Erythritol sweetner kills fire ants

ZenHerper

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ZenHerper

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How it came to be of interest to researchers:

An expanded summary of the 2017 paper:

I would still use insecticidal sweeteners with care around pollenators, but will definitely test-sprinkle the ant mounds in the yard with some packets of Sw*et N Low as soon as the weather dries out...
 

Toddrickfl1

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Which is nice, since it is relatively safe for other pet critters...
I'm currently looking for something to treat my house for roaches that would be safe for the Torts. I've already tried baking soda and sugar bait, and diatomaceous earth but no luck. Any body have any suggestions?
 

ZenHerper

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I'm currently looking for something to treat my house for roaches that would be safe for the Torts. I've already tried baking soda and sugar bait, and diatomaceous earth but no luck. Any body have any suggestions?
You could try the sweeteners listed in the study.

I sighted two German roaches in the kitchen when we moved here. I used generous amounts of diatomaceous earth, including down the plumbing holes in the cabinets. Not a single reappearance.

 

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I know very little of entomology but do you think this might work for the small dark beetles that decimate my strawberry plants? They eat the leaves
 

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queen koopa

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You could try the sweeteners listed in the study.

I sighted two German roaches in the kitchen when we moved here. I used generous amounts of diatomaceous earth, including down the plumbing holes in the cabinets. Not a single reappearance.

What’s a generous amount? I’ve haven’t had any success with DE...
 

ZenHerper

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What’s a generous amount? I’ve haven’t had any success with DE...
I poured it anywhere they might walk and pick it up on their bodies. A good 1/16-1/8 inch depth so that they really get it between their exoskeletal cells...where it works to make micro-tears that cause fatal dehydration.

Cabinets in kitchen and bathroom, behind appliances, both sides of doorways, into walls/floors where plumbing enters/exits.

A fine dusting in carpet works well for fleas, but other insects walking up on their toes over dirt/dust require a deeper layer.

In parts of the country where roaches have made themselves more at home, you would realistically consider an Insect Growth Regulator spray. Nyguard is a common brand name ingredient used against roach eggs and larvae (also labeled for ants and fleas).

 

ZenHerper

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You can order erythritol powder alone online. FOREX:

Or check the labels of these mixed-formula grocery store brands:

Truvia:

Swerve:
 

Yvonne G

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You can order erythritol powder alone online. FOREX:

Or check the labels of these mixed-formula grocery store brands:

Truvia:

Swerve:
Thank you.
 

Jan A

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You can order erythritol powder alone online. FOREX:

Or check the labels of these mixed-formula grocery store brands:

Truvia:

Swerve:
How ironic, a chemical used to get humans off sugar offs roaches. Somehow, I don't find that comforting. Same with the one that kills fire ants. But I'm all for getting rid of the 2 bugs. Fire ant bites are really painful!!
 

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