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How to use diatomaceous earth

 
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I have brown crickets in my basement--fortunately, they do not chirp at night. I researched how to eliminate them and bought some DE yesterday. However, it is unclear to me how to use this product. The bag says to sprinkle around wallboards and behind furniture, etc. But from your website, I learn that the bugs don't "come to it"...so am I supposed to try to sprinkle the powder on each and every cricket???
Minna
 
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Every summer after the rains are gone, I put a thin layer of DE around the perimeter of my house. This is largely to deter infestations of Argentine ants here in SoCal. If we do get a summer rain the eves pretty much keep the DE from washing away. I do have to touch up some areas during the summer though.

Paul Wheaton posted an article on DE a while ago that is also worth a read. http://www.richsoil.com/diatomaceous-earth.jsp
 
Minna Bean
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Well, I sprinkled some diatomacious earth powder around my basement on Saturday 9/11 in the afternoon and haven't seen any more brown crickets since then. They usually come out after the sun goes down. So, I'm guessing they do get into the little piles of the stuff. Next question is...why am I not finding little piles of their remains??? 
Minna
 
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Location: Pennsylvania
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diatomacious earth is sharp in structure, when the bugs walk in it, it gets into the joints where they bend and causes abrasions. This damage causes them to dry out and die. So you may not find dead ones at the piles.
kent
 
Yes, of course, and I accept that blame. In fact, i covet that blame. As does this tiny ad:
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