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Roach v. Diatomaceous Earth

James Freyr

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posted 6 years ago

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So there's this roach hanging out in my kitchen sink. Wtf. How the hell did this guy get there? This is a new home, still under construction. The pantry is empty, all of what little food that I bring for a week is put up and sealed up. That doesn't really matter now, and is not why I made this post.

About 9am central time I sprinkled some diatomaceous earth on him, and it's noon now. Shall we have a little fun and guess how long he lasts? Sometimes he moves his legs like he's scratching an itch, but he's still walking around.

IMG_20190402_120904085.jpg

"Study books and observe nature; if they do not agree, throw away the books." ~ William A. Albrecht

Chris Kott

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posted 6 years ago

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I would be interested to know. I think it depends on things like ambient humidity and how much the roach moves.

As to your other question, they are primarily drawn to moisture. Check the new installations for leaks.

That's what it finally was for me. I had to rip out a kitchen and replace all the cupboards when I found out there had been a slow leak over months causing roaches and mould issues. A dehumidifier set to less than 40% should do the trick, and probably boost the effectiveness of the DE, too.

Let us know how long it takes, and good luck.

-CK

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
-Robert A. Heinlein

James Freyr

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posted 6 years ago

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1:40pm

Movement has slowed and crawling appears laborious.

"Study books and observe nature; if they do not agree, throw away the books." ~ William A. Albrecht

Timothy Markus

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posted 6 years ago

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James Freyr wrote:1:40pm

Movement has slowed and crawling appears laborious.

We're still talking about the roach, right?

A piece of land is worth as much as the person farming it.
-Le Livre du Colon, 1902

James Freyr

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posted 6 years ago

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Timothy Markus wrote:

James Freyr wrote:1:40pm

Movement has slowed and crawling appears laborious.

We're still talking about the roach, right?

Funny!! Yes.

"Study books and observe nature; if they do not agree, throw away the books." ~ William A. Albrecht

James Freyr

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posted 6 years ago

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2:12pm

Roach no longer has use of one of its six legs. He's now clearly having a bad day.

"Study books and observe nature; if they do not agree, throw away the books." ~ William A. Albrecht

thomas rubino

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posted 6 years ago

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Tim ;
My sides hurt !! Good one!
James, your cabin build is awesome. My cabin is 90 years old and does not look nearly as spiffy as yours... One thing though... mine has never had a cockroach :) A questionable benefit of having below zero days.

Cool experiment with the DE. Glad its the roach who's having a bad day... sounds like your being entertained.

For all your Montana Masonry Heater parts (also known as) Rocket Mass heater parts.
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Chris Kott

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thomas rubino wrote:Tim ;
My sides hurt !! Good one!
James, your cabin build is awesome. My cabin is 90 years old and does not look nearly as spiffy as yours... One thing though... mine has never had a cockroach :) A questionable benefit of having below zero days.

Cool experiment with the DE. Glad its the roach who's having a bad day... sounds like your being entertained.

I'd say that's an unquestionable benefit of below-zero days, just like those everything-numbing -40 C days are an unquestionable benefit to us who suffer from overwintering invasive insect species from the south.

I love this, by the way. I've only ever squished them. It's good to have some kind of documentation. Also, it doesn't look like you buried it in the stuff, just shook a bit on it. That speaks to efficacy.

-CK

Timothy Markus

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posted 6 years ago

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I really appreciate this thread, James. I've used de for years but I never realized it acted so fast.

I'm glad you guys enjoy my humour. I deal in volume so I spout off a good one eventually.

A piece of land is worth as much as the person farming it.
-Le Livre du Colon, 1902

James Freyr

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8:22pm

I had to relocate my new partner in research to a 5 gallon bucket so I could do dishes and I wasn't ready for him to go down the drain. He prefers to sit still, but can try to be quick as demonstrated when I was trying to move him. He doesn't seem to have the same dexterity in his 5 legs that have motion. He looked like he was trying to run, but just wasn't really covering much ground. I've been walking by and looking in the bucket for a couple hours and he seems to be in the same spot, but facing different directions.

I'm heading to bed, will report back in the morning.

"Study books and observe nature; if they do not agree, throw away the books." ~ William A. Albrecht

James Freyr

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6:21am the next day

Roach's physical condition took a turn for the worse overnight. He had moved to the other side of the bucket from where he was last I saw him. His remaining leg movement is extremely slow and is practically immobile.

"Study books and observe nature; if they do not agree, throw away the books." ~ William A. Albrecht

James Freyr

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About 24 hours later...

Roach appears to have died. Or, he's completely incapacitated and only has his thoughts remaining. I nudged him around a few times and flipped him over, and there is absolutely no movement, not even antennae twitching.

IMG_20190403_091840229.jpg

"Study books and observe nature; if they do not agree, throw away the books." ~ William A. Albrecht

thomas rubino

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Hoo Ray ! James 1 Roach 0 good job! great experiment thanks for thinking of it!

For all your Montana Masonry Heater parts (also known as) Rocket Mass heater parts.
Visit me at
dragontechrmh.com Once you go brick you will never go back!

Timothy Markus

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You scienced the hell out of that roach! I never would have thought the de would be effective in only 24 hours. Great experiment.

A piece of land is worth as much as the person farming it.
-Le Livre du Colon, 1902

James Freyr

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posted 6 years ago

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It was interesting to see the effects of DE play out over time. It's certainly not a quick way to go, but it works. I've been sprinkling DE in the expansion joints between the floors and walls before I install the baseboard on the cabin I've been building. I figure now's my chance to put some in there. I feel like those gaps end up being bug highways for the ones that do get inside the house.

"Study books and observe nature; if they do not agree, throw away the books." ~ William A. Albrecht

Chris Kott

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I appreciate the fact that the amount used was a sprinkle. I would worry less about roaches that have to crawl through an inch of the stuff, but it's good to know that a little dab will do 'em, and within 24 hours, too.

James, I would expect that the expansion joint additions of DE to work well against things like silverfish, that will thrive on condensation and the adhesives in drywall, and ants, which are always trying to get in to houses, around here, anyways.

Again, great work in this space. I wonder if there's room for a BB in this space, having to do with simple, practical tests of basic aspects of permie homecare that underlay much of what we do and discuss.

-CK

Steve Farmer

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Washing up liquid. Kills them in minutes. A blob on the head or draw a ring of it round them or across somewhere you dont want them to pass.

http://www.facebook.com/TFSForest

James Freyr

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Thanks everyone! I'm glad others found this interesting

A second study almost happened late this afternoon. I went to clean up for supper and there was a wasp in the sink. I thought about it, but then weighing other considerations, I figured he might pollinate flowers. Then I thought "what if he's a braconid wasp" so I released him outside to go live his waspy life.

I don't know much about wasps and hopefully he didn't fly away to kill bees and laugh at my ignorance. I took a picture of the pardoned insect.

IMG_20190403_181211692.jpg

"Study books and observe nature; if they do not agree, throw away the books." ~ William A. Albrecht

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