David Woof on mon 20 jun 11
I have a friend who lives in flea country and she swears by "food grade di=
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atomaceous earth" for pests of many sorts. Note: the "Diatomaceous Eart=
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h" sold for filtration is chemically treated and not to be used in gardens =
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and on pets. And some of it is just fired silica or clay sold under that na=
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me.
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I am also quite sure that there would be a silica warning on the label if i=
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t were of the micron size and structure to threaten health. We are getting=
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posts from Clayart folks guessing and "I supposing" so lets look it up. T=
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he information is a mouse click away=3D2C and science has known of diatoms =
si=3D
nce shortly after invention of the microscope. If memory serves it is al=
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most pure silica with a wee bit of calcium and possibly trace minerals. Som=
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e folks eat it on a regular basis.=3D20
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Substitute for silica in a glaze and see what happens=3D2C but don't sub di=
at=3D
omaceous earth with silica from the glaze materials shelf.=3D20
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Look up "food grade diatomaceous earth and you will find that it is recomme=
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nded by Veterinarians for fleas in the coat=3D2C sprinkled on food to kill =
in=3D
ternal intestinal parasites=3D2C and around the yard area where flees lay t=
he=3D
ir eggs and hide to ambush. (Incidentally=3D3B ants eat flea eggs.) Slugs=
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aphids and other garden pests also. Don't go for a clean sweep kill every=
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pest attitude. A few survivors to hunt keep the "good" predators in you=
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r garden killing "bad Bugs=3D2C" As with all=3D3B it's a question of bala=
nce.=3D
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It didn't kill those big burly harvester and fire ants. A neighbor sprink=
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led a generous portion to watch and see=3D3B it took the ants two days to c=
ar=3D
ry it all off and dispose of it and the colonies are thriving so.......
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Gotta go=3D2C bugs don't bother me.....because I don't bother them. We have=
a=3D
n understanding. "Funny" how much good comes when we stop fighting!!!
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David Woof
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7f. Re: diatomacious earth?
Posted by: "Joan Klotz" Venicemud@CA.RR.COM=3D20
Date: Sun Jun 19=3D2C 2011 8:09 pm ((PDT))
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I think it would be very bad for their lungs=3D2C diatomaceous earth
works because of its structure=3D2C lots of sharp corners to break
through the chitin coat of fleas - its probably not so good for lungs eithe=
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r.
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Joan Klotz=3D2C
Venice CA.
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At 05:30 PM 6/19/2011=3D2C DJ Brewer wrote:
>Diatomacious earth is a natural pesticide and flea killer. I read on
>wikipedia it is mainly 80 to 90%silica
>=3D2C with 2 to 4%alumina
>. I was wondering if I could just
>use some of the 50 lb bag of silica to dust into the dog's coats to kill
>the fleas. Does anyone know much about diatomacious earth?
>
>thanks in advance for any insights.
>
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