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  • From: Larry Maxcy <larrymaxcy@earthlink.net>
  • To: gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [gwl-g] gwl-g Digest, Vol 39, Issue 13
  • Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 20:18:58 -0700

Diatomaceous earth is the fossilized remains of diatoms, small sea creatures and good whale food. It doesn't kill snails or slugs--it has very sharp edges, and snails and slugs won't go across it. It works, copper works, beer is effective for a few slugs but probably attracts more. I say that after a quarter-century in snail and slug heaven--the central coast of California, where the banana slugs are banana-yellow, and the snails carpet the earth.

This is the description of DE from Jeff Lewin, a research associate at Michigan Tech:

More specifically it is the silica (i.e. glass) covers of algae called
diatoms (hence the name). 

Since it has very sharp edges, and is prety pulverized, it's a good idea to use some sort of face mask while handling it.

Larry




  • Re: [gwl-g] gwl-g Digest, Vol 39, Issue 13, Larry Maxcy, 06/28/2007

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