Yes David, I hope that by googling my name and reading my correspondences with various e-lists, the human resources departments of prospective employers can see that I am not the only one who gets some satisfaction out of dispensing with horticultural pests. Of course I may be rather paranoid of my tongue-in-cheek writings, but according to an article on a job search board, it happens. Carlo, try putting some hydrogen peroxide solution in that water, and watch them foam up. Am I perverse to say that you can actually hear them sizzle? It doesn't hurt the plants and may actually work to stimulate their immune responses. ; - ) Bonaventure Original message: Message: 2 Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:13:50 -0700 (PDT) From: David Ehrlich <idavide@sbcglobal.net> Subject: Re: [pbs] Snails To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Message-ID: <68867.87732.qm@web81006.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Carlo, I think you are mising the point. While getting rid of scale and mealy bug may be the object, real satisfaction comes from killing them. Let me give you an example: when I go out on my third floor balcony in the early morning and see snails on any of my plants, I pick them off and hurl them will all my might to the pavement below. When they hit, the flesh and the shell go in opposite directions. That is real satisfaction. ----- Original Message ---- From: "carlobal@netzero.com" carlobal@netzero.com ...a good strong spray of water will blast off scale and mealy bug--about the least toxic solution imaginable. A few drops of a plain dish washing soap is often used as a wetter.