DE

[heehaw]

anyone out there have access to a microscope? i hear all sorts of claims about DE killing ant, fleas, spiders, and even being used to worm cattle: but there are 2 types of DE: one is used in swimming pool filters, and is relatively cheap, the other is sold for the above named purpose, and is a lot higher: when i questioned the folks that sell the DE for insecticide about the difference, i don't get a very good answer, just, "oh no, they are completely different"..i would send someone a sample of each if they had a way to really examine it and see if there is a difference.
heehaw

 

[Willl]

What's DE ?

 

[bones1]

Diatomaceous Earth
Buy Diatomaceous Earth to kill fleas, ticks, bed bugs and parasites naturally

 

[tommu56]

heehaw

Ask for material safety data sheet (msds) sheets for both.

Will

Diatomaceous Earth

tommu56

 

[Willl]

Ah, OK, stuff works pretty good on ants also.

 

[heehaw]

Ah, OK, stuff works pretty good on ants also.

i keep several hives of bees: several years ago, a couple hives were just about over run with ants: so i to about 5 pounds of DE and put it under the hives: i think the only ants it killed were the ones that were killed by the weight. now this was the DE that is used for swimming pool filters: so there "may" be a difference, but i ?????
as for asking for the hazards statement, not sure who a person would ask, i might see if i can find the company that makes the pool filter stuff and call them?? good idea, thanks
heehaw

 

[Tig]

If you check out the link that Bones1 posted on the left there is another link to a document discussing the different types of DE.
http://www.dirtworks.net/Images/permagard/ALL DIATOMACEOUS EARTH IS NOT THE SAME.doc

 

[Toiyabe]

DE comes in saltwater and freshwater varieties. They both make good filter media, but the freshwater organisims tend to have smoother shells while the saltwater ones have rougher shells. For use as an insecticide you want something very abrasive. Otherwise the smoother stuff is safer to handle which is why it gets used in pool filters.

I have a lot of freshwater DE on my property, and the bugs seem to have no problem crawling across it. If they didn't I'd be worried about breathing the dust.

 

[froggy]

DE is the skeletal remains of fresh or salt water diatoms consisting of mostly silica, a little aluminum, sodium and iron and lots of trace minerals, including some that are rare. Natural DE is dug from the earth, ground into a powder and sold as an anti-caking agent for stored foods and grains, a natural insecticide, and a natural food supplement for pets and livestock. It is approved by the USDA to be used in food up to 2% of the food volume. Swimming pool or filter DE on the other hand has been calcined (partially melted) and often chemically treated. It is dangerous to breathe because of the high level of crystalline silica and has no use for anything other than in filters.