[Summit] Eliana's Comment on Diatomaceous Earth a Different Pesticide- for Termites, Etc!

[Karen Klingon]

Diatomaceous earth is commonly used to kill slugs and snails, but be  
careful with it as it will kill other creatures, too. (Frogs, for  
example, if you happen to have any.) Also, it's irritating to the  
lungs, so take care not to breathe it in.

A tip: a turkey baster makes a great applicator, I've discovered.

Karen
Chace Drive


On Jun 2, 2010, at 1:17 PM, Hope for Health wrote:

> Thanks, Eliana - I am familiar with diatomaceous earth
> as a standard organic gardening material, but had not
> heard of its being used in this way.
>
> I think I should pass it along as a TIP - I can do so
> while keeping you anonymous if you prefer.
> (My usual practice is using first names, but never
> passing along E-Mails of private individuals.)
>
> Blessings,
>
> Liberty G
>
> --- On Wed, 6/2/10, Breslers <breslerfamily at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>    From: Breslers <breslerfamily at gmail.com>
>    Subject: Re: [Summit] a different pesticide- for termites, etc!
>    To: "Summit Neighborhood" <Summit at sna.providence.ri.us>
>    Date: Wednesday, June 2, 2010, 1:01 PM
>
>    If you are willing to put up with killing SOME friendly insects  
> in the immediate area- mostly only the porch-
>    try the mostly non-toxic white powder.- "diatomaceous earth" It's  
> better than building a new porch.
>
>    It is ground fossils- and acts like broken glass and an absorbant  
> on the microscopic scale. It cuts their shells, etc. and they  
> dehydrate to death. Rain washes it away, but indoors it really lasts.
>
>    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth
>
>    The best applicator is a squeeze bottle with a small hole AND A  
> CAP to keep the stuff dry. It's not difficult or toxic to work with,  
> but of course keep your face away when squirting, cause it is better  
> to avoid breathing any gunk into your lungs.
>
>    We use it for ant control. We poofed into all the sash cord holes  
> on our windows, took off outlet and switch covers and squirted into  
> the walls that way, and then also all around the house foundation  
> outside, at the joint where the brick and the beginning of the  
> siding is, across door sills and window sills. And into any visible  
> holes/gaps in the walls/frames inside or outside. We don't even have  
> to do it every year any more.
>    This year we started to get ants again- retreated a few places  
> and almost all the ants stopped.
>
>    Since I am allergic to most oil based pesticides, this stuff is a  
> life saver for us!
>
>    Elianna
>
>
>    On Wed, Jun 2, 2010 at 12:22 PM, anna highsmith  
> <anna at occupant.org> wrote:
>
>        Does anyone know of a good pest-management company that uses  
> less-toxic products and methods? Our porch is in danger of being  
> eaten, and I need to get rid of the bugs, hopefully without killing  
> all the friendly insects in the neighborhood!
>
>        Thanks,
>        Anna
>        Colonial Rd
>
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