North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Doreen Howard" <gardendiva@charter.net>]

Doc Lisenby wrote:
> I thought it acted to plug up the insects' respiratory spiracles.  I've
> heard it works on intestinal worms as a vermifuge by penetrating their
> tender little bodies.  Some of the "Earth Children" may have used it for
> this purpose. Under the microscope it looks like what it is; remains of
> diatoms, some with sharp spicules but most are tiny siliceous particles.

Your explanation makes more sense.  I was told that silicon dehydrate the
earwigs by a local "expert" in Wisconsin.  I had never encounter earwigs
before moving there four years ago and ran to the local garden center for
advice.
Doreen