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TWL: Fwd: Roaches and Boric Acid

scaramouche@tvo.org

Thu, Apr 20, 2000 9:57 AM

                  rainbow_chaser@compuserve.com writes:

Was there a thread some time ago about roaches, and what repels

them?

I've heard that boric acid works well.

Finely powdered Boric acid spread near places where roaches walk
worked for me in house and boat - simple and effective. Roaches are
very fastidious and don't like white powder on their little legs. So
they lick it off. Boric acid powder and roaches stomach contents do
not agree with each other and the poor little creatures acually
EXPLODE. Now the other nest-mates don't like this mess (did I mention
fastidious before). The others try to clean up by the only way they
know - eating their dead cousins. The residual boric acid and their
stomachs don't agree either and they too explode too. Sad for the
poor beasties but effective for humans!
I once moved into an appartment buildig that was rather overwhelmed
by roaches. I sprinkled finely powdered Boric Acid behind stove,
refrigerator, into cupboards and cracks in floorboards where the
beasties could intrude from neighbouring appartments.
I never saw a single bug in all the seven years I lived there!
Just one BEWARE though: Boric Acid is a deadly poison for man and
beast alike. As a human, I hope you can control your urges and avoid
eating it but if you have a cat or dog, make sure you sprinkle the
powder only where your pets can't possibly rech it!
Oh, and one more thing: The Boric Acid must be ground to an absolute
very fine powder.
This is essential for the chemical to attach itself to the beasties
legs and bodies as explained above. These roaches would not eat boric
acid if set it out in a gold-plated tray - way too smart for that
(remember, they originate from a time where man had not yet walked on
earth), but they can't resist to clean themselves off the white
powder on their legs - and that's our gotcha!

George of Scaramouche on lake Ontario and totally roach-free....

> rainbow_chaser@compuserve.com writes: >>> Was there a thread some time ago about roaches, and what repels >them? > > >>I've heard that boric acid works well. Finely powdered Boric acid spread near places where roaches walk worked for me in house and boat - simple and effective. Roaches are very fastidious and don't like white powder on their little legs. So they lick it off. Boric acid powder and roaches stomach contents do not agree with each other and the poor little creatures acually EXPLODE. Now the other nest-mates don't like this mess (did I mention fastidious before). The others try to clean up by the only way they know - eating their dead cousins. The residual boric acid and their stomachs don't agree either and they too explode too. Sad for the poor beasties but effective for humans! I once moved into an appartment buildig that was rather overwhelmed by roaches. I sprinkled finely powdered Boric Acid behind stove, refrigerator, into cupboards and cracks in floorboards where the beasties could intrude from neighbouring appartments. I never saw a single bug in all the seven years I lived there! Just one BEWARE though: Boric Acid is a deadly poison for man and beast alike. As a human, I hope you can control your urges and avoid eating it but if you have a cat or dog, make sure you sprinkle the powder only where your pets can't possibly rech it! Oh, and one more thing: The Boric Acid must be ground to an absolute very fine powder. This is essential for the chemical to attach itself to the beasties legs and bodies as explained above. These roaches would not eat boric acid if set it out in a gold-plated tray - way too smart for that (remember, they originate from a time where man had not yet walked on earth), but they can't resist to clean themselves off the white powder on their legs - and that's our gotcha! George of Scaramouche on lake Ontario and totally roach-free....

rmcleran@ix.netcom.com

Thu, Apr 20, 2000 12:43 PM

My experience with using boric acid to rid a home kitchen of roaches is
that boric acid crystals work just fine. They're not finely ground
powder, as the name implies, and are readily available at any drug
store. I like George's explanation of how the powder works, and I'm
afraid I can't offer any similar explanation for how the crystals work,
but work they do.

George Geist wrote:

Oh, and one more thing: The Boric Acid must be ground to an absolute

very fine powder.
This is essential for the chemical to attach itself to the beasties
legs and bodies as explained above. These roaches would not eat boric
acid if set it out in a gold-plated tray - way too smart for that
(remember, they originate from a time where man had not yet walked on
earth), but they can't resist to clean themselves off the white

--
Bob McLeran rmcleran@ix.netcom.com
M/V "Sanderling" Docked at Point Patience Marina
Hailing port: Wianno MA Solomons, MD
Hampton 35 Trawler

My experience with using boric acid to rid a home kitchen of roaches is that boric acid _crystals_ work just fine. They're not finely ground powder, as the name implies, and are readily available at any drug store. I like George's explanation of how the powder works, and I'm afraid I can't offer any similar explanation for how the crystals work, but work they do. George Geist wrote: > > Oh, and one more thing: The Boric Acid must be ground to an absolute > very fine powder. > This is essential for the chemical to attach itself to the beasties > legs and bodies as explained above. These roaches would not eat boric > acid if set it out in a gold-plated tray - way too smart for that > (remember, they originate from a time where man had not yet walked on > earth), but they can't resist to clean themselves off the white > -- Bob McLeran rmcleran@ix.netcom.com M/V "Sanderling" Docked at Point Patience Marina Hailing port: Wianno MA Solomons, MD Hampton 35 Trawler