Diatomaceous earth, usually shortened to DE, is a soft sedimentary rock made of the fossilized shells of tiny aquatic organisms called diatoms. Crushed into a fine powder, it kills ants by abrading and drying out their exoskeletons rather than by poisoning them. Because the powder is non-toxic to people and pets, it shows up in […] The post Diatomaceous Earth for Ant Control: How It Works, How to Apply It, and Where It Fails appeared first on Building and Construction .