DE works to kill bugs in the environment. There’s zero evidence that it works as a dewormer. If it was my horse, I’d say “no way,” because while there’s no evidence that it works as a feed through, there’s plenty of evidence that it damages lungs.
2 Likes
Does anyone know if lightly dusting the manure pile will inhibit fly larvae, and if so, is there any chance it might harm bees? Trying to find the balance between fly control and not harming the bees. Sorry to intrude on the thread…
The article I posted was from 2014, so don’t think it is “old school” that the abrasivness of the diatom tests helps in the desiccating process in addition to the absorption of the wax/oils into the very porous tests of the diatoms.
Here is another article from 2014 based upon some studies done at U of KY. http://www.pctonline.com/article/pct0814-silica-gel-research-bed-bugs/
"Mechanism of Action. Both silica gel and diatomaceous earth kill insects by removing a portion of the razor-thin, waxy outer coating that helps them conserve moisture. As a result, they desiccate and die from dehydration. Like super-fine sandpaper, DE acts principally by abrading the protective outer layer of wax as the insect crawls over or through the particles. Instead of causing abrasion, silica gel functions more like a sponge to absorb the cuticular waxes onto the particles. Silica gels have tremendous oil-absorbing capability. Studies have shown that such highly “sorptive” dusts are generally more effective than abrasive, less absorptive dusts (such as DE), especially under field conditions (Ebeling 1961, 1971; Subramanyam and Roesli 2000). It should be noted that boric acid is not a desiccant and has little effect on bed bugs since it must be ingested. None of the aforementioned dusts kill insects by clogging the breathing pores (spiracles) as is sometimes erroneously believed."
Another from U of AZ from 2006 https://cals.arizona.edu/urbanipm/pest_press/2006/september.pdf
"One vulnerability most insects share is the danger of drying out. Their exoskeleton – the hard outer “shell” most adult insects have – safeguards their internal moisture. Inert (“safe”) dusts such as DE are effective pesticides because they absorb water-protecting fats and oils from the epicuticle (outer layer) of the exoskeleton, thereby disabling its moisture-retaining ability. The insect essentially dehydrates. DE works mechanically, not chemically, and it will remain effective as long as it’s undisturbed.
DE is unique among inert dusts because of its abrasive properties. The microscopically sharp edges of diatoms abrade the epicuticle, enhancing the dehydrating effect."
1 Like
how much would you have to add to a manure pile to aid with fly control?
It got rid of the ants in my pasture. I bought the “human grade” 50 pounds of it in case my horses ingested any of it. Kept them off the pasture and ants disappeared. I’m going to do the other 2 pastures this year as it was last year when I used it on one pasture.
Thank you for the many references on how DE works.
That mechanism suggests a couple of questions:
How would DE work on something like bot fly eggs? Applied with a dry bulb “puffer” of some sort?
What would be the effect on ticks? Would it work fast enough to be better than mechanical removal?
G.
