Diatomaceous Earth (DE) All Natural Pest Control - What it Can and Can’t Be Used On

[@terrapin52]

"Errors" -Corrections: 1. "Diatomaceous earth is ground up sea shells." -It's the fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of algae, that have been crushed or milled. 2. "You just completely wasted like $6 in DE." -A 20-pound bag is $13.99. 3. "It is not a broad-spectrum insecticide." -It's a broad-spectrum insecticide. It's less effective on some insects for various reasons. 4. "An arthropod is any insect with a segmented body and an exoskeleton." -Arthropoda is a phylum containing insects and other invertebrates. All insects are arthropods. 5. "These aren't arthropods: caterpillars, squash borers, moths, honeybees, and butterflies." -All are arthropods. 6. "Worms are arthropods." -Worms are not arthropods. Worms are annelids. 7. "It will kill the worms in the digestive tract." -It hasn't been proven to kill parasitic worms, just the insects that transmit them. 8. "Caterpillars don't have an exoskeleton." -Caterpillars have an exoskeleton. 9. "DE causes insects to molt." -DE causes abrasion, desiccation, and dehydration of the protective cuticle on an insect's exoskeleton, drying it to death. It's true that DE is less effective on certain insects like caterpillars which excrete a gooey substance which prevents the drying effect, or squash borer larvae which are safe within your vegetables, away from the powder. Basically, if the environment is wet, or the insect doesn't come into contact with dry DE, it won't kill it.

[@mattjans]

Can't trust a channel with this many immediate errors and corrections. Enthusiasm doesn't make up for inaccuracy.

[@DerekandTinaW]

Thank you for the numerous corrections. Please help with safe application method, Identifying correct DE products.

[@kimberlytrevino2210]

Well said!

[@SomeoneElse92422]

I was thinking about all of these corrections while watching, but I appreciate the enthusiasm!!!!

[@joeb8162]

Thank you! You saved me the time of correcting him on diatoms and you explained much more.

[@GardensLadyBug]

I sware by D.E. I've used it in the garden against earwigs, in an apartment against roaches, on dog bedding against fleas, ticks and mites. I've read it's good against lice too. I use it as a safe dewormer for my dog. Humans can use it too, for a number of benefits. I bought a large container of food grade DE and use as necessary for whatever need. Please do your homework before using.

[@billyandrew]

I wouldn't use it on adult earwigs, as they're worth their weight in gold, eating other insects that feed on my fruit and veg, however it's result against their young, who attack young plants, given the chance, is 100% as an effective deterrent.

[@judypa38]

How often should it be re-apply outside and inside?

[@mildreddodd970]

​@@judypa38 h

[@100GTAGUY]

​@@judypa38 most packages say you can reapply outside once every seven days or after heavy rains, depending on the severity of the infestation. The more insects you need to control the more frequently you should apply, once mitigated you can apply much less frequently. Indoors you can probably get away with an application every three to six months.

[@barbellgardener]

I've used DE for 11 years in my yard and garden. It wont kill all the ants in a colony but does knock them down significantly if you poor it around their nest entrance so they have to crawl through it to get in and out. I also use DE around the base of squashes and sunflowers as crawling pest control. Great stuff!

[@jamescampbell720]

All DE will do to them is cut up their exoskeleton. the individual ants will lose moisture through their shell and they will die, but you wont kill the colony. liquid gel bait trays near the nest will allow them to feed and then take that back down to the larva inside the colony and will kill the colony without any affect to your garden.

[@essentialcomforts2166]

does it work for the squash BUGS? (not vine borers)

[@poeticpursuits1332]

@@essentialcomforts2166 It works on most insects. Contrary to this youtube video alllll insects are actually arthropods and most of them will succumb to de if the conditions are dry.

[@Brocuzgodlocdunfamdogson]

For ants, i just put a small pile of DE at the base of my plants instead of going directly at the ants. They’d have to walk through what to them, might as well be a mountain of DE before they can even start climbing the plant.

[@tnorth7090]

mix sugar and DE for ants

[@Standard37]

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is just an average Ground attack, good for any Rock type pokémon, bad for Bug types, but Bug/Rock types, it's a decent attack.

[@bethshrock1120]

He should have said it this way and would have saved a lot of explaining 🤣

[@f612CreatorsPodcast]

@@bethshrock1120 can you make a whole video explaining this

[@bethshrock1120]

@@f612CreatorsPodcast it's already been explained...😶

[@Jenoveryonder]

Best reply ever! 🤣🤣🤣

[@anneh7725]

Thank you for this, made my day! 😂👍😎

[@TheSkiddum]

Thank you. I've told people anything that has a exoskeleton. I leave food grade de in a tiny line around the walls and corners of my home. That way if the spiders and such walk through it, it gets on them and will kill them. Its been a great way to remove our spider problem. We had a very big spider problem. Especially black widows. We called the exterminators a few times and it would remove them for a few months but then we had to call them again and it was costing us quite a bit. But since we started using this we haven't seen one in our house and I look very closely because we have our son. Our basement is super old and we used to get them down there something awful. But we dust an line our home every 3 months. Its saved us a bunch on exterminators.

[@chia_pet7121]

Just an FYI, there is a fresh and saltwater DE powder. The stuff you use for food, and in your garden is safe due to the shape of the freshwater diatoms. The saltwater type, that you use in filters (pool filters for example), is hazardous to breath in due to the shape of the saltwater diatoms.

[@EdieBabeMonster]

Thanks for this very helpful tidbit!

[@jjwideawake.9397]

Yep, we have taken it. Great for fleas on cats, they can lick and not get sick. Good wormer also.

[@Brocuzgodlocdunfamdogson]

100%. Plus, some of the industrial/pool DE also contains other, potentially dangerous additives. Just make sure the bag says “food grade” or something along those lines.

[@100GTAGUY]

Well they're both not good to breathe in, they're essentially both a form of silicate and can cause respiratory issues. Generally any fine powder regardless of chemical makeup should not be inhaled. Wear a particle/dust mask when handling and applying and try to stay up wind to keep it out of your eyes if you dont have sealed eyepro. Im looking into slurry applications to help keep the dust down, since i live in the desert things tend to stay quite dry and get kicked up by the wind. If we got some dew it would help dampen it and adhere it to the ground and my plants, which is where the slurry comes in. The lil bit of rain sprinkles we get every few days is generally enough to dampen it, without quite washing it away. But timing an aplication for after said rain isnt always convenient.

[@denisehelmbreck1606]

I have 2 giant raised boxes that were infested with symphalans (pre-existing issue from previous land owners). Our plants were all stunted until we found out the issue. We treated the soil with DE and have had good results with plants so far 🤞

[@beea4456]

How did you treat the soil

[@AaronWells93]

Hi! Diatomaceous Earth is in-fact, not ground up sea shells, but the fossilized remains of diatoms (a type of protist). Their usefulness comes from the fact that they are shaped in “jagged” formations, and surrounded by a cell wall made of silica. When they die and fall to the floor of the ocean as sediment, their little bodies form tiny little shards of “glass” that is not harmful to the human respiratory system/skin (in small amounts), but can wreak havoc when an insect comes into contact with it.

[@kingofthedots3835]

I'm glad that some body feels comfortable with exhuming these tiny little bodies for a weapon of mass destruction to the insect kingdom !.....how can you sleep at night ???😂😂😂😂

[@broodieivie207]

thank you!!!

[@larrywheaton7037]

Over dramatized dude , have you ever been chocked out ?

[@kingofthedots3835]

@@larrywheaton7037 that was a well crafted joke !....so I thought 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@madusonkeeper]

In small smounts do not routinely breathe in!!

[@ornelamecani3443]

I laugh at his opening line every time. It never changes from "welcome to another very exciting episode" lol Thanks for all the information you provide. I have been binge watching each exciting episode 😉

[@gardenstatesowandsew]

Thank you. This is exactly what my dad taught me many years ago. It’s nice to have a review. Sometimes I forget exactly what he said. I wish I had written it down

[@tonimichellesmith9255]

MIgardener oh, you are awesome! Your video was right on time! I've been following you young man since you were in high school, and I've not been disappointed yet thank you.

[@sherrysears122]

Good info. I put in my chickens nest boxes as a prevention so they will never have mites. I also mixed it in the duster that I fixed for them to dust themselves.

[@tonylorenzano1830]

I worry about the squirrels, possums and raccoons with fleas---Winter doesn't kill many fleas--They go dormant, until a warm day--hide under the warmer snow, too. These poor things can really suffer and dirt dust only helps a little with fleas. It can be tragic.

[@StubbsMillingCo.]

DE is safe for earthworms. In case anyone else was wondering. When he says worms he referring to worms in your animals (pets) like the ones coming out their hind end.

[@debbiebell4598]

But how do you get your cat to consume it? LOL

[@StubbsMillingCo.]

@@debbiebell4598 mix with cat food, piece of cheese, anything they will eat.

[@poeticpursuits1332]

@@debbiebell4598 All the numerous studies that have been performed based on the urban myth that DE is a dewormer have concluded that it has shown no efficacy against parasitic worms. Also contrary to this video worms are annelids and not arthropods.

[@jamescampbell720]

14yrs in pest control here. You can pretty much use DE on anything, results will vary depending on the pest species. but the moment you water the area you've placed it... its worthless. You have to reapply it. Its works well in dry climates, and for folks who have chickens etc. as most pest control products are very toxic to birds. Another product which can work well is Borate powder. It shares the same weakness towards water, but it will work in various ways on the exterior of the pest, and in cases of things like roaches and termites its very effective when ingested. Its also a natural product, as a mined mineral, it has a similar toxicity level to table salt.

[@sherriesmith2587]

Hi! I hope you don't mind a question....but, you've hit on my problem...exactly. I have chickens....only three, and my garden is fenced off....BUT, those hens are wiley and they get in the garden on occasion. I have Japanese beetles...and ants like crazy. They're eating my green beans and I need them gone. My problem is that I would just die if I inadvertently hurt my hens. I water my garden EVERY night...late, after the Sun goes down. What should I do? I'm not rich. I can't keep reapplying DE over and over. My neighbors who have been gardening for decades tell me to dust the crop with Seven dust. I know it'll kill the bugs...really well. But, it can also hurt my girls! I don't know what to do. Any pro advice? I sure would appreciate it.

[@jamescampbell720]

@@sherriesmith2587 alot to unpack here... From the sounds of it, you dont intend your chickens to be in your garden, but they sneak in occasionally. For that youll just need to find their entry points and fix them. as far as pest control products go, your neighbors advice to use Seven dust isnt bad. It will help you control your beetles and ants, but it is non-systemic, meaning your plants will not absorb it and pass it on to you when you eat your veggies. It has the same fialure point as DE though, and any other dust, that once its wet, youll have to reapply. My focus on pest control wasnt in agricultural, it was in residential home treatments, keep that in mind, but depending on how you water your plants, IE drip system etc. if youre wetting the soil but not the plant itself, then Seven dust can sit on the plant and be effective even through your watering cycles. Seven will also work on your ants, or a granular product like Amdro will work as well. they will carry it to the colony and it will kill the larva which feed the rest, and it will take out the problem at the source.

[@sherriesmith2587]

You are awesome! I really am new at this, and I appreciate the guidance. Thank you so very much!

[@thereselamarche8745]

Thank you!

[@Greengirls991]

Food grade DE is used in chicken feed to help deworm them. Humans can also ingest to clean out parasites. Make sure you buy food grade and not the one used for pools. Non food grade is the toxic one.

[@deb5513]

The food grade DE is also great for heavy metal poisoning. The molecules of heavy metals like mercury attach to the DE in your body and are eliminated. Great stuff!!

[@ElinWinblad]

Deb link to source? Sounds interesting

[@leannhoward7306]

It's also good for humans to aid in repairing tissue, skin, hair and nails, it's a wrinkle fighter and can help deworm dogs or any parasite as well as in humans. It can help you and your pets prevent muscle and tissue damage or aid in healing them. FOOD GRADE ONLY.

[@billyandrew]

How strange you should state that, as DE actually _contains_ levels of three heavy metals, namely Arsenic, Lead and Cadmium. I'll stick with activated charcoal, (removes many heavy metals) Potassium Permanganate (removes two heavy metals and also can be used to start fires!) and Iodine, (removes two heavy metals) but best to have your thyroid gland tested, before using it, because it can induce the gland to become over or under active.

[@billyandrew]

@@ElinWinblad I see you recieved no reply. Google for latest research on DE and heavy metals, then just trawl through the results. I rarely trust given links, preferring to undertake my own researches.

[@billyandrew]

@@leannhoward7306 Proven via scientific research or anecdotal, ie _"It's said...",_ I wonder?

[@KatherineRoseArt]

Very informative! Thanks for making this video. Have seen people constantly suggesting using it to control fire ants. Tbh I tried this and it just did not work. What did work for me was literally scooping up ants from a neighboring nest, tossing them in... and letting them have an ant war. Both waring sides leave the area in about 3 days. I saw another YT gardener's video on this and was doubtful... tried it... and would you believe it worked? This is how i deal with ants in my raised beds and planters ever since and it always works!

[@spicencens7725]

Excellent. I didn't knowbthis. I have used sugar mixed w boric acid for ants. It works too!

[@kizziah7777]

If it didn't work on ants you probably didn't get food grade. It works like a dream. The brown kind is worthless.

[@julienthomas3656]

Genius idea lol it is funny to hear that it always works from your experience. I believe dia. Earth is basically toc sick na no silica form and would not use or

[@moniqueloupe8867]

Fascinating story! I disturbed an unwanted ant nest several times just doing routine planting. In a short while, the entire nest relocated.

[@poeticpursuits1332]

It is informative, but sadly he got a lot of information very wrong. He says bees/butterflies are not arthropods, but in fact all insects are in the phylum arthropoda. Worms, which he claims are arthropods, are actually in the phylum annelida.

[@jrdalbec]

Rant away sir! This was really helpful. I knew most of what you talked about but there was plenty more that a learned from it. Your passion shows that you are a true teacher at heart. These types of videos are always helpful! Good job!

[@ShutchyerLips]

DE is also excellent for plant growth because when it is amended into the soil, it helps plants build stronger cell walls. The moist soil will keep it from hurting worms, if anyone was worried about that.

[@conniekeshet]

And in a mediterranean climate, dry summer, you woukdnt use it?

[@ShutchyerLips]

@@conniekeshet I would definitely still use it. It's commonly hot and dry where I live and it still does great. If you were concerned about the worms, I think the guy was talking about parasitic worms being affected by ingesting DE. I've never noticed a lack of worms in my garden, and I put a lot of it in the soil for plant health, and a lot on the plants for pests when needed. It's a miracle worker for what it does.

[@conniekeshet]

@@ShutchyerLips thank you!!

[@ShutchyerLips]

@@conniekeshet hey no problem! I'm happy to explain anything or answer any questions you may have as well.

[@etchman224]

Thanks, you answered my earthworm question! (I have chickens so i know & they love worms) My thoughts: #1: good info video! Opens beginners to a "better non chemical" choice. Is all the info 100% scientifically accurate or a broader version? "Keep it simple" or you'll lose people in seconds. Video sparks interest, gets people thinking & investigating. WIN WIN! Objective achieved. My rant: peeps, keep yur comments on topic! Who 'daF cars 'bout his grammar or is, but, woulda~coulda, shouda?!!! and you scientist "experts" from the University of Ki$$ my A$$ just go.... Y'all are trolls. Give him a break, be normal & start building people up again. Love & help each other again. Get back to "good" for God's sake! Build people up, not tear them down... YOU are the PROBLEM!.... not his speech or his info. GOOD JOB ON THIS VIDEO BROTHER!

[@SeijuroRen]

I only use food grade DE. You can use it as a temporary barrier to mitigate ants like for a picnic or party. Also kills roaches it comes in contact with.

[@Acadian.FrenchFry]

You should ONLY use food grade. Non food grade DE is very toxic to people.

[@janethcastaneda3810]

Do you know if the food grade works on spiders and how do you apply

[@doloresreynolds8145]

DE, the skeletons of microscopic diatoms, is used in food production as an inert additive to many things that producers want to prevent sticking together, such as grated cheeses. (As Luke explained, it is super fine powder). Because it is harmless, food grade and inert, the DE is not required to be mentioned in ingredients lists. Any bugs with soft body parts and snails will avoid it. The stuff is not good to inhale, so take the same precautions as with any dusty garden treatments.

[@cathiegalbraith475]

Technically, DE is not ground up sea shells. It is ground up diatoms which are one celled aquatic creatures.

[@kathryncastanares525]

Which are shelled creatures...

[@geogal10]

@@kathryncastanares525 seashells are typically made up of carbonates, but diatoms are siliceous

[@trishfrench1927]

@@kathryncastanares525 shelled creatures eat plankton, which diatoms are.

[@sarahwong5592]

They are not ground up, because they're already microscopically tiny. That's the whole point of the stuff. DE is microscopic, spiky-shaped organisms that have become fossilized. No grinding required, and no shell on a critter that small. (Source: Went to school with a guy who grew up in the DE capital of North America.)

[@you2tooyou2too]

@@trishfrench1927 Plankton (all very tiny sea life) includes diatoms. Yummy!

[@dannycereal]

We are having a very bad problem in the south right now with stink bugs in our tomatoes. I know people who have literally ripped up their plants in frustration. I have been using DE on my tomatoes for the stinks bugs about 2 weeks now. They are not completely gone, but I hardly see any bugs in my tomatoes now. Thank you for the video!

[@TheMississauga333]

take the bugs you picking, mash them up in alot of water, spray this around the plant you picked them from, supposedly the bugs will flee, dont like the smell of their own dead bodies?

[@billyandrew]

Try the climbing varieties of Nasturtium about three or four feet away from the tomatoes. The stink bugs prefer them to tomatoes. Grow the Nasturtiums in batches two weeks apart, then, as the first batch becomes infested, it can be uprooted and removed (I throw them directly onto an already blazing fire and toast the critters) to be replaced by the new batch to catch any strays or even a new wave of stink bugs.

[@modyosman5059]

Great information regarding DE, thanks for sharing. I get your point on how DE works, but the information on Arthropods is significantly inaccurate and one of the definitions of "Insects" is that they are all arthopods (including shrimp, arachnids, etc) Bees, and wasps for example are both arthropods, and are even both from the same order (Hymenoptera) which includes ants aswell. While worms are actually Anelids and not even arthropods. Please try to add some corrections in the description to avoid causing confusion. Don't mean to casue any offence just wanted to clarify some details.

[@1231dre]

Do you know if DE will kill my worms in my worm bin; I have ants

[@modyosman5059]

@@1231dre I'm not too sure actually. Never used it personally. Cheers.

[@FknNefFy]

I concur

[@leannhoward7306]

@@1231dre I did some research and everything I found says no it wont kill your worms but probably wont kill your ants either. Worm farmers do use it to fight fungus in their worm bins.

[@youtubewatcherdesi]

Correct - MIgardener has a very poor understanding entomology. Artho (joint) Pod (Leg/feet).

[@jamesdaniels1088]

Nice shirt. I have the same. Good to see gardeners supporting gardeners

[@gilshelley9183]

Diatomaceous earth is composed of diatom skeletons not ground up sea shells.

[@kathryncastanares525]

They are shelled creatures.

[@bakedarea3885]

Yeah...it is not just sea shells. So maybe you should edit the video and add some text on that part of the video since you mention misinformation...

[@jeffreydeiuliis396]

Worms are not arthropods *eyeroll*

[@you2tooyou2too]

@@jeffreydeiuliis396 Per en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worm, "Worms are many different distantly related animals that typically have a long cylindrical tube-like body, no limbs, and no eyes." Generally, some worms are arthropods(centi/millipedes), annelids(earthworms, etc), ... & humans. ;-)

[@gilshelley9183]

@@kathryncastanares525 actually they are not. They are exoskeletons.

[@woodsie5796]

Perfectly said! Very good info for those who don't understand it. I use DE for my chickens and goats. Its excellent for that! I use it in my garden for mites too. People can also take it internally but I haven't had the opportunity to research that. I'd like to see an update to this video SOON (?) But then looking at the comments, it seems you don't read them. Thank you and Blessings y'all 🥰

[@billyandrew]

Very poor info, in fact, considering how angry he becomes at those spreading misinformation...while he is doing the _exact_ same thing! Hilarious irony/hypocrisy! 😂😂😂

[@jackierothwell5638]

Thank you so much for a very informative video. You are right because I have found it very confusing when I see all the conflicting videos on how to use DE. But after watching this I feel much happier about what it actually is, how it works and what it doesn’t do, all in one video too. Xx

[@jamiejauw9112]

That breakdown illustrating a naked beetle forced out of its exoskeleton after being assaulted with abrasive shards of more exoskeleton just to be roasted to a crisp by the sun and then enjoyed by a predatory bird was .... intense

[@mischelle9530]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/onKugoJtmdqDfrc don’t worry I think that doesn’t actually happen I don’t know this guy but it was a bit miss informative. This is of a video of it killing a cockroach it does it in like 5 minutes or less.

[@pepper9142]

This video is so helpful! I've been hanging onto a gallon of that stuff for about 7 years. Never knew what to do with it before today and I just saw it again in my garage after my garage sale last week! Thank you, for your time and knowledge! 🤗🤗🤗

[@billyandrew]

A gallon? It's a *powder!* 🤪😂😂

[@ale347baker]

I bought 2 gallons like 8 years ago. I forgot about it. I used it in an infested tree that had huge carpenter ants.

[@hummerlady54]

I was told the wrong things too when I first started using DE. Thank you for explaining how to properly use it.

[@charleslease6328]

I don't think it is ground up shells.

[@candidethirtythree4324]

Microscopic shells of dead diatoms

[@melaniecarranza6189]

It's not.

[@littledrabbitry9410]

@@melaniecarranza6189 it is

[@inthemoment875]

Thank you for showing me how to finally pronounce "diatomaceous" correctly.

[@KandBacres]

For fungus and mould you can spray on colloidal silver!!

[@gilshelley9183]

Never ever use heavy metals in garden including silver. Ingestion can destroy gut bacteria. Copper is OK because it oxidises completely. Silver oxides can make you very sick.

[@nicoledotson8946]

But colloidal silver is food grade medical product... How would this be harmful in stated form for protecting plants?

[@gilshelley9183]

@@nicoledotson8946 Colloidal silver is for external use only. Your logic appears very sound. However, internal use can be very bad.

[@gilshelley9183]

P.S. Copper is OK.

[@kathleenray1827]

@@nicoledotson8946 CS never leaves your body.... not for ingestion even though people do.

[@angeliquefreeman8801]

All I know is that my pepper plants look a lot better after I use DE. My plants were being eaten up by insects. I put the DE in water, mixed it up, and poured it on the leaves. When it dried, it left a white covering on the leaves. A couple of days later, my plants looked better. So, I don't know if it made the leaves taste bad to the insect or killed them, but my plants do better, so that is a win for me! Love your videos. I do learn a lot from them.

[@vickimoseley7434]

Luke, with all respect, you need to redo this video. I won’t go over the misinformation that others have already brought up. I appreciate your passion. The point I want to make is that DE is highly abrasive and WILL cause severe lung damage. If you looked at the precautions industry has to go through, it’s scary stuff. When you redo this video, please start with those precautions, actually tell people how to use it and fix the other errors. Do keep the videos coming!!

[@katherinedutill2115]

My daughter just used DE sprinkled on carpet’s over night to vacuum in morning, knowing it will kill them. Because we just finding out our 2 indoor cats have fleas ;( I have COPD, I’m realising shortly after it was sprinkled I couldn’t breath & had to step outside. A bit to late. I read your post & found that it can cause serious damage to your lungs. Needless to say I’m upset that there’s not a warning on bag that tells you. I mean even though it’s food grade, I absolutely would have left while she applied & she would have also taken precautions to wear a mask. : (

[@jasonrenaud]

@@katherinedutill2115 any really fine dust could be harmful minus flour 🤔I’m just careful about any fine dust... lime, DE, even perlite.

[@katherinedutill2115]

Jay Row. I Appreciate the info. If I only knew before it was spread around my home due to fleas (even though my 2 cats are indoor only). So having COPD it was really bad for me breathing. Using a mask is a must. I’m still dusting from the powder. But I’ve found a better use for it, in my garden. After almost killing my plants using DE (trial & error) I’ve finally have the right mixture & it works good keeping all those little bugs away. Know I have tomato plants that are 6ft tall & plenty of tomatoes lol. Thanks

[@krubio28]

Ticks! I use it in my yard to get rid of them. We have a huge problem with ticks in Maine and this is my go to.

[@pamstout]

I bought it to stop the slugs from eating my plants. They don't like crawling over it.

[@sandy-rr1by]

earthworms too.

[@ulayee9927]

Does it work? Apparently you can just sprinkle crashed/ground egg shells. Slags won’t like crowding over them and they are also fertilizing the plants by slowly releasing calcium into the ground.

[@maryfalco9368]

Fantastic to know! Slugs eat my catfood😫👍

[@rdog1174]

DO NOT WASTE TIME HERE!! Super long way around talker here. Was an elementary school teacher perhaps and talks that way.

[@cherylhale5755]

Young man, you need to do more research. Worms aren’t arthropods , and D E is not ground up shells.

[@Paperclown]

cheryl not being a b. it is ground up shells. i dunno about worms that pretty nasty. don't eat worms, or sea shell powder.

[@misspeggy1771]

I don't know where you got your information either but d e is ground up seashells

[@kevinonearth232]

Diatomaceous earth: A type of silica-rich dirt which is soft, fine-grained, porous, light-coloured, and composed of the fossilized remains of diatoms, i.e. single-celled organisms. Diatoms are a major group of microscopic algae and are among the most common types of phytoplankton.

[@me-mj5dt]

Young lady. Thanks for your comment. You would be correct.

[@jeffreygillette7169]

D.E. is in fact ground up sea shells. Diatomaceous earth is made from the fossilized remains of tiny, aquatic organisms called diatoms. Their skeletons are made of a natural substance called silica. Over a long period of time, diatoms accumulated in the sediment of rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. Today, silica deposits are mined from these areas. Additionally, DE does kill worms….parasitic worms. Pretty sure he knows this considering this is his job and his life. They have a hard exoskeleton because….they’re parasitic. So maybe YOU need to do more research before jumping off at someone.

[@randomness8819]

Entomology not biology. Love your passion!

[@swimmarfishy]

Thanks for this - I just had to apply food grade diatomaceous earth to my tomatoes, and bush beans of all things to get rid of black flea beetles - my neighbor's potato crop was decimated by them, and they moved over to my greener pastures. One of the tough parts of growing in a community plot where some of us take care of our issues right away and some don't :(

[@grantkruse1812]

Try to convince 50 million anti maskers to mask up....or 30 million anti vaxers to do the "neighborly thing", etc.

[@kathleenray1827]

TessaG, did it help against flea beetles?

[@aaliyahhenderson1888]

@@grantkruse1812 Not the same. move along

[@faithsfarmlife1424]

Yes food grade the pool grade can harm humans

[@annetteyoutube742]

@@faithsfarmlife1424 Pool Grade DE is much more concentrated.

[@Homebrew58]

Whether ground up sea shells, diatoms or unicorn tears does that change the core of his message? Thank you Luke. I learned a lot from this.

[@jefftparker]

This. Literally changes nothing about the use or its effectiveness. I can't stand those people.

[@getrekt3983]

yes it does change the core of his message because he comes of as a pretentious know it all when really he doesn't know the most basic thing about the product he is claiming other youtubers dont know enough about. you can put it in a mustard/ketchup bottle with a funnel top and lightly dust any plant you want. any one and it kills every insect. you will not harm your plant with this method because if you do it properly you cant even see the dust.

[@shag6414]

Right on!

[@matderseb]

Still not same material you know its fine to be wrong sometimes 🙃

[@simpinainteasyRHEC]

🙄🙄 lordy, 12 years old and im looking at an adult acting like little girls at my school.

[@MrCdybvrs]

Love your videos. I've learned a lot about gardening, but as an entomologist, this video hurt my soul.. Its hard for people to unlearn things, so it's a tab bit harmful to name off a bunch if arthropods and label them as "not arthropods." Again, love your videos, just PLEASE double check scientific information (including classification) before sharing it. It is AWFUL trying to teach classes over insects when people come in "knowing" things that arent true.

[@Lizzamoverde]

ugh I am an entomologist too and I thought "this is too high energy for me but I can bear it because I think I need DE" until I got to the "arthropods are insects that..." ugh bye.

[@babykei0183]

Elizabeth D'Auria I’m totally clueless about insect and since it’s ur specialty, maybe you can help me out. I want to use DE for cucumber beetles, would it actually work on them. My biggest concern is harming bees that visit my cucumber plants to help with pollination. Do you think DE is a safe route for me to use.

[@asolano]

KZbin is filled with people with lots of confidence and lots of misinformation to share.

[@thefrems2650]

Thank y’all for speaking up. All insects are phylum Arthropoda! There’s plenty of arthropods that aren’t insects but if you have lobsters infesting your garden, I’d love to hear about it! 😂

[@user-ks5cg5cd7m]

Are those rolly polly bugs really crustaceans? Not actually sure. They dk look a bit like trilobites.

[@bellyacres3jillyandkerry281]

thank you Thank you thank you! I can't recall all the times I was reprimanded for using DE THE RIGHT WAY!

[@MyTNMtnHome]

Love my worms, this makes me pause on the DE. It tears my hands up so I’m very careful to never breathe it. Love your videos and appreciate your passion and willingness to share in detail. You make me a better Gardner.

[@jennybateacher]

Diatomaceous earth doesn't kill earthworms. They are arthropods. The are Annelidae. Unfortunately, this video is also full of misleading information. DE isn't ground seashells. It's the remains of diatoms which are a single-celled alga which has a cell wall of silica. They find deposits of them and grind them up. I don't consider shells as single-celled creatures. As soon as he equated DE with ground shells, I was suspicious of all of the advice he gave here. I'm doing more investigation myself. I suspect what he says about wasps and hornets is suspicious as well. Very disappointed in this particular video.

[@billyandrew]

@@jennybateacher 👏👏👏 You and many others, no doubt, myself, too.

[@billyandrew]

*MyTNMtn Home* Your worms will be just fine! It's hilarious that he slates others for misleading information on DE, then does the _exact_ same thing himself. 😂😂😂 Two years in and, as yet, he has done nothing to correct the many errors he made in this vid. You, like others, myself included, will draw your own conclusions. His channel, his decision not to address the issue. He has 1.06m subscribers. Over a quarter of a million folk have watched this video. Not all viewers have premium membership, like I do, although some will. That means we aren't subjected to constant adverts. Assume the majority of viewers are, that's countless adverts and he makes money on every single one. I believe, beyond a certain point, channel owners, in general, don't actually care what their viewers think. Financially, they're beyond caring. They lose a few subscribers, so what? Some, including a few of the entomologists among them, will unsubscribe. I'm sure he hasn't and won't lose any sleep over those few. More's the pity. He's armed people with misinformation, so it will be just that bit harder for those conscientious gardeners, genuinely trying to increase peoples' knowledge, for those entemologists to try re-educate those spouting nonsense, because they trusted this guy to do right by them, by why should he, because he's doing alright for himself and has forgotten where he started from. I strongly suspect he's a narcissist, but hey, we all have our troubles. Say hullo to your worms from me and mine. 😉🤭

[@jamesryan5868]

I should of watched your video first ! I learned everything I needed to know about DE , thanks & subscribed

[@BaltimoresBerzerker]

Love that you support other KZbin gardeners (the shirt). Stay classy dude!

[@Reepicheep-1]

Note: FOOD GRADE DE! Fleas (suburbia): a couple times a year, I'll thoroughly vacuum then dust all my carpets & wash/med my pets. No fleas for a few months. I've heard some people use it to eradicate bedbugs: dust your beds for a few weeks.

[@carolecoyote960]

DE is FANTASTIC for getting rid of bed bugs!

[@LittleHouseOnTheHomestead]

Love the enthusiasm

[@manxkin]

I just found your channel and really enjoy it but there is a lot of misinformation here regarding Arthropods, worms vs insect larvae, diatoms, et al. I appreciate your passion and enthusiasm but you speak of due diligence. I'll keep watching. My tomato plants are gigantic this year. Hope the yield is as big as the plants.

[@deereign4373]

Will this kill fleas in my yard and on my porch steps.

[@lidip8700]

I've always provided a dust bath area for my chickens using DE. They love it & its actually good for them if they eat some.

[@jeffereyhopkins750]

Make sure it is food grade diatomaceous earth. They make a one for swimming pool which is not food grade. Love you Luke but diatomaceous earth is really not ground up shells. It is effective and the downside is that it has made my groundhogs healthier but ridding them of internal and external parasites.

[@HappyFarmsLa]

oh no the groundhogs! That is funny, not funny. happy growing!

[@bryanst.martin7134]

Have you considered the sonic pest methods? Basically sound emitters that vibrate irritating sound into the area around it causing critters to leave for quieter habitats.

[@bryanst.martin7134]

Food grade is only necessary if you plan on consuming it. It means that it was "mined" and washed using NSF standards. The bugs won't mind the difference, and we wash all our veggies, right? And it is much more expensive.

[@jeffereyhopkins750]

@@bryanst.martin7134 Actually the diatomaceous earth that I found that is food grade is cheaper. A 50 lb bag runs $12.99 whereas a 5 lb. bag of diatomaceous earth fir pool filters is 5.99 so much more economically cheaper for food grade. I work at a farm supply store so they sell it for cattle.

[@bettyprescott7]

Jefferey Hopkins I have never use food grade on my plants I’m not eating it I’m killing bugs with it. I have used it for 30 years I wash my vegetables before I eat them there’s no need to buy food grade.

[@TheFineLine920]

Learned something new! Thank You!

[@debratraina9301]

I've been using it for that past year...since I watched this video. I've used it on and around my dogs food bowl, to keep ants out of it. Works great on ant piles...along with white vinegar. I use at the base of my plants to keep the climbing bug...ants...off my plants in the garden.

[@katm.1124]

do u just spray the white vinegar on the plants ?? or at the base?

[@terihampton737]

Please research diatomaceous earth and be careful. Even though it's technically not poisonous for a dog to ingest it is such a fine powder that nobody is supposed to breathe it. It worries me that if the dog walks up to the food bowl and starts sniffing around that they're going to inhale little shards into their sinuses.

[@gailburton6802]

Very imformative. Thanks so much.

[@MrsNoraZ]

Thank you for the info, the best part was about the Japanese Beetle which is a major problem I’ve been dealing with!

[@sandalspa2787]

How do you apply DE for Japanese beetles

[@janrankin2457]

I just listened to your KZbin channel here 2022. I had no clue about this d.e. thank you for getting down deep into the nitty gritty about it. You taught me a lot. Have a wonderful day

[@jesso1954]

It is safe for both animals and humans to consume. My family has used it for decades to get rid of fleas, ticks and worms in pets. My grandmother has used it for decades around windows and doors to keep insects out of the home. Stuff is amazing. Has to be food grade though.

[@brittgal]

it is?? GREAT!!! how about fleas and tape worms? ( i have cats and dogs) Please, what exactly do i DO with it now i have it?!

[@jesso1954]

Anjel Britt we add it to their food. Just a dusting in their food. Kittens 1/4 tsp mixed with food, normal size cats 1/2tsp and large adult cats 1 tsp.

[@jesso1954]

Anjel Britt must be freshwater food grade

[@jesso1954]

Anjel Britt and for fleas you can rub their fur with it for fleas.

[@bonnielipke1962]

love my DE..... its great for chickens and dogs!

[@jtamsmom5]

Thank you for this video. I used the food grade to get rid of fleas on my cat. We were having a horrible time controlling fleas. I dusted the carpet for about 2 months. I tried dusting my cat but she was like no way. Well just her laying on the floor helped. We haven't seen any fleas since.

[@JESSICA-jq4kj]

Vets best is a good spray for cats or dogs for fleas and ticks and it's not dangerous to breath like DE

[@billyandrew]

@@JESSICA-jq4kj I'll bet there's an astronomical difference in prices, though. 😂

[@amberkubas2921]

Thanks so much for the clarification ❤️❤️❤️

[@big9138]

It does amazingly well work on bedbugs I unfortunately got them from buying something from a secondhand store and a friend who was a apothecary person told me to use it and it took care of the problem completely and forever

[@enigmasky1680]

Stay passionate! Rant! I love it. I'm bugged by misinformation and disinformation.

[@pizzazzsnudge7800]

Having studied Entomology in uni, I know enough to know that there is a lot of very incorrect information about Insects/arthropods/classification in the video : (

[@jdr9419]

Get your own KZbin and inform the masses.

[@karenwilhite8513]

Since you know about arthropods could you tell me whether grasshoppers are considered them? They're eating up a good part of my plants in my garden right now and I have to find something that's going to get rid of them but that's natural

[@pizzazzsnudge7800]

Arthropods are a larger classification/taxonomy group (parent group) which includes insects but also spiders , ticks, scorpions, lobsters, crabs, centipedes, and others. Since grasshoppers are an insect, they indeed would also fall under the category of Arthropods.

[@pizzazzsnudge7800]

Have you tried neem oil?

[@ADHDGG]

Are springtails bugs Arthropods?

[@thomaslist252]

Not that i have any doubts, but if this stuff does work on flea beetles, you sir, just saved my garden....as tiny as it is.

[@MadebyMe3]

Oh my gosh!!! Thank you So Much!!!! I had a stink bug issue last year that ended my garden way to early an I have been researching an researching for something , anything to help with these nasty , mean little nightmares!!! Since they do in fact have an exoskeleton as you said this should be perfect , less expensive and safer than most of the other things I have read to try or use. I have been following you for a couple of years now since moving to Maine 7 years ago and having to learn new ways to garden. I grew up farming my entire life but down south so almost everything I knew was useless here until I found your channel! And I totally love your store!!! I've been ordering once a month for the past couple of months an have another order to place next month. 🙃 So Thank you for all you do and your passion for gardening and informing us all!!!! 🇺🇸

[@arvinkim3037]

I’m starting to get confused because I was told that earthworms won’t die from DE. In fact, other worm farmers use DE to treat other bugs. Before I had seen this channel, I used them in my worm bin as well and my worms are fine and still eating my food scraps

[@zebeart8808]

Thanks for the information

[@juliemcgugan1244]

I think he was talking about parasitic worms, as he mentioned it when he was talking about how farmer feed the food grade DE to their animals. I just think he failed to specific. It is safe for earthworms, it kills parasitic worms.

[@tannerfrancisco8759]

It does dry out the surface severely if you sprinkle it over your worm bin.

[@billyandrew]

@@tannerfrancisco8759 Is it safe to sprinkle on cereals or will the milk ruin the taste? 😉😂

[@poeticpursuits1332]

@@juliemcgugan1244 That is more of an urban myth, no studies have been able to prove that it has any efficacy when used against annelids.

[@ubulive]

Love this stuff it really WORKS

[@scrapshackfarms1349]

Funny I just looked this up today. Thank you so much for your information, and our MI seeds are great

[@brendajackson294]

I am learning how to garden and thank you for this information. Last year I had a great start but the pests came and ate everything. This year I will fight back.

[@chrisvanbrackle8537]

A 2-second Google search tells me that butterflies are indeed Arthropods! Cmon dude

[@MIgardener]

All insects are arthropods. But they do not have an exoskeleton.

[@pawprint8167]

Migardener another great viseo!😊 Ive used it faithly for yrs🥰 Learned about using it on coccidiosis in calves!! and its what I call a "God Send" ❤.

[@jacquelinewagner7160]

Thank you for the helpful information. I just received my delivery of DE today.

[@bexaidacandelaria5128]

I really enjoy you and your growing passion , learned about from Ice Age Gardener who is quite an informative person himself Your an online helpful neighbor 👍🏼

[@mattjans]

Just make sure you read the corrections in the comments too.

[@manhomme4568]

also, it gets abrasive by super heating it, and it's actually freshwater fossils from riverbeds. Food Grade is not crystalized and therefor has around 80% less shards than the garden stuff, but it's a godsend against spider mites

[@Maddmax26]

@6:20, It can be harmful to you, or your pets, IF you breathe it in. Also, there are multiple forms of DE. Don't consume non-food grade DE.

[@ilene9349]

Thank you teaching everyone about DE. ❣️

[@michalolszewski1315]

You got it all mixed up in the introduction: the arthropods are all insects, spiders and crustaceans (like crabs). Caterpillars are larvae of arthropods so they still belong there, but worms are not arthropods. It is true that DE destroys hard exoskeleton in some insects. It is bad for bees and other pollinators so I stopped using it.

[@nolan1187]

NOTE: only targets arthropods (exoskeleton, segmented body) around 7:00. 🐞, worms, hornets, wasps, mites, spiders, beetles, fleas, and more

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Worms are not arthropods.

[@robertchester2801]

I personally use food grade DE. It really works well.

[@rachelk9509]

I work in an entomology lab I am pretty sure all insects are arthropods.

[@rachelk9509]

Yep just fact checked myself. All insects fall under Euarthropoda. Insects are defined by having 11 segments, 6 legs, and a exoskeleton ( and some other stuff I cant remember) The reason caterpillars are soft bodied is cause they are part of holometabola and undergo-metamorphosis, rest assured butterflies have an exoskeleton.

[@rachelk9509]

Also DE works not only by cutting the soft tissues in jointed appendages but it also drys up the oil on the outerlayer of insects. This layer is crucial to keeping fungal infections at bay. Arthropods are made of chitin and so is fungus, so insects have a layer to protect then from fungus. When it gets removed they are more susceptible to infection :/. I love your videos, but I feel like there was a lot of misinformation. The mechanical action of the DE is what makes it effective, anything that has soft tissue where the DE can slip in is in danger. The key thing to take away is that there are some insects that are more vulnerable because of their anatomy than others.

[@rachelk9509]

McGaughey I mean I am not necessarily talking about the information of how to use it but more like the misinformation if what an arthropod is and what DE is. I mean worms aren’t arthropods and DE still works on them so the claim that people should only use it on arthropods is off IMO. With flying insects I think they’ll do fine bc of what you said, but it still has the potential to harm them. I need to do additional research on this topic though. I feel like the evidence for DE applications are very anecdotal.

[@Ianizlooking]

@@rachelk9509 I'm just saying, the term mis-information implies that the information is mis-directing. If the point was deeply affected, I'd agree. But his terminology is just sightly general, I believe, to make it easy to understand.

[@MIgardener]

All insects are arthropods, but ones that fall into the insecta category are all insects that don’t have a hard exoskeleton like beetles or live in the water like crustaceans.

[@bsuko95]

Thanks for the details. 😊

[@adulthoodadvantage]

Great info. Thanks!

[@bethmccormack5172]

I'm so glad Mike Kincaid mentioned you in one of his videos that I watched. Now I have 2 great channels to help me with all my gardening challenges here in Michigan. Cheers!

[@mattjans]

Read the corrections.

[@tarmbruster1]

Thank you.

[@jimgroh2019]

But bees, caterpillars, moths & butterflies are Arthropods?

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

I'm more confused than I was before. Does DE hurt/annoy/kill Monarch butterflies OR their caterpillars specifically?

[@amandacrews2279]

Yes. But, you are not generally applying it to milkweed plants, the food source for the larvae. Nor, are you generally applying it to flowering plants that are pollinator attractors. Primarily using it on vegetables crops to kill beetles of various kinds. Using it to kill insects that are eating garden plants (aphids, etc.) The insect must crawl through it.... that is when it perforated their exoskeleton, causing them to dehydrate. So, flying houseflies, mosquitos, etc are not affected.... unless they inadvertently CRAWL through it.

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

@@amandacrews2279 OK, but "the experts" say Monarch catapillars can crawl up to 30 feet away (and I've actually seen them crawl further than that!) from milkweed plants to find a place to make their chrysalis's so people should be aware of that. There are certain other butterfly catapillars that eat plants that are commonly found in a garden as well, like Black Swallowtail catapillars that eat parsley and carrot greens. Just something that people should be educated on before using this product if they want to help the pollinators out. I know these are food crops, but some gardeners don't mind sharing a little! ;)

[@amandacrews2279]

@@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane i agree that understanding HOW it will affect our pollinators, is precious information. I used DE today on my cabbage plants.... no blossoms anywhere nearby. You are absolutely right, we need to think through the area being affected. And consider if simply collecting the offending insects by hand, or a dishsosp spray will be sufficient. Thank you.

[@HeadBallCoach63]

As mentioned by a few others, earthworms are not arthropods - not even close. It will not negatively affect earthworms unless the DE is in extremely high concentration and dry - not the habitat earthworms exist in or would be subjected to in typical garden environments. DE is composed of crushed diatoms which have a skeleton/structure made of silica. This is both rough as seen under magnification and highly porous. DE injures and kills arthropods (insects primarily in the garden) by absorbing the lipids (fatty compounds) in their exoskeletons. This results in the insects being dehydrated as they can’t control the loss of moisture within their bodies. Dusting the soil with DE and keeping it relatively dry will allow it to attach to insects like ants and this can significantly reduce their numbers.

[@renatewobig5040]

Thanks for sharing this is awesomeness Information 🙏❤️🙏🌱

[@lavendercottageflowerfarm3281]

Diatomaceous Earth is effective against any insect that has an exoskeleton. ... Because of their thick gooey mucus layer that helps them travel safely through gritty soil, DE does not harm earthworms. DE can harm bees so use with care and apply on the ground. Why would anyone want to harm wasps or hornets? They are all pollinators and help to control pest in the garden.

[@anissacyrusiuxxxsi5675]

i love this video! thank you for your channel

[@samprice7786]

Woah bro...you are really worked up...i like it! Keep it up sir!

[@RetiredonActiveDuty]

Dude...I love your videos, but you messed up a good bit on this one. You might want to look up the phylum that honey bees belong to, as well as brush up on what DE is actually made up of...

[@MIgardener]

They are the phylum insecta which is a non-exoskeleton arthropod. Doesn’t kill them.

[@RetiredonActiveDuty]

@@MIgardener class is insecta; phylum is arthropoda...and they do have an exoskeleton. Not sure where you are getting your info...such as when you said that earthworms are arthropods? They are annelids.

[@jeremyowen1]

@@MIgardener Yes, yes it does kill them.

[@sowilo1324]

@@MIgardener why, if you know it can kill wasps, would you assume it wont kill bees?

[@MIgardener]

Because wasps and bees are not in the same family.

[@dalelusk2151]

Can we use it to make toothpaste?Thanks for your video

[@emberN]

you are probably one of the few people who talk about how DE works on pests. sheds their exoskeleton and renders it defenceless..might dehydrate, get eaten, and such. THIS IS THE IDEA OF IT. doesn't kill on contact. was wondering if it works on bed bugs since there are millions or areas where it can stay shaded.

[@berniesbend]

Works great on what I think are the worst garden pest, aphids. Wear a mask when applying it as you don't want to breathe it into your lungs. Some folks use a puffer to spread it, but I've found a bristle paint brush works best to apply it directly to the leaves of a plant.

[@AndreaAskraba]

Love this channel so much! Please also say what season it is when you mention a month, as it’s completely different in other countries. Really enjoying watching your informative videos! Thanks for the knowledge 🙏🏽

[@MinistryOfMagic_DoM]

It would have been late summer where he is.

[@billyandrew]

*Andrea Askraba* In the Northern hemisphere: March, April and May are _Spring_ June, July and August are _Summer_ Sept, Oct and Nov are _Autumn_ Dec, Jan and Feb are _Winter_ This vid was posted on 19th of August, 2019, so it was very late Summer at the time. The date of posting can usually be found in the description, on the right hand side of the video title, just below the video itself. Just tap the downward indicating arrow to access, then, when finished, tap it again to hide the description.

[@loriy7532]

Passion is what keeps me in.Your shows are tops my dear,keep it up.