With the eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano the news has been reporting on almost every aspect of what is happening and what to expect with this huge event but no ones reporting what will happen to bugs exposed to the volcanic ash. As chief journalist for pest cemetery I feel it is my duty to bring this most important aspect of the untold story to you. We have Mel our crack field reporter at the scene but I think he might have gotten a little too close to his work, he can be a bit clumsy but he definitely gets in to his work.
Something that caught my attention was the vast amount of silica that was in the blast and is being carried over all of Europe and where ever the wind will blow next. Silica is a material that is found in the crust of the earth and is used by pest professionals everywhere. Silica is a desiccant which can absorb 40 times its weight of moisture and pest control operators use this most effectively in dusting cracks or other voids where pests hide. One way the silica works is that it’s a very sharp particle and cuts through the protective waxy shell of an insects exoskeleton and they simply dry out and die. It is a long term and very effective tool in the pest control arsenal.
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