The main draw of diatomaceous earth for pest control is that it is not toxic or poisonous to humans or pets. Instead, it works as a desiccant that dries out insects and other pests. It kills them through dehydration and essential mummification.
Touching or eating diatomaceous earth has been shown to have little to no practical effects on humans and animals. This is because the body and its organs naturally contain trace amounts of silica, and very little of the substance is absorbed during digestion.
Once it’s out in the world, diatomaceous earth has little to no effect on the environment or larger wildlife. Unlike many other pesticides, diatomaceous earth is once again naturally occurring in lakes and streams and won’t harm fish or large animals like dogs, cats, birds, and mammals or reptiles.
Sometimes you want to put a pesticide in a location where a dry powder will not work well. This is common in the nooks and crannies of homes and unusual places that need protection, like the underside of leaves that are exposed to pests like aphids.
1. The Wet Method
It’s easy to use the dry method as well. In this case, diatomaceous earth is left as a powder and is sifted in areas where pests are common and control is needed.
Diatomaceous earth is a wonderful, multi-purpose pesticide that can be applied with fewer hazards than topical substances and spray pesticides. It can be used indoors and outdoors, works great against hard to kill pests like cockroaches, and can be found in almost any hardware or garden store.