>From TAMU... Diatomaceous earth (D.E., silicone dioxide) products registered by EPA as pesticides are usually applied as a fine dust contact insecticide to ant trails
indoors or to produce barriers. No other forms of D.E. (e.g. swimming pool filter grade or treated D.E.) should be used as a pesticide. D.E. abrades the waxy layer from the insect exoskeleton causing the insect to desiccate. Although suitable for dusting foraging ant trails indoors, when applied as a dust or drench to fire ant mounds, diatomaceous earth usually does not eliminate colonies. Clover Clamons <mailto:[email protected]> ________________________________ From: Don Arburn [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 12:56 PM To: Fritz Holt Cc: Louise Power; Texas Cavers Subject: Re: [Texascavers] crazy ants Not the same stuff. My vet said pool filter stuff would hurt pets, silica or something. Don's iPhone. On Dec 11, 2009, at 12:47 PM, Fritz Holt <[email protected]> wrote: An interesting part of this string is the mention of diatomaceous earth. At one time I had an above ground pool and am vaguely familiar with this very fine white powder used in the filter. If kept dry, does it actually kill certain pests such as fire ants? I assume that 'kills mechanically" means that it gets on their feet and disrupts some bodily function. Hopefully Mark Minton or someone can give us more detail. Fritz ________________________________ From: Louise Power [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 12:26 PM To: Texas Cavers Subject: RE: [Texascavers] crazy ants I got an e-mail from my sister today in response to the article. She lives SE of San Antonio and says: We have not seen them here but my friend, XXXX, who lives in Cotulla, about 90 miles south of here, has had them for about 3 years. Her exterminator comes and sprays and it essentially kills only the ones it hits. They then move the hive across the street or down into a vacant lot, etc.. Once they are disturbed again they move back to her house. She is having an influx of them right now. The only good thing is they do get rid of the fire ants but these are more invasive than fire ants. They do not sting and that is the another good thing about them. I sent her a link on diatomaceous earth, <http://www.dirtworks.net/Diatomaceous-Earth.html> http://www.dirtworks.net/Diatomaceous-Earth.html and recommended that she send it to her friend. It may at least help keep them out of her house. I've been using it for years. Kills pests mechanically, not chemically, so they don't become immune to it. Good for getting rid of a lot of other pests, too. Louise > From: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Date: Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:38:44 -0600 > Subject: [Texascavers] crazy ants > > We'll see. I can't help being suspicious of a press release that > quotes a professional exterminator, a "market development" person for > a company that makes a pesticide licensed for use against them, and a > professor who studies them, presumably with grant money. Notice that > is says that no bait has been developed specifically for them, not > that no existing bait works. My personal little bit of conspiracy > theory.... -- Mixon > ---------------------------------------- > Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them more. > ---------------------------------------- > You may "reply" to the address this message > came from, but for long-term use, save: > Personal: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] > AMCS: [email protected] or <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > Visit our website: <http://texascavers.com> http://texascavers.com > To unsubscribe, e-mail: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] > For additional commands, e-mail: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] >
