Diatomaceous earth is a naturally occurring substance, otherwise known as silicon dioxide.  In the use of insecticides, this product acts as bait and then kills insects when ingested by them, as well as causes the insects to dehydrate within forty eight hours of exposure.  It must be kept dry in order to work well, and can be used both indoors and outdoors.  This organic pestcide is used in the control of bed bugs, ants, crickets, millipedes, centipedes, earwigs, cockroaches, and silverfish.  This is a substance that comes in dust form, containing the fossilized remains of micro-organisms called diatoms.  The dust, when ingested by a bug, or if the bug crosses through the powder; cuts through the exo-skeleton inducing dehydration, and eventual death.  This product is one of the pesticides to which insects cannot develop immunity, assuring families that it will continue to be effective in the battle against bed bugs, earwigs and the like, for many years to come.

Care must be taken, however, because not all products bearing the name diatomaceous earth (DE) are the same.  The safe product contains amorphous DE which is called silicon dioxide, collected from fresh water sources.  Diatomite DE is derived from unnatural sources and may cause cancer.  It is therefore important to check the label of the product being purchased to be absolutely sure that the contents are safe Amorphous DE.  For indoor or outdoor use, it is quite simple.  Thin layers should be put over some duct tape in areas where the pests are generally found.