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Eco-friendly fossils set to revolutionise UK Pest Control
Added: (Thu Feb 07 2002)
A UK based company,Diatomaceous Earth Europe Ltd,has launched its range of food grade diatomaceous earth products for use not only to control public health and stored product insects,but also as a feed additive.
Company Director Mark Newman said"these are exciting times,especially for the uk,as diatomaceous earth has been largely unknown here,but very successful and well recognised in other parts of the world".Tremendous interest in this natural product has already led Diatomaceous Earth Europe Ltd starting to expand into France,Germany,Spain and Egypt.
Diatomaceous Earth is an ancient pesticide comprising of the fossilised shells of diatoms(a type of algae).It has unique properties enabling it to control insects by the abrasion of their protective cuticle and the subsequent absorbtion of body fluids,resulting in dehydration and death.
High quality food-grade diatomaceous earth is non-toxic and inert(ie free of active chemicals),and is therefore safe to control ants,fleas,bedbugs,cockroaches and many other crawling insects.It is also used widely to control internal parasites in pets,livestock and poultry by adding it to their feed.Stored Product insects and mites in cereal stores are controlled by the admixing of the diatomaceous earth to the bulk of the grain or by using it as a surface dressing.
Unlike some chemical pesticides,insects cannot build up a resistance to diatomaceous earth.This offers a real natural alternative,at a time when any reduction in chemical use,must be seen as a positive step forward for our environment.