Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Tools/ideas for fighting bed bugs
Diatomaceous earth
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mrbill0626
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Joined: Oct '07
Posts: 172
Posted 2 years ago
Sun Oct 7 2007 23:42:16
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Has anyone had any success using diatomaceous earth (DE) to kill bed bugs? What about cedar chips (such as putting these in dresser drawers, etc)? Seems like I saw once where they are effective, but maybe that's for moths.
Thanks
Bill Matthews
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DE-- yes, see our FAQ on that (FAQs button below). DE works. However, I strongly advise you to get an experienced PCO. They can do much more and your infestation can be gone sooner.
Cedar chips? I don't think they kill or repel bed bugs.
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mrbill0626
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Joined: Oct '07
Posts: 172
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Oct 8 2007 20:54:16
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What is a PCO?
Bill
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BBsBlow
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Joined: Apr '07
Posts: 432
Posted 2 years ago
Mon Oct 8 2007 20:55:07
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What exterminators prefer to be called now. (Pest control operator I think it stands for.)
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You might find information here helpful, mrbill:
http://bedbugger.com/faqs/ -
TorontoBugged
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Posts: 147
Posted 2 years ago
Tue Oct 9 2007 15:53:52
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Some kinds of food grade DE (like PermaGuard) contain pyrtethrum which is a repellant. This makes sense because they put this DE in sacks of grains to repel grain eating insects but it;s not the greatest feature for attacking bed bugs which you want to attract. However during infestatin #1, I did find 1 dried up adult bed bug on the bed slats after applying Green Earth pesticide-grade DE like crazy (which is a big no no) on the bed. It remains to be seen how our lungs fare in future tho. See thread on DE.
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TorontoBugged
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Posted 2 years ago
Tue Oct 9 2007 16:02:13
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I applied Green Earth pesticide grade DE but more minimally this time since learning about potential damaging effect to lungs after discovering infestation #2 however have not been able to find any dead bed bugs and am still being bit. DE alone will probably not help you solve your bb problem unless you have a very light infestation and you are very lucky in that all the bbs crossed over the DE you laid out and died.
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FYI Perma-guard is a brand. They sell plain food grade DE and then they sell food grade DE plus pyrethrins. Food grade DE with pyrethrins added is not really edible DE anymore, in my understanding.
Toronto, are you SURE they put DE plus pyrethrins in grain sacks? I know they use plain food grade DE in feed, no pyrethrins added. Because this alone will kill pests and does not harm animals' stomachs.
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TorontoBugged
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Posted 2 years ago
Tue Oct 9 2007 23:50:29
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I posted about it before but I think the original link provided was wrong. Here's the website.
http://www.perma-guard.com/index.html
Although this website claims it is the SUPPLIER of perma-guard DE and yes, that it is food-grade, i do not see anywhere on the website that says who the manufacturer is. regardless as a distributor or supplier, their info should be correct.
on their website, it says:
"The addition of Pyrethrum and Piperonyl butoxide is to irritate the bug, causing physical action, allowing the DE to work more quickly."
and
"Moreover, on any surface, these natural pesticide products have a remarkable repellency factor. As long as it is present, insects tend to stay away, making a serious infestation unlikely. Also, the more it is used, the more an environment is created that tends to make insects feel unwelcome."
Our laws force companies to describe what the core ingredients are in chemicals and products. Do your own research. Don't trust the marketing material or the phone reps. They are often the least knowledgeable people in a company.
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Toronto,
I agree with you about people doing their own research, but the best place to find information on what is in a pesticide is in the material safety data sheets (MSDS) which you can google. Perma-guard links to one for the DE associated with each of their recommended uses. They are not recommending the same DE for every purpose. There is one which is pure DE and one which has other things including pyrethrins added. There may be others too, but I am concerned with those two only.
The page you quote from is very odd and poorly written and seems to make general statements lumping together multiple products in their line. Luckily, individual pages are more enlightening.
The perma-guard website has a separate page on their grain storage DE:
http://www.perma-guard.com/grainstorage.html
I quote:
"Seven pounds of pure, "food grade" Diatomaceous Earth, added to the grain so that every kernel is coated, can protect the grain for as long as needed. Instead of retreating grain every six months as the chemical people do, Perma-Guard Grain Protectant need be added only once, regardless of how long the storage lasts.
When the grain is to be used, the Diatomaceous Earth can be easily removed, but need not be. Actually, since the product is "food grade," makes no difference in taste or in cooking quality, and adds 14 trace minerals, why not leave it in?"
They are clearly talking about PURE DE (as they say) and not the DE with pyrethrins added which is not for food use.
If you don't believe me, you can look at the perma-guard grain and seed storage MSDS, which lists ONLY food grade DE and NOT food grade DE with pyrethrins added (beware, the following links load PDFs): http://www.perma-guard.com/msds/MSDS%20Grain&%20Seed%20Storage.doc
The sole ingredient?
Amorphous Silica – Natural Diatomite 95.00%-100.0% 61790-53-2As does the MSDS for their Fossil Shell Flour (another word for plain DE):
http://www.perma-guard.com/msds/MSDS%20FSF.docThe sole ingredient?
Amorphous Silica – Natural Diatomite 95.00%-100.0% 61790-53-2Lo and behold, however, perma-guard D-20 (listed on their website as "Household" version) contains the following:
Amorphous Silica – Natural Diatomite 86.00%-90.0% 61790-53-2
Pyretherin 0.18%-0.22% 8003-34-7
Isopararffinic-petroleum Solvent 0.70%-0.90% 647472-47-83
Piperonyl-butoxide-technical* 0.90%-1.10% 51-03-06
*(Equivalent to min. 0.8% butylcarbutyl-6propylpiperonyl ether
and 0.2% related compounds)
See:
http://www.perma-guard.com/msds/MSDS%20Household.docD-20 is also labelled for animals and pets (external use, as for fleas) which has the pyrethrins and such added to the food grade DE:
http://www.perma-guard.com/msds/MSDS%20Pet&%20Animal.docSo yes, they still use food grade DE as the basis for it, but it is no longer edible.
My point is you do not eat the DE with pyrethrins or other things added. It would NOT be used for grain storage or fed to animals.
Although they are marketing this D-20 DE plus pyrethrins for household use, it is important to note that the pure DE without pyrethrins can be used to kill bed bugs in the home, as it works mechanically.
It is safe if you have a pet that might lick it up (or a child for that matter). There are articles on the perma-guard site about some old guy who drank a glass of water with plain DE in it every day of his life.
I would not feel as confident exposing young children or pets to the D-20 even though it is not considered a dangerous substance, it is not edible.
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flipss
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Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 1
Posted 3 months ago
Thu Aug 13 2009 0:22:29
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just wanted to add that there is a product at canadian tire called biomist insect killer it comes in a250 ml bottle and is concentrated you mix 50 ml to 250 ml of water it kills them on contact and is safe around animals and kids sprayed all my rugs and beds with it kills them dead.Of course it kills the ones that you can find but if you spray the entire mattress and box spring it works very good and not expensive
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your host
Joined: Mar '07
Posts: 5,547
Posted 3 months ago
Fri Aug 14 2009 14:44:25
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flipss - 1 day ago »
just wanted to add that there is a product at canadian tire called biomist insect killer it comes in a250 ml bottle and is concentrated you mix 50 ml to 250 ml of water it kills them on contact and is safe around animals and kids ... if you spray the entire mattress and box spring it works very good and not expensiveThe product you describe is a pyrethroid spray that does not contain diatomaceous earth.
Is it labeled for spraying all over your mattress? I would be wary of using a product in this way if it is not labeled as such.
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