If you're considering an aggressive offense against pests, think chiles. Chile peppers have been used to keep barnacles from attaching themselves to the bottoms of boats, discourage varmints from chewing electrical wires, dissuade surly moose and grizzly bears from attacking hikers, and deter deer from dining on shrubs. Now, an entomologist at Texas A&M University has discovered that chile peppers may be the ultimate termite repellant. They refuse to chew on wood that's been laced with chile juice.