Ants!

    When you ask people a reason why they wouldn't move to Florida they often have a list,  Heat, humidity, traffic, alligators and BUGS!   Every single one of those is absolutely valid.  If you can't live with any of them then Florida probably isn't your "place".  However, as with anything in life, if you want to do something you'll figure out how to live with the negatives that are associated with it..  

    When we moved into this new home it wasn't long before I realized we had an ant problem.  Not a giant water bug problem- like we dealt with in Texas.  I have actually seen just one of those beasts!   The ants are a different story. I started out trying to use two different "bait" traps.  Neither of them worked.   I'm not sure why I didn't try what I know to work first?  In every house we have owned I've used Diatomaceous Earth (DE) to combat whatever pest problem we've had.  For the record, it doesn't work on squirrels, raccoons or small children!! 😉🤣

    Diatomaceous Earth is an extremely fine powder that is most commonly used in animal feed to prevent infestation from bugs.  It is made from fossilized water plants and is a naturally occurring siliceous sedimentary mineral compound from the remains of algae-like plants called diatoms.  The chalky deposits in the diatoms left are called diatomite.  The diatoms are mined and ground up to make a fine powder that has the look and feel of talcum powder.   It is composed of about 3% magnesium, 5% sodium,  2% iron, 19% calcium and 33% silicon.  There are also several other trace elements that can be found.  

    It has a wide variety of  uses however, it is EXTREMELY important that you purchase the FOOD GEADE product.  (There is a DE product that is intended for pool filters.)  DE can also be used as a dietary supplement to aid in digestion and parasites.   Many organic gardeners will use DE  to protect their plants from the typical predators that can plague a garden.  

    As I stated before, DE is commonly added to large animal feed to prevent pest/bug infestation in the product.  Many farmers and owners of livestock also enjoy the fact that it is a fabulous way to prevent intestinal parasites.  Ive used DE as a natural de-wormer for my pets.  Just sprinkle it lightly over their food for 2-3 days and you won't have a need for a chemical de-wormer. I do this every couple of months, especially in the summer months. You can also carefully sprinkle it sparingly along the spine of dogs and cats to repel fleas!  Just be careful not to get it in their eyes.  To do this just separate their fur to expose the skin along their spine and sprinkle the DE sparingly.   Ive also added it to my morning smoothie  as a natural "digestive aid" 😉.    The added benefit is that it does contain minerals that are good for you!  It's been touted as a great aid for joint pain.  

    Back to my ant problem.  The way DE works is that the fine particles of silica cut into their protective covering and dries them out.  Micorscopically, the silica looks like glass shards!   So, fortunately I had an unopened bag that we brought with us from Texas sitting in my garage!    

    The product comes with a convenient duster for getting into tight places and putting down a fine line of DE.  I put this under my kitchen appliances, in the backs of my cupboards, on windowsills and along the back of my counters (just until things are under control).  It is important to know that once DE gets wet is is no longer effective.  If it gets wet you just need to reapply.    So far, it's working!  

     OH, btw, did I mention we also had a teeny tiny little spider problem?  Ive never seen spiders this size before so I'm not sure if they are a specific breed or if there is a nest somewhere and they were all hatching at the same time>. 

😰😰 NOT cool!

    One of the reasons I love DE is that so many pest companies use products that are toxic to not only humans but pets as well.  Using DE I don't have to worry about Olive and Tess getting it on their feet and then ingesting it.  Be super careful when using DE as it is not good to breathe it in to your lungs.  It's advised that you wear a mask when you work with DE.  As always, consult your physician or veterinarian before you begin using DE.  

    

                                 

                                                                            

Until the next time!

~Sue 

Note: The opinions presented are my own and are not intended as a  substitute for the medical advice of a licensed physician.  Please do your own research and consultation on the subject before using DE in your own home.