according to Joe Stavish, community education coordinator at Tree ...

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Mint is a fragrance that is consistently effective in repelling roaches. Grow fresh mint plants in your home or yard or mix peppermint, winter mint, or spearmint essential oils in a spray bottle with water and spraying around baseboards, windows, and doors.

Eucalyptus oil is known for its pungent aroma and is often used as a natural repellent that is effective against several insects including co*ckroaches. Eucalyptus oil possesses properties that help fight off insects, fungi, and bacteria.

Repel Spiders with Dish Soap

Another natural spider repellent you can make from household supplies is a mixture of water and liquid dish soap. Dish soap disturbs the egg cycle of spiders, and the insects strongly dislike citrus scents—lemon, lime, or orange-scented soap will do the trick.

Mothballs are primarily known for repelling moths, and their effectiveness in deterring spiders is limited. While the strong odor may temporarily discourage spiders, it is not a foolproof spider repellent. There are safer and more effective alternatives to consider.

Spiders hate peppermint and citrus! Mix about 10-15 drops of peppermint essential oil OR a citrus essential oil (orange essential oil, lemon essential oil, or lime essential oil) to every 2 cups of water. You can also add a few drops of dishwashing soap or Castile soap for a little extra power.