Sites for use

Interior living, working and transportation spaces

DE is most effective in dry areas. This includes most buildings (residential, public and commercial especially where food is present) and vehicles of transport (Land air and water), again where food is present. 100g per 3 sq metres is usually an adequate application. Animal beds and bedding, carpets, mattresses and bed frames. In attics to help against insect damage to timbers DE is also effective outside buildings (under eaves, on windowsills, carports etc) unless it becomes wet. Then it must be replaced on a dry surface.

Stored grains and seeds

DE is more effective in protecting stored grain and seed where moisture content is low (12%) and temperatures are either high or low. Control diminishes with time, but is good for as much as a year, depending on the species of insect and the application rate (1 kg per tonne metered into the grain for short periods and more susceptible species, and 2 or 3 Kg per tonne for longer periods and less susceptible species).

Use 125g per 3 sq metre as a surface dressing mixed thoroughly within the top metre. Monitor below the top metre monthly. Can be used in conjunction with cooling the grain mass, by ambient air or refrigerated air aeration. Low temperature slow or stop development of insects.
In conjunction with heat. Eg in food processing facilities raise temperature of building to 50˚C for 24 h. When DE is used with heat sterilization, control of Tribolium confusum J du Val was obtained at 41˚C with DE compared to 47˚C with heat alone. (Fields et al 1997)

 

Agricultural Use

Outdoors

• Dusting
  DE is only effective when applied as a dust directly to insects. For enclosed areas use 250-400 grammes per 1000 square feet.. For crops and pastures use 6 to 10 kgs per hectare in calm air, dust after rain, overhead irrigation or heavy dew to increase sticking of the powder. Dust plant upward from the ground, covering all stems, top and underside of leaves.
• In The Row
  Use 1.8kg per acre injected over the seed premixed with water and wetting agent., or admix dry powder to seeds before drilling. When used as a general soil conditioner , DE may have some repellance value.
• As a Spray
  Mix 1kg per gallon of water with a wetting agent. Be sure to keep mixture agitated.
• Trees
  Sprinkle liberally on the ground and around tree trunks. DE can be mixed with water, flax soap or a wetting agent and painted around fruit tree trunks, where it will dry out and leave a residual film, and may prevent attack by some crawling insects It will inhibit migration of various fruit flies (maggot stage), worms and the Japanese beetle (grub stage).

Indoors

• Greenhouses
  It can be used in greenhouses and on stored harvested fruit and vegetables, plant seeds and bulbs right up to day of harvest, as it is completely safe used as a dry powder or in a sprayer with water and a wetting agent, rates as low as 1/4lb per 5 gallons of water with a wetting agent have been effective.
• Slugs and snails.
  Can act as a barrier to slugs as it absorbs their slimy trail excretions and interferes with their movement and feeding.

DE also has some properties advantageous for plant growth and protection against fungal attack.

 

Uses on and around pets and livestock

DE (Granular form) can be used as a pet litter due to its excellent properties of absorption. It also reduces odours. The powder can control red Mite and other insects in poultry houses, when puffed around walls, roof areas and floors into all the crevices ,and can be left free choice as a dust bath for birds. This enables the bird to dust under its wings where the mites hide. It can be effectively used on washed and dried pet bedding, and on loose straw or other bedding for livestock.dogs,cats, horses, goats, sheep etc can be rubbed with the powder to treat lice, mites, ticks, fleas etc. It may help to kill other biting insects such as midges and mosquitos. Could be most useful used in conjunction with herbal applications for sweet itch in horses.

Links for DE (Diatomaceous Earth) as an insecticide :

• www.hedleytech.com
• www.insecto.com

Links for Stored Product Protection :

• www.hedleytech.com

Natural Feeds and Fertilisers is the UK agent for a grade of DE tested by World Minerals as having greater efficacy in the treatment of grain insect infestation, than some other tested brands