Diatomaceous Earth and Borac Acid Pesticide

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?EKGUZ 23 March 2012 Diatomaceous Earth and Borac Acid Pesticide
A mixture of Diatomaceous Earth and Boric Acid was prepared for use this Summer. It will get a through testing as a home made pesticide.

http://alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement/boric_acid.html Boric Acid
I am going to experiment with Diatomaceous Earth and Boric acid powder to make my own powdered insecticide. The mixture will be 20 to 1 Diatomaceous earth to Boric acid powder. Proportions picked as a reasonable practical experiment. The diatomacious earth is primarily to bulk out the boric acid.

My reasoning goes like this:
Diatomaceous earth is not regarded an insecticide,since there has been little to no research done, and the so called supporting evidence is anecdotal.

Boric acid is harmful to many insects which are similar to those encountered in the garden, and this is well documented.

Powders are often irritating to insects. Wood ash for example simply because it makes their inhabitant uncomfortable, hence they tend to move on.

So my home made insecticide will have some poison, some anecdotal support from the diatomaceous earth, and also the powder effect. This cannot possibly be more harmful than many of the commercial products sold for insect control.

Bugs that cause damage to my plants are the ubiquitous flea beetle, Cabbage butterfly, Japanese beetle, and Colorado potato beetle. Reducing the effects of the first two would be a great plus.
Dispensing will be by using my recently purchased Duster.
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?FCWDO 6 January 2012 Garden Dust Sprayer.

[The Riff-Raff Element]

I should be interested to hear the outcome. Boric acid is moderately toxic to humans and higher mammals (but you'd need to eat a shedload) but really messes up some insect metabolisms. Need to watch it around bees.

[Durgan]

I should be interested to hear the outcome. Boric acid is moderately toxic to humans and higher mammals (but you'd need to eat a shedload) but really messes up some insect metabolisms. Need to watch it around bees.

The mixture is primarily for non flowering vegetables. Certainly most flowering plants will not be sprayed.The dispensing pump is reasonably directional at first look. The cabbage moth and the flea beetle will be my first targets. Second will be the Japanese beetle, but first I will try diatomaceous earth only.