MotherEarth D - Diatomaceous Earth - Questions & Answers

i have a lot of bedbugs in my room. Can i use d mother earth to spray around my floor?
If cant apply on my floor what product would you recomend me? How would i apply the mother earth?

MotherEarth D is labeled to be used on as a thin coat on carpeting. For the most effective treatment for Bed bugs we recommend using one of our Bed Bug Kits. Please take a few moments to read over our Bedbug Guide to get a general idea of what needs to be done. We also recommend that you encase all of your mattresses and boxsprings with Protecta Bed Encasements as mattresses and boxsprings can be very difficult to impossible to treat because of all of the seams, folds, cracks and crevices.

What exactly is the difference between insect and food grade DE?
I've gone over your labels and stuff and it seems to have a lot of confusing information. I've only heard references to "food grade" and "Pool" DE. Can you provide information describing how and why some DE gets labeled as Insecticide Grade rather than Food Grade. The Pool Grade stuff I'm told has been specially processed which makes it toxic, is this product similarly processed to the pool grade?

The insecticide grade DE is manufactured using a special process but we are not sure how it differs from all of the other grades. We recommend you contact the manufacturer directly as they should be able to provide you with the information that you are seeking. You can reach Whitmire-Microgen by calling 800-777-8570.

Is MotherEarth D effective against bird mites?
It appears on the bird mite section of your website and the label includes mites, so I hope it does! Also, what other products would you suggest using? Onslaught? Bedlam aerosol spray?

We do not have any products that are directly labeled for birdmites but MotherEarth users have reported back with positive results. Here is the general treatments most folks try if they find they have bird mites in their homes:

For treatment in the home we recommend you frequently vacuum all carpet and upholstery and dispose of the bag or vacuum contents in a sealed bag outdoors. Spray Sterifab on couches, chairs and other upholstered furniture where you may spend time resting. Use MotherEarth Dust in all cracks and crevices around the perimeter of the room. Apply a thin coat of MotherEarth dust to rugs and carpets. Rake (not sweep) nap back and forth, causing dust to enter rug or carpet. Let product sit overnight. Repeat application as necessary and vacuum every 3 - 4 days for effective control. MotherEarth dust does not have a fast knockdown, it can take several days for insects to die after they contact the dust. Onslaught can be used for a faster knockdown. Thoroughly apply as a fine particle broadcast spray using a hand pump sprayer to infested rugs and carpets and other cracks and crevices around the perimeter of each room. Put all clothes through the dryer on high heat to help kill mites and their eggs. We have had many customers use the above recommendations with great success. Most customers report that it can take several months to get rid of all of the mites. Finding and removing the source of the infestation is very important and is the key to getting rid of the mites for good.

Do you recommend using Diatomaceous Earth in the attic?
I have heard mixed things about using DE in the attic to get rid of a scorpion problem. Some say it works great. Others say that scorpions avoid it and to try a different type of dust. I just need the best option to put in my attic for a scorpion problem.

DE will work fine.  Like any other dust, it will only be repellent if you put out too much.  Piles of dust to insects and scorpions look like mountains and can repel them from the area because they do not want to walk over it. Dust should be applied in a very thin layer.  If you can see the dust, you applied too much. 

Can you use MotherEarth D - Diatomaceous Earth on flying squirrels?
I have 6 baby flying squirrels ( between 5 and 7 weeks old) and they have fleas really bad. Can I use this product on them for flea control?

MotherEarth D is not labeled for use on animals. We are reluctant to make any type of topical flea control recommendations for exotic animals because so many of these animals are sensitive to chemicals. We recommend you contact your veterinarian and ask for his/her advice on flea control.

MotherEarth D dust is not labeled for ticks or to be used out in the lawn. You should consider using an insecticide granule such as Talstar PL granules over the entire yard to control tick populations.

MotherEarth D is insecticide grade DE made from fresh water diatoms.

If Mother Earth D gets wet, will it retain its properties after it dries out?
In other words, if it is applied into a baseboard void and that area gets wet but then dries out, does the Mother Earth D then return to its original powder form and retain its properties of breaking down the bugs cuticle composition? If left undisturbed, how long will Mother Earth D last? Also, is there an aerosol version of Mother Earth?

Yes, once Mother Earth dust dries it will be effective again. When left undisturbed, Mother Earth  will last indefinitely. At this time, there is not an aerosol version of Mother Earth on the market.

MotherEarth Dust is very safe to use around new puppies when used as directed on the product label. Apply in small amounts directly into cracks and crevices using a bellow hand duster. Applying the dust directly into cracks and crevices will keep it inaccessible to your new puppies.

How often should we reapply Mother Earth D pest control dust?
It's been working fine. We were planning on reapplying it annually. Would that be sufficient?

MotherEarth Dust actually stays effective for as long as it is in place and dry. Reapplying the dust annually is a good plan because the dust could become covered with other dust or dirt or be displaced.

While you could try to apply the dust products by hand (wearing gloves of course), this would be the most wasteful and inefficient way to do so. You would have no way to get the dust into cracks, crevices or voids. You would also use way too much dust at one time, leaving small mounds and thick layers behind. When applied correctly using a hand duster, MotherEarth D is only applied in a very fine, thin layer. Almost every customer that has opted not to purchase a duster, ends up calling us back to make the purchase after they try to apply the dust without one.

No. MotherEarth D is insect grade diatomaceous earth.

You should not use MotherEarth D or any other dust around food in a pantry.  Dusts are meant to be placed in cracks and crevices, underneath appliances and inside wall voids.  Ant bait is a great choice for treating ants in a pantry or other area in your kitchen. Our Maxforce FC Ant gel is our most popular.  You should first throw away any open food that the ants are eating and take away all easily accessible food so there is not any competition.  The ants will eat the ant bait and take it back to their nest and feed it to the other ants and the queen. This method will eliminate the entire colony.

MotherEarth D will certainly help get rid of just about any insect that comes in contact with a dry deposit of the dust, but the dust can take at least a week to kill an insect and in that time the insect can continue to eat and breed. We usually suggest using a faster working insecticide to get rid of an active infestation and using MotherEarth D as a supplement to keep the insects from invading again.

Will MotherEarth D kill waterbugs in my basement?
I have big, (up to 2 inches long) dark brown bugs in my basement. They look like giant roaches. These are also in my yard and on my porch. They come out alot more at night. Can I use boric acid or Diatomaceous Earth to kill them?

You did not indicate which product you were referring to but both diatomaceous earth and boric acid dust can be used to help get rid of the roaches indoors. Outdoors you should consider using a residual insecticide spray such as Cyper WP. Cyper WP is known to work very well for roach control and it offers a residual that can last for about 30 days outdoors and 90 days indoors. To help prevent roach infestations from moving indoors, apply to a band of soil and vegetation 6 to 10 feet wide around and adjacent to the house. Also, treat the building foundation to a height of 2 to 3 feet where pests are active and spray door frame, window frames, places where utilities (cables, pipes, wires) enter into the structure and other cracks and crevices.

How far will an 8oz bottle of MotherEarth Dust go?
just wanted to figure out how much MotherEarth D i might need to treat my home

Typically an 8oz bottle of MotherEarth Dust will treat an average sized home (about 2000 sq ft). MotherEarth Dust should be applied using a duster directly into cracks, crevices and wall voids.

Yes, you could use Diatomaceous Earth dust inside a car, but you would want to apply it in areas that you do not come into direct contact with, such as underneath mats, in between seats, etc.  

Is MotherEarth D safe around pets, toddlers and infants?
Is MotherEarth D safe around pets, toddlers and infants? Are there any other dusts that are more safe or effective against ants, spiders and other household crawlling insects?

When used as directed MotherEarth D is one of the safest dusts to use in the home. MotherEarth D is actually made up of crushed freshwater diatoms and it works by dehydrating insects through a desiccating action. MotherEarth D does not contain any chemical insecticides. We also carry Eco Exempt D, a natural botanical oil dust that is very effective. The EcoExempt D Dust is a versatile, minimum risk product that is exempt from Federal registration because it is made from natural botanical oils like rosemary, wintergreen and eugenol. Both dusts are safer to use in homes and both are very effective for crawling insects. The main differences would be that MotherEarth D lasts for as long as it is dry and in place, and Eco Exempt D lasts for about 6 months but will also work even if it is damp.

Is MotherEarth D a good product for roaches?
Can I apply this product without duster?

MotherEarth D is a good product for all insects, however it does not work as quickly as using other insecticide products.  For roaches the best method is to bait.  This is because roaches can take the bait back into the walls where they hide and because they are attracted to the bait you have a better chance of effecting more roaches in a shorter period of time.  You should take a look at our roach kit #1 which has a very high success rate.  You can apply the MotherEarth D without a duster, but it is much more difficult to get the dust in cracks and crevices where you really need it.

Is MotherEarth D safe to use around children and pets?
Does it hurt pets or humans if they come into contact with the MotherEarth D? How much dust is needed to do the job efficiently?

Mother Earth D is an all natural product so there is no poison or insecticide present.  It is one of the safest products we sell.  There is no certain amount because this product is meant to be applied from a hand duster in cracks and cravices, under appliances, wall voids, etc.  You should fill a hand duster half way with the MotherEarth D and apply 1 to 2 puffs in the crack/crevice or under appliances or any other areas you apply the product.