diatomaceous earth

just my own observations regarding ants, if it works, it's a "barely" thing. you can't put it around an anthill and expect the colony to be dead in a few days (or ever).

maybe it's a deterrent, and that's something, but not nearly enough to replace chemical baits.

with the chemical baits I stack basketball sized rocks around them so the dogs don't chew them up

John Meshna wrote:One way to get it down an ant or termite hole id to wet it along with some castile soap and pour it down the hole. The soap helps smother the bugs and when the solution dries out the stuff sticks to the bugs and their eggs and larvae like glue and does them in. DE never loses it's kill capacity. It doesn't dissolve in water.

This is interesting to me. Our problem is chafer-beetle grubs that live below the soil surface (generally, 2 - 4-inches down). We've got a bad problem with them in a 400 sq ft sandy-soil area where grass used to grow, but raccoons & skunks have torn up the soil surface horrendously. We've had to trap more than 15 or each in the last three years. (And my wife feels we deserve a bit of lawn, and she has knee issues right now & the ground has become uncomfortable & hazardous for her to walk on — plus she once got slightly sprayed by a skunk there.)

So the skunks & 'coons go there to dig out & eat the grubs. Do you think tilling DE into the soil would work? Has anyone worked with DE tilled into soil on this sort of scale?  If so, how much DE would be recommended for 400 sq ft?

I'm supposing DE may be available in 44 or 50lb sacks... though possibly expensive.

As no one has yet repiied to my inquiry above, I suppose I can assume that no one checking-in on this thread has experience using DE against chafer-beetle larvae in the upper soil level?

Hi Joel, did you ever find a solution for the chafer beetles? Did you try diatomaceous earth?

How do I use it for mites in my house,,, how do I know if it's working

I believe wholeheartedly that food grade diatomaceous earth is an exceptional tool in many ways. However, it does concern me having COPD myself and my two cats health at stake when it clearly states inhalation can be dangerous and/or damaging. I hear people saying use a salt shaker or a duster but the diatomaceous earth is so fine that I don’t understand how using any of those items even carefully doesn’t present them into the lungs to some degree just by the nature of the beast. If it’s powdery isn’t powder going to produce at least a small layer of dust in the air? I just want to make sure to be as proactive as possible as it pertains to my and my feline best friends health. We have a real serious spider problem at the home I rent and there are so many cracks in the walls and entryways for the spiders that they’re just brazenly walking down the hall and across the bedroom floors. Some are quite large but there are numerous tiny ones seemingly everywhere. Aside from the fact that this landlord is not going to do anything for the cracks and number entryways does anyone have any other advice, please? I know peppermint oil has been suggested but that too is said to be extremely toxic to cats. I thank anyone ahead of time for any assistance as I am a bit lost and overwhelmed with the situation. Also I just want to add that all three of us have been bitten many times and have had some quite unfortunate biological responses.

Hi Joel, sorry you didn't get a response. I can only tell you Google says it will kill the grub and adult beetle.  I have no practical knowledge of this bug. With DE the critter has to have contact with it. It must be dry and takes longer than the chemicals, but so much safer, and not harmful to the earth.

Marie I understand your concerns. Like all lite dry powder caution is needed. it's bad to breath, just like it's bad to inhale flour. If you're worried about your cat's could you try to get the De in the cracks and crevices ? Maybe vacuum the spiders in the house.

Google says DE will kill spiders, but I think it's better at killing bugs with an exoskeleton. I think with spiders they have to get enough on them to dehydrate them.
Good luck