PLEASE HELP!!!!!diatomaceous earth / carpet beetle

Would diatomaceous earth be effective in eliminating carpet beetle infestation?

Howdy T. welcome to permies!

I have no experience with carpet beetles but just did a quick web search and found several different web sites saying it will work against them ,just as it does with many other bugs.

The reading also talked about trying to find out where they are coming from in the first place. So you may need to do more than just the D.E.

I want to say emphatically, yes! go out there and get it but in my experience trying diatomaceous earth for ants, roaches, and fleas I've found the stuff to be utterly useless. I got excited by Paul's article and the science makes sense. He did his homework, but I say no relief with this method. I know this may sound strange but I have two considerations to offer. This suggestion is unfounded by any research which I unfortunately can't do right now but based on my successes with insects this avenue may be of use. Also, find out about the insect, what habitats do they like (under baseboards, below padding)

Nematodes- some garden blends (never treated or with any fertilizer) of species require water and they're ready for spray. This is used for plant pathogens on the microscopic level and hundreds of insects including ticks and fleas. Application is an issue that would require some imagination and planning but these microscopic critters hunt out their prey.

Thank you for your input. The D.E. has gotten rid of 99% of the insects in here. Although my landlord hired Orkin 'cause I thought there were roaches but what ever they were are gone now.They were ssmall orange bugs that ate my flour sack dishtowels. Anyway the Orkin guy told my landlordthat the D.E. Iis poisonous and would have to be professionally cleaned up. He just wants to sell his services.

T. Niesen wrote:Anyway the Orkin guy told my landlordthat the D.E. Iis poisonous and would have to be professionally cleaned up. He just wants to sell his services.

Time to challenge the Orkin guy. Stir a spoonful of D.E. in some orange juice, drink it, and see if he will do the same with his stuff.

Somehow, I think he won't.

Unlike Frank Larue, I have found DE to be effective against ants.

Jane Reed wrote:Unlike Frank Larue, I have found DE to be effective against ants.

This is great news! Would you mind sharing your method? I assume the humidity in my area rendered it ineffectual but my application may be off the mark as well.

Frank, I simply sprinkle, generously, the DE on ant trails and places where I think they are entering a nest. I make sure visible ants are getting it on them. I live in Los Angeles, a rather dry climate, and the powder easily blows away or is scuffed away by my feet or those of the local cats, or the gardener who comes around occasionally with his blower. I may need to re-apply every several days.