[Superhero]

Hi!

So I was in the pet shop the other day (a natural, amazing little shop) and they have DE multi-mite in stock now as pest control for fleas, mites, etc. ANY insect really. You can feed it to your dog or scatter it as a powder on their coat and it keeps pests away.

Anyway, the owner said that it is also effective against other "critters" and she used it successfully with a massive ant nest she had. Also it is supposed to help with slugs.

So yesterday I planted some more salad and stuff in my little cold frame and in the end I sprinkled some DE over. Just now I went to check if it needed watering and I saw that there were a couple of wood lice in the cold frame. Also I found a little slug. I am not sure whether it was alive though... I wish I'd kept it and monitored it now.

Anyway... I was wondering if you guys heard of DE or if you used it succesfully and if there are any tips as to how to use it. I do wonder whether I need to reapply it after every rain or every time I watered my veg...?

http://www.oaktreepoultry.co.uk/diatomaceous-earth.php

[mumofstig]

someone asked about this quite recently - you might like to read the thread 

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=105862.msg1187637#msg1187637

[Stree]

It is only really useful against creatures with exoskeletons, ( carapace, shell.)  because its sharp crystalline nature allow it to puncture the outer shell and the pest quickly dehydrates and dies. The crystals must be dry to work, so the dampness of a plant would probably neuter its usefulness.
It is not a poison as such.
For use on plants there is a version that is purported to be safe on edible crops, with beneficial trace elements apart from vague pest control promises as well.  I do not think this version is fully tested or accredited yet.
Works fine on chickens and livestock.....Thats what I use it for.

[Superhero]

The stuff I've got is food grade and you can feed it to your dog, so I guess it is fine for the use on a veg patch!?

[arugula]

.. so I guess it is fine for the use on a veg patch!?

Except that it isn't licensed for that purpose, so no.