How to use boric acid against cockroaches?

Boric acid from cockroaches is considered one of the most effective folk remedies in the fight against these harmful insects. Means in balls and liquid poison, with egg and flour mixed in certain proportions - there are a huge number of recipes in which a powdery substance is used. Finding the best option, understanding how the powder works, preparing boric acid for use, and also starting to poison cockroaches correctly and safely will help a detailed overview of all the important points.

Boric acid has become a folk remedy against cockroaches for a reason. This powdery substance has a fine crystalline scaly structure. Boric acid itself does not have a pronounced smell and taste, and has a weak acidity. The powder dissolves in liquids, it is obtained from natural sources - minerals, hot springs. In some countries, production is established through the oxidation of the borax solution.

You can get rid of cockroaches with boric acid by using the powder in combination with various auxiliary ingredients.

This substance acts on insects by contact. It enters the body through the insect's chitinous cover or with food when it is absorbed. The destruction of pests occurs due to the peculiarities of the crystal structure of boric acid. Its grains have sharp edges, causing mortal wounds to the cockroach's body. Insects die from damage, and the powder also affects the rate of evaporation of moisture, contributing to the occurrence of dehydration.

The powdery substance kills cockroaches gradually. The insecticidal properties of the substance are enhanced by the presence of boron in the composition. It acts on insects in a certain way, gradually paralyzing the work of all systems and organs. Pests lose sight and smell, and inevitably die within 12 hours. But to achieve such an effect, it is necessary for the cockroach to come into contact with the poison.

Despite the fact that boric acid is considered a folk remedy, in the fight against insects, it quite successfully helps to cope with even a large invasion of pests.

There are other advantages of the tool.

1. Chemical neutrality of the composition. When used, boric acid does not leave burns on the skin; even children can contact it without risk.
2. Availability. The powdery substance is sold through pharmacy chains in optimal concentration. The cost of packaging is minimal.
3. Efficiency. Every cockroach that comes into contact with a substance inevitably dies. Not all pesticides give such efficiency.
4. Ease of use. Boric acid can be used to create a variety of cockroach-attracting baits.
5. Prolonged action. The protective properties of the insecticide are preserved until it is disposed of.

There are also disadvantages. In particular, if ingested by children, pets, the product may cause an allergic reaction or poisoning. Inhalation of the powder can also provoke unwanted manifestations. That is why it is necessary to prepare a poison based on boric acid, observing all precautions.

The preparation of boric acid-based poison requires strict adherence to proportions. Up to 3000 cockroaches can be poisoned with just one 10 g sachet. That is why, when planning to prepare such a bait at home, it is worth focusing on other components that are attractive to insects. Cockroaches are especially susceptible to protein foods, odorous and sweet substances.

You can mix the most effective version of bait that can kill cockroaches using ingredients found in any home.

You can also kill insects with bait balls, for which you have to mix several ingredients in the composition.

The easiest recipe for cockroach poison is made from egg yolk. This product attracts insects, drowns out the specific smell of the chemical. The mixture can be composed of a simple set of ingredients:

• boiled egg - 2-3 pieces;
• unrefined vegetable oil - 5 ml;
• boric acid - 80-100 g.

First, in a specially prepared bowl, knead the egg yolks with a fork, gradually mixing with the powder of the chemical. Little by little, oil is added to the composition - sunflower, soy, olive. The mixture should gradually acquire the consistency of plasticine. After that, it is divided into fragments, rolled into balls up to 1 cm in diameter.You can flavor them with a small amount of vanillin.

You can whip up the poison according to another recipe. For her, you need 50 g of boric acid and 1-2 yolks of a raw egg. They are mixed, then divided into fragments of 5-10 g. The resulting bait is used as usual. It can be applied to cardboard substrates, placed in places where insects migrate to get them out of the house.

Another favorite treat for insect pests is boiled potatoes. On its basis, balls of bait are also made. To make them, you will need 3-4 potatoes, boiled in their uniforms. They are cooled, kneaded with a fork or crush. Then the resulting mass is mixed with 7 ml of sunflower oil and 30 g of boric acid.

All ingredients will have to be mixed well until smooth. The resulting composition is rolled into balls. If it doesn't stick well, you can add a little flour. The resulting bait is laid out in secluded places.

A simple boric acid / water mixture is a good solution, but this recipe is best refined by sweetening the liquid. This will make it more attractive to cockroaches. The process of preparing the poison is quite simple.

1. Mixing the main ingredients. You will need 250 ml of warm water and 30 g of boric acid (3 standard bags). The solution is stirred until maximum dissolution of the crystals.
2. Adding granulated sugar. 1 teaspoon is enough to make the mixture more attractive to cockroaches. Sugar dissolves well in warm water.
3. Distribution of the mixture among the drinkers. Low-rise bowls or containers with a stable base will do.

With a moderate number of pests, water-based solutions are much more effective insecticides. Within 3 days, the main population of cockroaches will be destroyed.

Boric acid powder can be mixed with flour. This will increase its food appeal. But the main purpose of their combination is to extinguish the specific smell of boron.Mixed with flour, it is less noticeable to insects.

If liquid bait is especially attractive to thirsty insects, dry bait can be used regardless of whether the insects have access to water. For its preparation, take a mixture of boric acid and granulated sugar in a ratio of 1: 3. You can replace the crystalline substance with powder. In any case, cockroaches are a famous sweet tooth. They will not disregard such a treat.

You can prepare balls in order to put them in traps with a sticky substance - this will only speed up the process of catching cockroaches. A boric acid blend can be made with a wide variety of ingredients.

1. With bread. It is enough to soften the crumb well, combine it with vegetable oil and boric acid. From the resulting components, you can easily roll balls.
2. With honey. On its basis, you can prepare both drinking syrup with boric acid, and egg or potato balls. Just 1 tsp is enough. as a flavoring agent.
3. With starch and vanilla sugar. In this recipe, 100 g of boric acid are combined with powdered sugar, vanilla and starch - 30 g of each substance. The mixture is diluted with water to the desired consistency. Then small lumps are formed from it.

Instructions for the use of boric acid baits must be strictly followed. You cannot poison cockroaches in an apartment or house uncontrollably.

Here is the correct procedure for achieving high efficiency in the destruction of pests.

1. Cleaning. In addition to purely sanitary purposes, these actions will make it possible to identify traces of insects' presence, to detect the places of their accumulation.
2. Elimination of free access to water. This is important because insects usually follow the same paths to drink. This can be used when distributing the bait.
3. Spreading of powdery substance in pure form. Paths must be laid in places of paths laid by cockroaches to a watering hole. And also the substance is sure to crumble on the surface of the cabinets, behind the baseboards, on the floor under the sink, under the cabinets, and the refrigerator.
4. Distribution of ready-made bait balls. They are laid out where the congestion of cockroaches is most often observed. You can make the bait more attractive by adding bright natural colors or flavors. It is better to place it on separate saucers or plastic lids, remove it away from children and animals.
5. Regular update of the bait. The wet balls or mixtures should be changed as the insects eat them. Food baits should not be ignored for a long time. The smell of a rotten egg is unlikely to make your home more comfortable, albeit at the cost of killing insects. In addition, boric acid does not have an ovicidal effect - new pests will gradually appear, which means that preventive measures will have to be taken on an ongoing basis.

Do not assume that boric acid is completely safe. Like any other chemical, it must be applied with a range of precautions.

1. Respiratory protection. When packing or spilling boric acid, it is recommended to use household respirators or medical masks. They will prevent accidental inhalation of the chemical.
2. Hand protection. Medical gloves will help isolate the skin from boric acid.For most people, it is safe, but some may have an individual intolerance. Skin irritation in this case can manifest itself in varying degrees.
3. Lack of oral contact. You do not need to try the prepared baits, give them to animals. A substance in a certain concentration causes poisoning. The lethal dose for cockroaches is 2-3 mg.
4. Compliance with storage rules. Boric acid stores should be kept out of the sight of children. The safest place to store them is in a lockable home medicine cabinet. If there are elderly people with dementia in the home, the security measures will be similar.
5. Notifying other residents. Everyone should be aware that there are prepared baits in the house. Otherwise, they may be accidentally confused with food or pet treats.
6. Pet protection. If there are cats, dogs, rodents in the house, it is necessary to lay out the baits so that they are inaccessible for eating. Sometimes it is worthwhile to build mesh traps from the very beginning, through which cockroaches can easily penetrate.
7. Compliance with hygiene measures. After working with a powdery substance, you need to wet cleaning the surfaces in contact with it, wash your hands and face.

Getting rid of cockroaches should be systematic and complex. It is possible to destroy the pest population quickly and efficiently only if insufficiently comfortable conditions are created for insects. There are a number of measures to help speed up this process.

1. Restricting access to food. Cockroaches feed on waste from garbage containers, do not disdain sweet tea or bread crumbs. If the storage of food in the house is carried out with violations, insects will definitely find something to profit from. If access to food is blocked, they may start to eat wallpaper, leather goods.
2. Lack of access to water. Without it, insects will quickly leave the apartment or simply die. If possible, it is worth fixing the plumbing, fixing leaks or condensation on the pipes. The water in the sink must be thoroughly wiped off at night, the same goes for the bath bowl and shower trays.
3. Blocking the paths of penetration of insects. A cockroach nest can be located in an adjacent apartment or in interfloor ceilings. If pests enter the house from the outside, you should block the cracks in the floor and walls, install fine mesh for ventilation. It is recommended to seal openings around pipes and other linear communications with concrete mortar or polyurethane foam.
4. Maintaining general cleanliness in living quarters. Cockroaches are among those insects that inevitably accompany unsanitary conditions. In the fight against them, it is necessary to take care of the normalization of the cleaning processes. In some cases, especially if insects live under wallpaper, baseboards, flooring, it is easier to make repairs, creating unbearable conditions for their life, at the same time eliminating its traces.

Using helpful tips, you can achieve rapid destruction of cockroaches in a residential building or apartment, as well as prevent their reappearance.