Diatomaceous Earth as a Pesticide
Diatomaceous earth was first recommended to me at one of my favorite message boards, BackyardChickens for use in dust bathing in order to keep feather mites down. I have since found that it is also effective against fleas and ticks (it may be dusted onto cats, dogs, etc.) or worms (it may be added to feed) as well as ants and many other pests. Pests should die within a couple of days of coming into contact with DE.
In researching diatomaceous earth (DE) I have learned that there are a number of different grades (NEVER use the pool grade as it is unsafe for pest use!), the best being food grade. Food grade DE can be used for both internal and external parasites.
DE is made up of the shells of tiny silicate creatures (diatoms). The shells have microscopic razor-sharp edges. DE works as a pesticide by cutting outer shell of the pests, and then the powder portion of the DE will absorb their body fluids and kill them by drying them out. It is NOT a poison (although some forms have poison added to them) but a physical means of pest control, so the pests cannot become immune to it.
Locating food grade diatomaceous earth is not always easy. Try checking at your local feed, nursery, or pet stores, but INSIST that the product is food grade (it MUST say so on the bag, no matter what the employees tell you) if you intend to use it for worms. If necessary, you may have to special-order it, or order it online, although in that case you may want to split an order as the shipping will add to your cost, and buying a larger amount will be much more cost-effective.
When applying large amounts or pouring into another container, it is a good precaution to use a dust mask and eye protection and wash hands and clothing afterwards, even though it is non-toxic.
As a dust bath … add DE to sand and allow chickens or other fowl to bathe in it.
As a coop/cage/kennel pesticide (against mites or any other pests) … use a shaker-type applicator to sprinkle DE liberally over the floor in into cracks and crevices. Use a puff-type bottle to apply if necessary.
Indoors, use a puff-type applicator to get it into crevices and hiding places.
For fleas or ticks, dust the animal with DE
For worms, consult a veterinarian, or use the following amounts as a guideline, adding DE directly to food:
kittens – 1/4 tsp.
cats – 1/2 tsp.
large cats – 1 tsp.
toy dogs – 1/2 tsp.
dogs up to 50lb – 1 tsp.
dogs 50-100 lb – 1 Tblsp.
dogs over 100 lb – 1-1/2 to 2 Tblsp.
A couple of treatments should take care of existing worms. For reinfestation, you may need to treat the area with DE and/or continue to give the animal maintenance doses. It is not toxic at all, so continued feeding of DE is not dangerous.
Can also be applied to the yard or garden as desired, and will kill any insects or worms it comes into contact with, so crawling types are the most affected.
Finding DE to purchase can typically be easy in the USA to just go to Amazon.com and in some countries buying direct from a supplier can give you a much better deal, like here for example which is a good place where to buy diatomaceous earth in Canada.
