I have stocked up on food grade Diatomaceous Earth

[Siwsan]

Yea, for flea control but also just found out it kills Japanese Beetles. I had a major infestation, years back, and lost SO many plants. I have a very handy plastic 'disperser' that sprays out in either a wide or narrow stream.

[Autumn]

1. I bought some for fungus gnats on a house plant. It seems to have done nothing.

[Siwsan]

5. It works great on fleas.

I use the food grade to 'dust' the kidcats.

[peacebuzzard]

9. It is the only item that works on bedbugs; good to know if you get them.

My little one eyed rescued pooch years ago caught bed bugs that were undetectable. I knew that's what it was because I caught it too.
It came from a hotel we stayed in.
Many vet visits later (and I mean many; poor baby suffered) I just treated my whole house with the stuff. It was tough to treat and tough to clean.
But it worked; not so for many other products I tried. And, yes, I dusted her too! The whole agonizing period lasted about a month to suffer and then only two days to treat and clean up for peace in the house.

[peacebuzzard]

10. I still have some left over; is there an expiration date?

I wonder if it ever loses potency. The stuff is great to have around.

[Dear_Prudence]

11. Don't inhale

Inhaling a lot could be abrasive to your lungs. But I am glad to learn that it is effective against fleas. The feral cat we have been feeding for years will need some treatment this year but he can't be handled. So, I'll have to research that or consult my vet.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. I put it in water and spray like an insecticide

Kills silverfish in particular, but also seemingly spiders and ants.

A teaspoon in an old Windex bottle is fine.

[EYESORE 9001]

3. Insects think they're so cool, going around with their fancy exoskeletons

Every little speck of diatomaceous earth is a ginsu knife, puncturing their armor.

[Siwsan]

4. During the Japanese Beetles infestation, I had a horribly traumatic encounter with them

I was mowing the back lot. There used to be some plum trees kind of scattered about. I wasn't paying attention and bumped one. It was FULL of the bugs! I was surrounded by a cloud of THOUSANDS. I almost vomited, I was so terrified and disgusted.

I got rid of the trees. Well, to be fair, there wasn't much to salvage, anyway.

Also learned to never use a Japanese Beetle trap. For one thing they just attract more beetles. AND they are beyond gross. One got so heavy with dead beetles that it broke open and spilled a rancid sludge across the grass.

I have no pity.

[Dear_Prudence]

12. Bug traps

During the gypsy moth outbreak, my cousin used a pheromone trap. A little transferred onto him. So at his construction job he was mobbed by moths. He said his coworkers razzed him all day, but he couldn't share their jokes with us because there were ladies present".

[IA8IT]

6. On flowers it willl kill bees be careful

[Siwsan]

8. I was actually just thinking about that.

I mostly want to use it in the areas where the outdoor cats gather so I can somewhat control the flea issue. The Japanese Beetles seem to mostly focus on the roses. My old technique was to keep a bowl of detergent/water handy and knock them in to it. Other than that, I've never had a big issue with bugs eating the plants.

There are a LOT of slimy slugs that show up around the food bowls and it is said to work on them

[codfisherman]

7. Good Stuff

I have used it with some success against roaches in my garage and cellar, and fire ants in the garden. Hadn't thought about fleas. Orange oil diluted works well in wet weather for fire ant mounds. Been using Bt in the lilly/lotus ponds for mosquitos, and for cruciferous vegetables against cabbage moths. Just discovered Burkholderia bacteria solution to fight cut worms, seems to have worked. I don't use any of these on flowering plants (even though they say it's safe), always gotta worry about the bees.