Osage Orange Fruit?

[GardenGeisha]

I was reading that the oil of the osage orange fruit really helps repel insects. I wonder whether it would work on earwigs, and does anyone know of any good cleaning products containing it that I could buy locally, without having to send off an order?

My friend with the earwig infestation lives in a basement apartment, so it must have a lot of dampness somewhere, for them to be invading his home like they are. Who would think there would be so many earwigs here in the dry desert country?

 

[Carol Dee]

I do not now of anything with Osage orange in the product. Earwigs *wig* me out! His best bet probably would be to find the wet or damp area and dry it out. Don't leave anything laying around for them to hide under.

 

[GardenGeisha]

Thanks, Carol.

Have you ever seen hedge apples for sale at your Farmer's Markets? I doubt they grow here in the West?

 

[Carol Dee]

I have not, but around these parts you can pick them up almost anywhere. We have at least 8 or 10 trees in the hedge row. County park is full of them. It looks to be a prolific year, too.

 

[hoodat]

I never heard of them as an insect repellant but it's certainly possible. Osage orange or Bodark, as they are called in the South, don't seem to be bothered by insects. I know they are useful as a source of tannin for taning hides.

 

[GardenGeisha]

Very interesting, hoodat.

I did come across a link about them where a fellow said he put them in his apartment and saw no reduction in insects-- however, the insects seemed to love eating them and were fat and sassy, so maybe they don't really work? Others claim they do, though, so I don't know...

 

[Nyboy]

People claim they keep snakes away!

 

[baymule]

I know horses eat them like candy!

 

[GardenGeisha]

The seeds are supposed to be tasty-- like sunflowers. Squirrels are said to adore them.

 

[Smart Red]

I used Osage oranges to clear the bugs out of my basement many years ago. I didn't extract any 'oils' or do anything other than toss a fruit here and there along the walls. It really did seem to work.

I would never have thought of tasting the seeds. The milky sap in the Osage orange is stinky and sticky. I have seen slices of the fruits dried, coated with polyurethane and made into a pendant. I'm going to give that a try if I can get to the few fruits first this fall.

Love, Linn B (aka Smart Red) Gardening in zone 4b-5a, newly 5b? -- anyway, Im still in the same spot in south-est, central-est Wisconsin