Boric Acid

If you're looking for a more natural method of getting rid of common pests in or around your home, a solid option is a pesticide that contains Boric Acid. This natural product shows up in trace amounts in fruits, almonds, and leafy vegetables, so it's surprising to some people that this boron compound is so effective against insects.

Boric Acid has long been a staple chemical in the pest control industry. It is known to successfully eliminate various problematic pests that may be encountered in your home or place of business.

Here at Solutions Pest & Lawn, we are proud to carry products that contain Boric Acid as the main active ingredient. This page will share some background information about Boric Acid and why it is such a reliable pest control chemical.

What is Boric Acid?

Boric Acid is a by-product of minerals that contain the element Boron, known as borates. Borates are said to have originated in dried salt lake beds of deserts or arid areas (for example, Death Valley, CA, Turkey, and China) or other geographic regions that expose similar deposits (such as the Andes Mountains in South America).

Boric Acid is an odorless and naturally occurring powder that is believed to be a safer method of pest control compared to other more hazardous synthetic chemical insecticides. To humans, it’s regarded as as safe as ordinary table salt. However, for most pests, coming into contact with boric acid can be fatal, especially for cockroaches, ants, termites, silverfish, and other common household insects.

Because boric acid is so versatile, it has been formed and manipulated into various formulations. These formulations include but are not limited to, boric acid dust, boric acid powder, treatment for cracks and crevices, emulsifiable concentrates, tablets, pellets, pastes, and bait.

How Does Boric Acid Work?

Mode of Action

Boric acid's mode of action and what makes it so effective in the pest control industry is its ability to kill insects without the use of highly toxic chemicals. When applied, the product acts as a stomach poison to insects that come into contact with it or consume it. The powder is very abrasive and can cut through the outer shell of numerous insects.

For instance, if roaches were to cross over Boric Acid, the slow-killing chemical acts like shards of glass cutting them apart. The slow killing effect allows roaches to return to the nest, where they soon die. Other cockroaches will then eat the dead carcass of a roach who consumed Boric Acid, which eventually kills them, too. The cycle continues until the Boric Acid has more-or-less been exhausted or the queen herself has consumed some, killing her, which destroys the colony.

Benefits of Boric Acid

Boric Acid's residual effect gives it an advantage over other pesticide options. It can continue to kill long after it has been applied, up to a year. It also has no repellent properties, so target pests won’t know to stay away from treated areas.

Boric Acid is best used when pests are hiding in hard-to-treat cracks and crevices or wall voids. A Boric Acid dust formulation can reach those areas better than a liquid insecticide application and will be safer in cases where you are applying behind or around an electrical outlet.

Drawbacks of Boric Acid

Overapplying Boric Acid will hinder its effectiveness. Also, Boric Acid loses effectiveness if the area where it is applied becomes wet. As long as the surface area remains dry, it will effectively kill insects.

Avoid using Boric Acid in areas that are wet or can accumulate moisture or in outdoor areas where the product can be hindered by rainfall or washed away.

Is Boric Acid Safe?

Boric Acid is safe when used according to label directions. However, mistakes can happen when using the product, and you can accidentally inhale, come into skin contact with, or get the product in your eyes. This is why, when applying Boric Acid, as you should with any other type of pesticide, always exercise caution and put on protective gear before handling chemicals. This can include gloves, a protective mask, and long-sleeve clothing.

What To Expect

Boric Acid is an effective product, but only when applied in small amounts and in the right areas. Applying Boric Acid in areas where your target insect is not active or away from the harborage areas where they’re living is ineffective.

This is where learning about your target insect and its tendencies and hot spots is key. Once you have this knowledge, you can strategically dust the prime areas and not waste the boric acid (or your time) applying dust where it is not needed.

Most insects, such as cockroaches and ants, like dark, secluded areas, so applying Boric Acid in spots like under the stove, refrigerators, and the hollow spaces underneath cabinets are good places to focus your treatment. You should also observe cracks or openings in the walls nearby and apply Boric Acid accordingly.

Featured Products

Ficam Insect Bait - Manufactured by Solutions Pest & Lawn, Ficam is a ready-to-use granular insecticide that controls many crawling insects. Insects ingest the bait, and colonies are eliminated within a few weeks. Ficam is weather and moisture-resistant, making it effective indoors and outdoors for 100% guaranteed insect control.