Diatomaceous Earth isn't new to organic gardeners, but using it in place of
methyl bromide is good news.
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This item is one of the news releases and story leads that ARS Information
distributes on weekdays to fax and e-mail subscribers. You can also get the
latest ARS news on the World Wide Web at
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm.
* Feedback and questions to ARS News Service via e-mail: isnv@ars-grin.gov.
* ARS Information Staff, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Room 1-2251, Beltsville MD
20705-5128, (301) 504- 1617, fax 504-1648.
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From: "ARS News Service"
To: "ARS News List"
Subject: Diatomaceous Earth As Alternative to Chemical Insecticides
Date: Wed, Dec 22, 1999, 6:36 AM
STORY LEAD
Natural Product Helps Insects "Bite the Dust"
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ARS News Service
Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Linda McGraw, (309) 681-6530, lmcgraw@asrr.arsusda.gov
December 22, 1999
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Remnants from one of the oldest things on earth--diatomaceous earth
(DE)--can help solve one of today's most pressing problems: finding safe
alternatives to insecticides to control insects in homes and food processing
facilities, according to Agricultural Research Service scientists.
DE is dust made from the fossilized skeletons of microscopic aquatic plants.
ARS researchers are testing new commercial DE products in laboratory
studies. DE is non-toxic to humans, but it kills red flour beetles and
confused flour beetles, two of the food processing industry's worst insect
pests. DE disrupts the insects' exoskeleton or skin, causing the insects to
die from rapid water loss.
According to ARS entomologist Frank H. Arthur, DE could be an alternative to
methyl bromide, an ozone-depleting fumigant scheduled to be phased out by
2005.
Fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity can affect the performance
of DE products used to control insects. Adult insects were exposed to DE at
various temperatures (70, 80, and 90 degrees F) and relative humidities (40,
57, and 75 percent). Exposure to DE at 80 degrees F. and 57 percent relative
humidity for two days killed all red flour beetles, but three days were
required to kill 100 percent of the confused flour beetles. DE kills insects
quicker at higher temperatures and at lower humidities.
Arthur is based at ARS' Grain Marketing and Production Research Center in
Manhattan, Kan. His research also focuses on alternatives to insecticides
used in raw grain storage. While DE is a good alternative to chemical
insecticides, Arthur stresses the importance of combining a product like
this with good sanitation.
ARS is the chief research agency for the USDA.
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Scientific contact: Frank H. Arthur, ARS Grain Marketing and Production
Research Center, Manhattan, Kan., phone (785) 776-2783, fax (785) 776-2792,
arthur@usgmrl.ksu.edu.
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This item is one of the news releases and story leads that ARS Information
distributes on weekdays to fax and e-mail subscribers. You can also get the
latest ARS news on the World Wide Web at
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/thelatest.htm.
* Feedback and questions to ARS News Service via e-mail: isnv@ars-grin.gov.
* ARS Information Staff, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Room 1-2251, Beltsville MD
20705-5128, (301) 504- 1617, fax 504-1648.
I just passed the news item along - you need to send your comments to the
ARS.
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Reply from Kris Johnson to #99.9387063 From lonrom@HEVANET.COM("Lon J. Rombough"
> DE is dust made from the fossilized skeletons of microscopic aquatic plants.
> ARS researchers are testing new commercial DE products in laboratory
> studies.
----- Reply from Kris Johnson to #99.9387063 Follows: -----
"fossilized skeletons..." - Large scale use of this product does not sound like a sustainable practice.
Kris
Kris Johnson - Habitat #22004 - gardening in
Williston, Ohio (near Toledo, close to Lake Erie, zone 6)
KRIS_JOHNSON@ecunet.org
