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3bigbass
Junior Member
United Kingdom
21 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Aug 2007 : 19:18:07
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Anybody know if injecting diatomaceous earth into a wasps' nest would be sufficient to destroy it?
If so how long would it take.
ken
Ken Chadwick |
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Iain
Moderator
United Kingdom
396 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2007 : 12:18:10
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I was looking forward to seeing replies to your question, as I too would like to know.
As DE is known to be very effective against Poultry Mites, Grain Weevils, Bed Bugs and Cockroaches, to name but a few, I would guess that the answer would be "yes", it would work - but unfortunately I've had no direct experience to speak with any more authority.
I would suspect that it would take longer to work than Ficam D or Coopex IP, which might be a disadvantage.
What do you see as being the possible advantages of using it, given how effective the above products are? |
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donky7
Senior Member
United Kingdom
144 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2007 : 12:26:03
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quote:
Originally posted by 3bigbass
Anybody know if injecting diatomaceous earth into a wasps' nest would be sufficient to destroy it?
If so how long would it take.
ken
Ken Chadwick
ken, i use diatomaceous earth, but not on wasps,  i'll be trying it out tomorrow as i have 1 booked in thats not that much of a hazard, but still cause for concern. |
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donky7
Senior Member
United Kingdom
144 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2007 : 12:34:21
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Pest control
Diatomite is also used as an insecticide, due to its physico-sorptive properties. The fine powder absorbs lipids from the cuticle, the waxy outer layer of insects' exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate. Arthropods die as a result of the water pressure deficiency, based on Fick's law of diffusion. This also works against gastropods and is commonly employed in gardening to defeat slugs. However, since slugs inhabit humid environments, efficacy is very low. Beekeepers are apparently experimenting with it, to keep small hive beetles from breeding. It is sometimes mixed with an attractant or other additives to increase its effectiveness. Medical grade diatomite is sometimes used to de-worm both animals and humans. It is most commonly used in lieu of boric acid, and can be used to help control and eventually eliminate a cockroach infestation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth |
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donky7
Senior Member
United Kingdom
144 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2007 : 12:35:39
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| bump |
Edited by - donky7 on 13 Aug 2007 19:31:57 |
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3bigbass
Junior Member
United Kingdom
21 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2007 : 17:21:20
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quote:
Originally posted by Iain
I was looking forward to seeing replies to your question, as I too would like to know.
What do you see as being the possible advantages of using it, given how effective the above products are?
A colony of bats is to be removed under licence but there is a wasps' nest in the loft preventing the bat people from carrying out the work. I wondered if DE would work as obviously it would be safer than risking Ficam in proximity to the bats.
Ken Chadwick |
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donky7
Senior Member
United Kingdom
144 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2007 : 19:33:14
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| just looked on the label, it says nothing about flying insects......??? i'll give the bazza techs a call tomm, to be sure. |
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Iain
Moderator
United Kingdom
396 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2007 : 19:56:31
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Nothing on the label to be sure, to be sure, that's why I can't say whether it would be effective or not. However, DE is not classified as a pesticide under COPR, so the label isn't as critical as for a standard pesticide. It does seem to work against most other insects/arthropods, so I can't see that it wouldn't work.
Having said that, the very small amount of insecticide needed, placed carefully inside the wasp nest shouldn't pose too much of a hazard to the bats.
If the Bat Conservancy people are twitchy about pyrethroids/bendiocarb then you don't have a lot of choice. Worth a try, even though wasps aren't on the label. |
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The Spotlight Kid
Senior Member
317 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2007 : 20:27:59
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On a technical point, at the nest site the wasps are crawling insects so it should work? I think?
It would need a good dose inside as well as a good dusting all over the outside of the nest.
It will be interesting to see if it works as it should be perfectly acceptable in bat roosts. Having said that I believe the Bat Conservancy people are happy with Pyrethroids. |
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3bigbass
Junior Member
United Kingdom
21 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2007 : 20:44:55
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quote:
Originally posted by The Spotlight Kid
On a technical point, at the nest site the wasps are crawling insects so it should work? I think?
It would need a good dose inside as well as a good dusting all over the outside of the nest.
It will be interesting to see if it works as it should be perfectly acceptable in bat roosts. Having said that I believe the Bat Conservancy people are happy with Pyrethroids.
I've often wondered about using de in other situations too such as when the nest overhangs a koi pond or something like that.
I had two last year
Ken Chadwick |
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The Spotlight Kid
Senior Member
317 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2007 : 22:21:02
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Only problem that I can see is that with Ficam, a small amount of powder has an affect on the central nervous system. However I assume to produce dessication they would need considerably greater coverage of DE to have a fatal effect.
I hope it's going to work but I remain to be convinced. |
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donky7
Senior Member
United Kingdom
144 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2007 : 18:05:48
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| 1 wasp nest dusted today,( in a wall cavity ) with 35g of this stuff ( 3 good puffs ) from my centro bulb....... let the clock begin |
Edited by - donky7 on 14 Aug 2007 18:06:09 |
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Topic |
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Diatomaceous Earth & Wasps
