I cant imagine why DE would be safe for earthworms IF the earthworms come in contact with the DE. Perhaps it is somewhat safe because earthworms dont spend much time above ground.

DE works differently on different organisms. In those with a hard carapace, the sharp pieces of DE slip into joints and between carapace plates to grind away each time the critter moves. In others it is inhaled, lacerating the critter's breathing tissue dissabling its ability to breathe.

Earthworms are not negatively impacted by DE because the mucous coating their skin allows them to slip smoothly over the stuff, and because they breath by absorbing oxygen through their skin, thus there are no lung structures to be damaged by inhalation.

DE is indeed perfectly safe for earthworms.

Kelly S

thank you, kelly, for reinforcing that!

now, how about slugs. they are mucousy. what other of their functions allow de to kill them?

thanks.

It was asked: "now, how about slugs. they are mucousy. what other of their functions allow de to kill them?"

Sorry, de doesn't kill slugs.

But if you have a pile 1 inch high -- that amounts to 4 inches wide -- and the de is dry, few slugs will successfully cross it. They don't die; they just don't cross it.

ah-ha! thank you!

i also appreciate the specifications on how much it takes. certainly more than a sprinkle.

Kelly...you Rock, u put that answer in a way, i never heard it before...TY... Great Question, FTMother...)))

Hmmm, why does Johnny's say to control slugs with DE?

I sprinkled some DE around my mesclun mix and I went from getting 5 or 6 slugs per washing to practically none. I don't know if it was the DE or they just found something better but they did go away!!

Most land snails have a lung in which oxygen exchange takes place. If the lung tissue is damaged, that is, if it's cut up by sharp particles of DE, this gas exchange is inhibited or stopped and the slug dies.

While I am no slug expert, if DE does actually control them, I would suspect that inhaling the razor-edged DE particles is a part of how control is effected.

And I am SO telling my 16 year old daughter that someone said I rock! ::laughing::

Kelly S

can i echo that? i agree. now, here is the first person i have read so far that informs that land snails have a "lung." i can't remember any of my high school biology even if they did teach us about that.

thanks all, inquiring minds NEED to know, even if it makes no difference :)

does this slime coat that protects worms from de also protect them from soapy water? or, will they dessicate anyway?
thanks.

Slugs also have lungs - they are very close relatives of snails, same body structure except they don't have a shell (basically just a naked snail). Check out this link if you are interested. By the way - worms absorb oxygen through their skin, which only works if the skin is wet (osmosis) hence the slimyness of worms. Soap breaks down the mucus so the worms can't keep their moisture.

Here is a link that might be useful: slug anatomy

very interesting!
thanks also for the refresher course on effects of soapy water. i was afraid of that. i am sure it kills them.