Advantages of Using Boric Acid Powder for Cockroach Control

The Mallis Handbook of Pest Control asserts that the use of boric acid helps facilitate “pest exclusion zones” within a home or facility because it is highly efficacious and assists greatly in that approach of pest control.

NO RESISTANCE & NON-REPELLENT. Many pest management professionals have experience working with boric acid because, as Mallis states, “there is no known resistance” to it despite use for several decades. Thus, the major advantage is its effectiveness.

Don’t Over Apply (via Nancy Boerema – Firefly Enlightened Pest Solutions, Ore.). Don’t over apply when using a dust. You want the dust to adhere to the cockroach’s body, so they carry it back to other cockroaches. They groom themselves and the roach will ingest the boric acid. Bait and dust also will be spread into the colony, thus reducing and eliminating the population. Follow-up services should be scheduled as part of your roach protocol and program.

Can Use with Water (via Chad Highley – Environmental Pest Control, Okla.) Boric acid products work well in a variety of application methods because they are not repellent. Most products can be used as a dust for cracks, crevices and voids but can also leave behind a powdery residual when applied with a water carrier that can either be sprayed on or applied with a paint brush. This helps the product to stay on vertical and the undersides of surfaces.

Tailor Treatments to Customers (via Patrick Boland, Scherzinger Pest Control, Ohio.) Use boric acid-based products in situations where the customer is unable or unwilling to correct sanitation issues.  Use as a liquid or foam and allows you to broadcast indoors where most liquid formulations do not allow this application.

Rotate Products (via Crystal Rizzo, Crystal Pest Contro, North Carolina.) There is a satisfaction knowing that when I leave there that day there will be 75-85 percent of the roach infestation already gone and knowing that the baits I put out after will take care of the rest. As we know cockroaches will build a tolerance to baits and liquids, so for continuing services it necessary to switch up products even so often. Cockroach control is one of my favorite services!

Maintain Using Boric Acid (via Doug Morgan, Dixie Pest Elimination, Fla.) Using boric acid as a maintenance product after the account has come under control is a great tool that does not require much product. Applying into wall voids is always preferable and a good hand-held B&G duster is my favorite tool to apply dust with.