GREENSBORO, N.C. — If you have a green thumb, you know how annoying pests can be.
Bugs can make all your hard work disappear in almost an instant.
A Triad home gardener reached out to WFMY News 2's Taheshah Moise, after reading several articles on the benefits of what's called Diatomaceous Earth.
Linda Beasley from Burlington says," According to the internet, it kills bugs in your garden, bedbugs in your home, repels ants, and if you get the food grade version it won't harm you or your pets. Sounds too good to be true, that's what I thought. Please verify with scientific facts."
To verify our sources are Hanna Smith with the Guilford County Ag Extension, the EPA, and the National Pesticide Information Center.
Diatomaceous earth or DE is made from the remains of aquatic plants
It looks looks like a powder.
Hanna Smith says DE can be used in a variety of products including home and garden.
Smith says yes, the pest grade version can get rid of bugs.
"The insect will actually crawl over the Diatomaceous Earth and the sharp edges of the particles will actually pierce the exoskeleton of the insect causing it to eventually dry out and die." Smith said.
There are other types of DE, like the food grade kind Linda asked about, but Smith says you should only use the type meant for pests because it's been approved by the EPA.
That means it's been tested for effectiveness and environmental impacts.
If used properly, it won't be harmful to the environment, humans, or pets.
The National Pesticide Information Center says DE can be dangerous if inhaled.
That's why it recommends wearing a protective mask when using it.
So we can verify DE works to kill bugs.
Do you have a VERIFY inquiry? Submit a selfie video of the question to Taheshah Moise:
Facebook: Taheshah Moise
Twitter: @Taheshah
Email: Tmoise@wfmy.com