I went into our local "feed and seed" store today to purchase DE. I was directed to where it was, and when I went to pay for it, I asked if this was the "food grade" type. The gal looked at me like I had three eyes - at first - and then showed me something called "Rich Earth" - food grade/ could be fed to all types of live stock. The other type she had was for eradication of bugs and was meant to be spread on the ground, in pet's bedding, etc...
I'm confused - neither is for swimming pools; one is food grade but doesn't say anything about controlling mites, etc... the other controls bugs but does not say anything about adding to food, etc...
Help? Which should I be using? I purchased the insect one, figuring I could sprinkle it around the outside of the coop if nothing else!
Garden Gal wrote: I'm confused - neither is for swimming pools; one is food grade but doesn't say anything about controlling mites, etc... the other controls bugs but does not say anything about adding to food, etc...
Amorphous Silica is marketed primarily as a food additive (human/animal), it does exhibit some insecticidal properties.
The crystalline silica (what you bought) has excellent insecticidal properties, but you wouldn't want to breathe or eat it.
We've been using the perma-guard brand for 4yr.: It is a relatively benign, relatively effective insecticide (our ants - no fire ants - avoid it, spread in the run and coop in the sand/wood chips it cuts way down on fly problems. Wasps and Wood Roaches aren't the least bit impressed).