Means Ekokiller from bugs and cockroaches (specially treated diatomite)

The relatively recently appeared on the market insect repellent Ecokiller refers to insecticidal drugs of contact action, that is, destroys pests and parasites (bugs, cockroaches, fleas, domestic ants, scales, etc.) with a simple hit on their external integument. It would seem nothing special - many insect repellents work this way today.

However, the fact of the matter is that the mechanism of the insecticidal action of the Ecokiller means is fundamentally different from the mechanism of the work of the overwhelming majority of other drugs. And this not only ensures the high efficacy of the agent in the fight against insects, but also makes it possible to successfully use the drug even in the most advanced cases, reliably destroying populations of cockroaches and bed bugs that are resistant to the “chemistry”.

How is this achieved? Let's understand ...

 

What is Ecokiller and how does he kill insects?

The basis of the preparation Ekokiller is a specially processed diatomite (also known as kieselgur or rock flour) - natural rock, which is a powder of beige color. The particle size of the drug ranges from 10 to 35 micrometers.

On a note

Sometimes diatomite is incorrectly called infusorial earth. In fact, the agent has nothing to do with ciliates, but represents the remnants of the shells of ancient diatoms. Such shells are almost entirely composed of silicon dioxide, and due to their shape they have very high abrasive properties.

In the US, funds based on diatom powder for the extermination of cockroaches and bed bugs have been on the market for quite some time and have become popular.

The most important feature of diatomite used in Eko-killer is the combination of the high abrasiveness of its particles with the ability to effectively absorb various substances.

Getting on the outer integuments of the body of an insect, Ekokiller particles literally scratch the protective wax layer of the cuticle, at the same time absorbing it.As a result, the wax layer turns into a kind of molecular sieve, almost losing the ability to perform its main function - to prevent the evaporation of liquid from the soft tissues of the body of an insect.

As a result, the water begins to actively evaporate through the cuticle damaged by the diatomite, leading to dehydration of the parasite, whether it be a bed bug, a flea, a cockroach, or an ant. In addition, dehydration is further exacerbated by the extrusion of water by the diatomite itself.

An insect mottled in powder rather quickly (usually within a few hours) dies from dehydration. The video below shows an example of how this happens when a diatomite powder is exposed to a cockroach:

As practice shows, to achieve the desired effect, it is enough that the bug and the cockroach simply run on the powder and get dirty at the same time. After that, the chances of surviving the insect are insignificant.

 

How effective is the remedy?

Despite the fact that the drug Ecokiller finds today the greatest use in the fight against bedbugs and cockroaches (especially in advanced cases when the "chemistry" does not take them), however, the tool effectively destroys other arthropods - ants, scales, fleas, spiders , mites, moth, etc.

It is also important that pest and parasites do not develop resistance to the diatomite, which is a part of Ecokiller, as is often the case when using chemical insecticides. The fact is that insects simply do not have mechanisms for neutralizing the destructive action of mineral particles with respect to the protective wax layer of the cuticle. As a result, not a single occurrence of populations of insects, to which the drug would not act, is still known.

On a note

The nymphs (larvae) of insects die especially quickly from contact with Ecokiller. However, it should be borne in mind that the remedy does not work on bed bugs' eggs, therefore at first after its use the larvae will hatch from the eggs - perhaps they will even bite the occupants of the room for several days, but at least once running over the powder-treated surface , will soon inevitably die (reviews confirm this, gradually bed bugs from the apartment disappear completely).

The only way for an insect to survive after contact with Ecokiller is to be constantly in a room with almost 100% relative humidity of the air, try to clear the powder and be able to consume a lot of liquid, while the wax layer of the cuticle gradually regenerates.However, in practice such opportunities in cockroaches and bedbugs in most cases do not.

 

About the safety of Ecokiller for humans and pets

When children or a tenant live in the house are prone to allergic reactions, poison bugs or cockroaches standard chemical insecticides can be quite problematic. In this regard, Ekokiller has an important advantage - it is non-toxic, does not emit harmful substances into the air, does not cause allergies and does not create an unpleasant smell in the room.

Diatomite, which is based on silicon dioxide, is a highly inert (neutral) substance - both for the skin of the body of humans and domestic animals, and for mucous membranes.

On a note

Diatomite-based pharmaceutical preparations are sometimes even prescribed for ingestion as a sorbent (like activated charcoal) - in the stomach and intestines diatomite binds toxic substances, preventing them from being absorbed into the blood and ensuring safe excretion from the body.

In addition, diatomite (diatomaceous earth) is widely used as a filler for tablets, as a food additive to supply the body with silicon,in the composition of various scrubs, peels and masks (for example, in alginate masks, its share in the composition can reach up to 75%).

However, as with any fine powder, when handling the drug Ekokiller should follow standard security measures - do not inhale the powder (you can use a respirator) and avoid contact with eyes (you can use safety glasses).

 

Some disadvantages of tools that must be considered in advance

Perhaps the only significant drawback of Ecokiller, which has to be considered when it is used in everyday life, is its ability to dust and pollute surfaces. If in the course of the fight against bedbugs or cockroaches the product gets on the carpet or clothes, then they will have to be shaken out or washed.

And just imagine a beige powder on a mattress of a bed, on a sofa, on the floor of an apartment along baseboards - when you slam doors or a draft, it can dust and swell around the room. And if a pet or a child gets dirty in it, the whole floor in the apartment will be in white powder.

In addition, it should be borne in mind that diatomite destroys bed bugs, cockroaches, fleas, silverfish and other insects is not instantaneous - it takes time, often several days.In advanced cases, from the time of processing and until the entire population dies, it can take a week or even more.

On a note

When using Ekokiller in the garden or in the garden should be borne in mind that the drug (as, indeed, most other insecticidal agents) does not have a selective effect, and if used incorrectly, it will be equally effective to destroy both harmful and beneficial insects.

 

Variants of the use of tools in everyday life

Given the mechanism of action of the drug, the main task that needs to be solved when using Ecokiller is to pour it where insects, such as bugs, cockroaches, fleas, or other pests and parasites, will certainly get dirty. For this you need to be well aware of the places of their possible accumulation and movement.

For example:

1. When fighting bedbugs, powder can be scattered along baseboards, around the legs of the bed, under the carpet, pollinate the back walls of the furniture, mattresses, shelves of books — that is, potential shelters (often there are bedbugs) and the paths of the parasites;
2. When killing cockroaches, the powder should be sprinkled, first of all, near the shells (wiped dry beforehand),near the trash can, stove, refrigerator, under the bedside tables and other kitchen furniture.

On a note

If the bed bugs are not hiding in the couch or in the bed, it is often enough to pour Eco-killer around the legs of the bed (sofa), or put the legs themselves in plastic containers with the preparation. Insects that will get out of their shelters at night and crawl to the sleeping victim will surely get into the diatomaceous earth powder and get dirty in it.

The same can be done if the parasite's nest is somewhere in the bed (or sofa), but in this case you need to sleep on a folding bed, around the legs of which you also need to form closed paths from the Ekokiller preparation. Having got hungry, the bugs will begin to crawl out of the infected bed in search of the victim, fall into diatomite and die after a while.

In the fight against cockroaches, domestic ants or scales it may be useful to use the so-called baiting stations - they allow you to use the drug without fear that it will be dragged around the apartment by children or pets. These can be either purchased boxes or cardboard boxes that have been custom-made: they have holes cut into them.at a low altitude from the bottom, the Ecokiller is poured into the box itself, and in the center a bait is placed in it - a piece of sausage, bread with vegetable oil or a piece of fish.

Then the box closes. After that only insects can get into it and only through small holes. And inside, picking up to the bait, they are sure to be smoked in Ecokiller powder. It is important, however, to understand that such a trap will be useless in the fight against bedbugs - they are not attracted by food, and therefore they will not crawl into the box.

At the cottage or garden Ekokiller, according to the instructions, you need to apply in dry calm weather on the places of accumulation of harmful insects. However, even if it rains, after drying, the diatomite, which is part of Ecokiller, again works as an effective insecticide.

 

Where to buy Ecokiller?

In the Russian Federation, the Ekokiller insect repellent can be purchased on the official website of the product (you can also read consumer reviews there).

The drug is sold in two packaging options:

1. In a special bottle from which the powder is sprayed with a thin stream;
2. In bags from which the powder can be poured, for example, through a cut corner.

Bottles are especially convenient for use in an apartment against bed bugs and cockroaches, because with their help it is possible to easily dispense the tool even in hard-to-reach places.

If you buy Ecokiller for processing large areas (for example, for treating a basement from fleas or a garden from plant pests), then it is more rational to take the product in bags.

The price of one bottle of funds (0.5 l) is 349 rubles, and one package (3 l) - 749 rubles.

 

Kieselgur-based drug analogs

In the Russian Federation and the CIS countries, Ekokiller has no analogues today. That is, any other insecticidal products based on diatomite (kieselgur) are not produced and are not commercially available.

Meanwhile, insecticidal preparations with diatomite Alpine-D, Cimi-Shield Protect, Perma-Guard, Bed Bug Killer, Drion and Safer are known, but they are sold only in the United States and are not supplied to Russia.

On a note

Interestingly, in addition to kieselgur, the preparation Alpine-D also contains neonicotinoid dinotefuran, which has a pronounced toxic effect on insects (however, it is also toxic to humans). And Cimi-Shield Protect after a relatively short career was found to be ineffective due to the presence of soybean oil in its composition.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that Ecokiller as a whole is a very interesting and promising alternative to standard toxic insecticides - the drug combines high efficacy against insects while being safe for humans and domestic animals. In those cases when it is not possible to get rid of pests or parasites using traditional chemicals, the use of the drug may be particularly relevant.

 

If you have any personal experience with the use of Ecokiller against bugs, cockroaches or other insects, be sure to share them by leaving your review at the bottom of this page (in the comments box).

 

Useful video: a more sophisticated analogue of the drug Ekokiller, specially created for the destruction of bugs, has appeared. We tested it

 

And this is how you can create a deadly barrier for bedbugs around the legs of the bed with the help of powder ...