The most famous and traditional remedy for controlling cockroaches and other pests is boric acid. When treating an apartment, owners involuntarily ask themselves whether boric acid is harmful to cats and dogs. In this article you will learn why boric acid is dangerous and useful for cats.
Effect of boric acid on cats
The most dangerous types of exposure to boric acid for a cat are ingestion through the mouth and direct contact with the skin. The second case is fraught with ingestion of the substance when the cat licks itself. Residues of boric acid are carried by the tongue from the paws and fur, which can cause poisoning. Reasons for contact of the substance with the skin: during treatment, splashes accidentally hit the pet; the cat lay down on the treated carpet (or other surface) and transferred the chemical to itself.
Toxicity
Compared to other household chemicals and insecticides, boric acid is slightly toxic. An adult cat in normal health can become seriously ill only if a very large amount of boric acid is ingested. Once all the substance is removed from the body, symptoms usually disappear and there are no long-term effects. Young kittens, older animals and cats with chronic diseases may suffer more, causing a noticeable blow to their fragile health.
Symptoms
The main symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and general weakness. In kittens, old cats and already sick animals, the nervous system may be affected, causing seizures and disturbances in coordination of movements. In direct contact with the skin, boric acid causes irritation, redness and swelling of the skin. If the chemical gets on a wound or scratch, the cat begins to experience local inflammation and burning.
Treatment
There are not as many ways to treat boric acid poisoning as you might imagine. Activated carbon is not suitable in this situation; it is not very effective, and induced vomiting will lead to even greater problems. You should consult your veterinarian as soon as possible; cats in particularly severe condition may even require special procedures. If boric acid comes into contact with your animal's skin, you will need to rinse the affected areas with water to remove any remaining substance. Your veterinarian may prescribe an ointment to relieve irritation and restore damaged skin.
However, boric acid can be not only dangerous for cats, but also beneficial. For example, boric acid is used to wash the eyes and ears of sick pets.
Boric acid for cats eyes
This substance is used in alternative veterinary medicine to treat a number of diseases, especially various conjunctivitis.
I would like to immediately note that for these purposes it is used only in diluted form. To prepare the solution, take boric acid powder and water. Boil 200 ml of water and add 1 tablespoon of powder there. Stir the mixture to form a homogeneous solution. When the product you have prepared becomes lukewarm, take and drop 2 drops into each eye of the cat using a pipette or similar instrument. This solution is used 2 times a day. You can also dip a cotton swab in the medicine and wipe it on your eyelids and area around your eyes. Irritation decreases after a couple of days; it is not recommended to use this product for longer. When using boric acid solution to treat the eyes, it is best to keep your cat away from bright light sources. The eye may become itchy, so it is safer to purchase an Elizabethan collar for your pet to avoid scratches from mange. If the cat has tightly closed its eyes and does not open it for a long time, urgently take the animal to the veterinary clinic. For treating ears, the principles remain the same, but the amount of boric acid in the solution is slightly less, sometimes alcohol is added to achieve a greater effect from the treatment. The product can be instilled or applied with cotton wool.
Boric acid is a substance that is used in medicine, cosmetology and as an insecticide to kill insects. For treatment, it is used externally in pure or diluted form. If a poison based on this substance is accidentally ingested, which often happens with domestic animals, boric acid poisoning occurs. If you suspect that a toxin has entered the gastrointestinal tract, you should immediately consult a doctor or veterinarian.
Boric acid and its characteristics
Before using this drug to kill pests, you need to understand what it is. Boric acid is a colorless powder, somewhat similar to flakes. The powder can hardly be dissolved in water, and it is absolutely tasteless and odorless. Relative safety allows people to actively use it for their needs. Basically, acid is an indispensable assistant for humans in the fight against cockroaches. The powder is used as a poison - you can use it in its pure form, or you can prepare bait by mixing it with various foods.
Acid is sold in any pharmacy, packaged in 10 gram bags. Due to the lack of odor, the drug can be discreetly placed in the bait without scaring off the Prussians. This is the method of pest control.
Let us next consider what recipes exist with boric acid for cockroaches.
Symptoms of poisoning in cats
If a person himself can, in most cases, determine his poisoning by two or three symptoms, then as for a cat, not everything is so simple. Much depends on what poisoned the animal. If these are spoiled products, the symptoms will be the same, but if they are rat poison or household chemicals, then there is a completely different clinical picture.
Symptoms of poisoning in cats and cats are:
- diarrhea and vomiting, often with mucus and blood
- state of apathy or tremor, trembling
- increased breathing, convulsions
- increased excitability and inappropriate behavior of the animal
Each of these signs can become a symptom of poisoning
Of these symptoms, the safest for a cat are one-time vomiting and intestinal upset, with a stable condition and the absence of other signs.
In all other cases - repeated vomiting and other symptoms - contact the clinic immediately!
The effect that boric acid has on cockroaches
Scientists have found that this chemical has the most harmful effects on insects, being pure poison for them. After eating it, the insect after a while becomes completely paralyzed and dies from suffocation. Therefore, in order to achieve results, you need to make the pest eat the acid. To exterminate cockroaches in an apartment, one small package is enough - it’s enough to get rid of a whole horde of mustachioed guests.
Interestingly, the substance has exactly the same effect on ants.
There are several different methods to combat harmful neighbors:
- Boric acid can be used in its pure form. Use various baits where boric acid is the main component. Apply powder solutions in the form of poison.
Often it is not necessary to use a substance in the form of a poison. Practice has repeatedly shown that scattering acid in places where Prussians gather and move is quite sufficient. For example, they are often located under baseboards. Moreover, the cockroach just needs to run over the powder, and the chemical particles remaining on its legs will fall into the shelter. And when he cleans his paws, the destructive powder will enter his stomach - and the result is guaranteed. The main thing is to exclude the possibility for it to get liquid, because with large water consumption there is a chance that the insect will survive.
Let's look at how to use boric acid against cockroaches. The recipe is very simple.
Cockroaches and how they get into the house
When cockroaches appear in the house, you begin to think: “Where did the insects come from?” There are many ways pests can enter your home. Let's look at the main ones:
- Neighbours. It may happen that your neighbors have baleen pests, but in this area they do not have enough space and food to reproduce. They begin to move and develop new territories. This is how cockroaches may end up in your apartment. For this reason, after some time, the entrance and the entire house may suffer from unwanted insects.
- Bullying. Your neighbors are suffering from an invasion of mustachioed “friends” and are beginning to actively fight them, creating conditions unsuitable for the life of cockroaches. During disinfection, not all pests die; a certain number of cockroaches can escape and run to the next apartment.
- Purchases. Often, pests can enter the house along with purchases brought from the store. Often pests enter an apartment with the purchase of furniture, since the furniture is stored in warehouses where pests live in huge quantities.
- Things. Many people buy things and furniture secondhand, and together with them they can acquire unwanted insects. Also, many people go on business trips or travel, and cockroaches can live at their place of residence (hotel or hotel). There is a chance that they will be able to sneak into your things unnoticed and go home with you.
- Parcels. Nowadays it is common to order things online because it is convenient. It has been proven that delivery of items from other countries is the main type of transportation of exotic pests. This is how black cockroaches can appear in houses.
Instructions for use
Algorithm of actions:
- Of course, the first thing to do is buy a bag of acid at the pharmacy. Then carefully prepare for the expulsion of the mustachioed guests. Dry the sink, limiting the cockroaches' access to water. Close the taps tightly enough to avoid the slightest possibility of leakage. Hide all wet wipes and sponges. Next, spread the bait in places where Prussians mainly live.
There are many recipes for its preparation. A mixture of boric acid and yolk is very often used - it helps against cockroaches. To prepare the bait, it is customary to use only the yolk. It helps remove the smell of acid and stimulates the appetite of pests. Although it seems to a person that the drug does not smell of anything, thanks to its subtle sense of smell, the cockroach will smell it. Let's look at some simple ways to prepare deadly treats for unwanted neighbors.
First aid and treatment of poisoning
If suspicious signs are detected, the necessary measures must be taken as quickly as possible.
First aid for boric acid poisoning is as follows:
- It is necessary to immediately perform gastric lavage. You can give the victim vomiting agents.
- Activated carbon will not help in this case, so you can discard it.
- A person is given laxatives to drink to quickly remove the poison from the body.
- The poisoned person must be given more fluids to avoid dehydration.
In addition, you should definitely call emergency help.
Boric acid poisoning is treated in a hospital. If necessary, the person's stomach is washed, a blood transfusion is given, and drugs are used to increase blood pressure and restore normal kidney function.
Unfortunately, I often confuse the symptoms of poisoning with signs of other diseases, so help is provided quite late. You should not self-medicate; it is better to immediately contact a specialist.
Boric acid, potatoes and yolk
A very effective remedy for cockroaches. Potatoes, yolk, boric acid - its main components - simple ingredients, found in every home.
First you need to boil one egg and potatoes. Then peel the finished products and grind them into puree. Equal proportions of boric acid and yolk should be observed. Mix the resulting mass with a tablespoon of boric acid, and then form into balls. Place the finished bait in the corners and do not forget about a dry surface throughout the kitchen.
How to save a dog from poisoning?
As you already understand, the measures taken largely depend on the specific source of poisoning. The general principles are to urgently lavage the stomach, take a sorbent and seek qualified help from a veterinarian. If you cannot independently determine the exact cause for treatment, food poisoning or paracetamol poisoning in dogs, or more serious poisoning, it is better to immediately call your veterinarian at home.
What to give your dog if he is poisoned?
So, the scheme of the first immediate actions in case of any poisoning of an animal and emergency treatment of poisoning in dogs is as follows:
- Stop contact with the poison.
- If the poison gets inside, induce vomiting (except in cases of poisoning with acid, petroleum products, caustic alkalis). To do this, give the dog a warm solution with table salt or soda, or prepare a solution of hydrogen peroxide in a 1:1 ratio and give it to the dog in a dose of 1 tablespoon per 3 kg of body weight.
- If poison gets on your skin, wash it off with running water and baby soap.
- In case of carbon monoxide poisoning, take the dog into fresh air and rinse the mucous membranes of the mouth and eyes with a 3% solution of baking soda.
- Call the veterinarian, and while he is driving, give the animal an adsorbent, after half an hour - a laxative and enveloping agent.
Feeding a dog after poisoning
The next day after the onset of vomiting, the dog should be kept on a fasting diet. What to feed your dog after poisoning: gradually introduce light food into the diet, first it will be broth, liquid decoctions of cereals, then liquid porridge and minced meat. Such food is easily digestible, quickly digested and does not form stagnation, which is important during the period when the stomach and intestines are vulnerable and the liver is not able to cope with the abundance of incoming products.
What to give your dog if he is poisoned?
In case of poisoning, the dog must be actively given water to reduce the concentration of toxins in the blood. How to save a dog from poisoning using liquid:
- Having detected signs of poisoning in dogs, they are soldered with saline and other solutions that provoke vomiting;
- Then you can give the animals strong tea, mucous decoctions, and purified water.
Recipe with raw yolk and sugar
So, we need some sugar, boric acid and yolk. Cockroach poisoning is done as follows. Break an egg and pour 30 grams of the substance into it. Then add 50 grams of sugar and stir until smooth. To make it easier to make balls, you can add a small amount of flour. Next, as in previous recipes, we place them wherever pests may be.
It is very important to make sure that your new “pets” are hungry and pounce on treats. To do this, you must maintain cleanliness, do not leave crumbs and other food items, and also take out the trash on time. If you don’t do this, then all your efforts may be completely in vain, and the balls will remain untouched.
Proportions can be increased in proportion to the area of the room. After the Prussians taste this masterpiece, they will die a few days later. Before this, the cockroaches become slower and begin to catch your eye even during the day.
Boric acid and yolk are excellent against cockroaches, but when using this product you must follow some rules.
Consequences and prevention
Intoxication with boric acid can lead to the development of negative consequences.
- Inflammatory processes in the liver and kidneys,
- Malfunctions of the cardiac system,
- Development of a comatose state,
- Death.
A favorable prognosis does not guarantee the absence of pathological processes in the kidneys. You can avoid poisoning by following simple prevention measures.
- Do not store the substance in accessible places,
- Be careful when using a chemical compound
- It is not recommended to use the product to control insects in a home with animals.
- The substance should not be used for self-medication.
An overdose of boric acid can give a person a lot of unpleasant sensations. Without help, death is possible. If signs appear, you need to quickly contact a medical facility.
Rules that must be followed when using boric acid in the fight against cockroaches
The edible bait should be laid out for at least a week, and if after the lapse of time there are still untouched balls, they should be replaced with new ones.
Boric acid should never be used in alcohol form. It has a very pungent odor that will repel insects with a well-developed sense of smell.
To enhance the effect of baits, you can scatter trails of powder in places where pests are most often found. You should definitely do this in the bathroom and under the sink, as cockroaches are drawn to water.
Seeing the signs
The low toxicity of boric acid makes a few licks relatively harmless for large and medium-sized dogs. Toy dogs are at the highest risk of toxic ingestion, with as little as 0.02 ounces (631 milligrams) of boric acid per pound of body weight creating noticeable toxic effects. Dogs may become thirsty or drool excessively due to the drying effect of boric acid. Common symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea of a bluish-green substance or blood. Ingesting large amounts of boric acid may cause skin discoloration, tremors, or seizures. Chronic exposure to boric acid leads to weight loss, reproductive difficulties, kidney damage and possible death.
Chemical cost
This method of getting rid of cockroaches is budget-friendly. One 10-gram sachet costs about 40 rubles. The required quantity depends on the room, but in any case the final cost will not add 150-200 rubles.
Tools Overview
There are a large number of folk recipes that help in the treatment of conjunctivitis. It is necessary to select funds taking into account the type and nature of the disease. The most common methods are the following, which we will discuss below.
Kalanchoe
A popular folk remedy for conjunctivitis is Kalanchoe juice. It needs to be squeezed out of fresh leaves of the plant, diluted with warm boiled water in equal proportions. A cotton swab or disk is moistened in the resulting solution, with the help of which lotions are made on the inflamed organs of vision. The duration of the procedure is 10-15 minutes. It is recommended to repeat it 4-5 times a day.
Chamomile
Chamomile is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. But is it possible and how to wash your eyes with chamomile? Definitely yes, since lotions based on it can be used for all types of conjunctivitis. The plant helps soothe inflamed eyesight and relieve itching. You need to use it as follows:
- A tablespoon of chamomile flowers should be poured with a glass of boiling water.
- Let the product sit for half an hour.
- Soak a cotton swab in the resulting decoction and apply it to the eye.
- The procedure is repeated five times a day.
Every day you need to prepare a new decoction.
Tea brewing
Now let's look at the question: how to wash your eyes with tea? Using tea helps relieve swelling and inflammation. You need to use loose leaf black or green tea without flavoring. It must be poured with boiling water and strained, then used to wipe the eyelids up to five times a day.
This method can even be used by pregnant women and children.
Tea bags
An easier way is to use tea bags. The bags must first be brewed, and then applied warm to closed eyelids for 15 minutes. The benefits of tea for the eyes lie in the presence of tannic components and tannic acid, which have antiseptic properties.
Bay leaf
Bay leaves are good for conjunctivitis. 3-4 fresh or dried leaves must be crushed, pour a glass of boiling water and leave to infuse for half an hour. The infusion can be used to wash eyes and lotions. It is also allowed to use it internally.
Boric acid
Boric acid relieves redness, burning, and dryness well. It helps relieve irritation and has antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is necessary to prepare a solution by adding 5 grams of boric acid in a cup of boiled water. It can be used for compresses and for rinsing the eyes.
Soda
Soda is used in the treatment of conjunctivitis to relieve inflammation. A quarter of a teaspoon should be dissolved in 100 ml of water and used for compresses and lotions.
Rose hip
How do you feel about traditional methods of treating conjunctivitis? I recommend! No, I do not recommend Rose hips can be used to treat infectious pathologies of the organs of vision. It helps relieve unpleasant symptoms and cope with the pathogen.
You need to prepare a decoction by chopping 2 teaspoons of berries and boiling them in a glass of water. After boiling, the liquid should remain on the fire for a couple of minutes. It needs to be cooled and used for washing.
Dill
Dill is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. You can use it for conjunctivitis as follows:
- 200 grams of fresh herbs need to be washed and juice squeezed out of it.
- A cotton swab is soaked in the resulting liquid and applied to the eyes for 20 minutes.
- It is recommended to repeat the procedure daily 4-7 times a day.
Another method involves using dry seeds:
- Pour a teaspoon of seeds into a glass of boiling water.
- Leave the product to sit for an hour.
- Use for lotions in the same way.
Potato
You can make compresses using raw potatoes. 3-4 potatoes must be grated, mixed with the whites of two eggs and mixed thoroughly. The compress is applied to the eyes for 20 minutes. You need to repeat the procedure 3-6 times a day.
Expert opinion Ermolaeva Tatyana Borisovna Ophthalmologist of the highest category, Candidate of Medical Sciences For each use, you need to prepare a fresh mass.
Egg white
To eliminate itching and burning, you can use egg white. It must be separated from the yolk and mixed with 100 ml of clean water. The liquid is used to wash the organs of vision using a sterile bandage.
Calendula
Calendula has antibacterial and antiviral effects, which is why it helps to cope with the causative agent of conjunctivitis. And its anti-inflammatory properties help relieve swelling and irritation of the eyes.
Pour two teaspoons of dried flowers into a glass of boiling water, cool and strain. The mixture is used for compresses and for washing the eyes.
Aloe
To treat conjunctivitis, you can use a medicinal plant such as aloe. You need to squeeze the juice from the fresh leaves of the plant and dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:10. Place the finished product into the eyes once a day, one drop at a time.
You can make lotions based on aloe. Several leaves of the plant must be placed in the freezer for 12 hours. Then you need to defrost the leaves and squeeze the juice out of them. Next, a cotton-gauze disc is moistened in it and applied so that a small amount of the composition gets on the mucous membrane. The procedure lasts 15 minutes and must be repeated twice a day.
Honey
Due to the beneficial properties of honey, it can be used to treat conjunctivitis. The following options for its use are popular:
Have you ever treated conjunctivitis with honey? Not really
- Honey ointment. Heat 100 grams of honey in a water bath, add 3-5 grams of propolis extract and cook the mixture for at least two hours, stirring regularly. Then the product must be filtered and cooled. The ointment is used twice a day after washing the organs of vision.
- Honey drops. A drop of honey should be dissolved in 10 drops of boiled water. Use the resulting liquid for instillation twice a day. The amount of water in the recipe must be reduced regularly until the ratio of honey to liquid reaches 1:3. The course lasts approximately four months. This remedy can also be used for prevention.
Propolis
Propolis demonstrates good results in the treatment of inflammation of the conjunctiva of various etiologies. It needs to be crushed to a powder and an aqueous solution of 20% prepared based on it. The liquid is passed through a filter. It should be used for eye drops three times a day in the amount of two drops.
Eyebright
Eyebright is a useful medicinal plant that helps in the treatment of conjunctivitis, as well as blepharitis, keratitis, and iritis. Pour boiling water over three teaspoons of the herb, let it boil and leave on the fire for another five minutes. After half an hour, the liquid is filtered. Then you can use it for eye washes or compresses.
Carrot
Carrots contain vitamin A, which helps maintain vision and strengthens the immune system, which is important for the treatment of conjunctivitis. It is recommended to consume at least 150 g of vegetables daily, seasoned with vegetable oil or yogurt.
Lotions made from carrots and herbs are useful. You need to take 4 tablespoons of carrot juice, mix with a tablespoon of a mixture of chopped parsley and celery and apply the product to the organs of vision for 20 minutes. The resulting juice can also be consumed orally half an hour before meals.
Colloidal silver
Colloidal silver is useful for treating bacterial conjunctivitis. It can be purchased at a pharmacy in the form of a liquid solution. The product is instilled into the lacrimal sac in the amount of 1-2 drops. The procedure must be applied four times a day. Colloidal silver can be used indefinitely until the disease is completely cured.
Marshmallow root
Marshmallow root is rich in phytoncides that help fight pathogenic microorganisms. For inflammation of the conjunctiva, it is useful to prepare a water infusion by pouring two tablespoons of the raw material with a glass of boiling water. The product must infuse for eight hours. Then it should be used for lotions.
Tea mushroom
Kombucha infusion can be used as a lotion or taken orally to strengthen the immune system. The product is prepared as follows:
- You need to prepare green, black or herbal tea by taking two teaspoons of tea leaves, a liter of water and five large spoons of sugar. The composition should brew for 15 minutes, then it should be strained and cooled.
- The mushroom is placed in a jar of tea, covered with gauze and placed in a dark, warm place.
- After 5-10 days, the infusion will be ready. The mushroom can be washed and placed in another jar of prepared tea.
Advantages of the substance and user reviews
An absolute advantage, judging by the reviews, is the cost of the acid, which is several times lower than other substances. Also the advantages of the substance:
- The drug helps not only to destroy uninvited guests, but also promotes their sterilization, which eliminates the possibility of their subsequent reproduction. It has no odor, which makes the substance a fairly comfortable method of pest control for households. Preparing bait does not require special skills, takes little time and does not require additional protective equipment. It poses virtually no danger to humans.
Toxicity
This substance is on the list of general cellular poisons, which tends to dissolve in the body of a living creature. At the moment, the principle of action of boric acid on the human body is being thoroughly studied.
When a person takes a large dose in one fell swoop, the cells of the brain and mucous membrane will be affected first. If the poisoning is chronic, then the germ cells and blood will be affected first.
But with all this, boric acid poses the greatest danger to the vital activity of the embryo at different stages of development.
Boric acid poisoning is most often observed in young children and occurs in the following situations:
Entering the body of a living being, including a person, this chemical substance is instantly absorbed into the blood. The period of removal of poison from the body takes, on average, from one to two days. The substance that is part of boric acid literally destroys and destroys kidney and brain cells.
Disadvantages of the substance
So, we found out that boric acid and cockroach yolk are a very effective and fairly cheap method of fighting cockroaches. But there are also some nuances here.
For a fatal outcome, a sufficient amount of acid must accumulate in the cockroach’s body. In terms of time, this can take from 1 to 3 weeks, and this is a considerable period of time.
The obvious disadvantage of the substance is that it has absolutely no effect on insect eggs. To combat them, more powerful means are needed, such as liquid concentrates.
In addition, if you compare boric acid and crayons or gels, only individuals who have had direct contact with the powder can become poisoned. Do not forget that the insect will avoid the poison if it is poured in too large piles.
In addition, there are cases where the drug turned out to be completely ineffective due to frequent use. Cockroaches quickly get used to and adapt to the poison.
Despite its recognized effectiveness, the substance helps in about half of the cases.
Cat and cockroaches
Almost every home has pets, and more than once people have asked the questions “How does my cat get along with cockroaches?”, “Are cockroaches dangerous for cats?”, “Do cats eat cockroaches?”
Felines are hunters, so they can eat flies, bugs and cockroaches. For this reason, in ancient times, cats began to be allowed into their homes; they rid the house of rats, mice and harmful insects.
The big problem is that neighbors can poison mustachioed pests with toxic substances; in order to escape death, they can run into your house. And your pet will want to feast on a new victim, but a poisoned cockroach can have a detrimental effect on your cat. Therefore, experts recommend warning all neighbors about insect poisoning before disinfecting the premises.
What to do if a cat ate a poisoned cockroach?
- Run to the veterinary clinic to have your pet's stomach cleaned.
If it is not possible to contact a veterinarian, you should rinse the stomach yourself:
- Dilute a small ball of entorosgel in water and feed the solution to the cat through a syringe.
- Grind half a tablet of white coal with water and give it to the animal.
- It is not recommended to feed your pet for 8-10 hours, just give it water.
- Dilute smecta with water, as written in the instructions, and give the cat through a syringe in small doses.
- Activated carbon at the rate of one tablet per 10 kg. A piece of tablet must be mixed with a small amount of water and administered through a syringe into the animal’s oral cavity.
- Give a solution of potassium permanganate.
Safety precautions when using boric acid poisons
Despite the fact that the drug is called “acid,” it has nothing in common with the usual understanding of this word. It is harmless to the skin and does not leave any burns.
The chemical is not considered particularly dangerous for children or pets. Previously, it was even used as an antiseptic. But it often caused allergies, and it was soon replaced by more suitable means.
If we compare it with other poisons for baiting cockroaches, we should also say about its safety for the human body. However, contact with boric acid is strictly contraindicated for children under three years of age. If it happens that a pet accidentally eats the bait, then nothing fatal will happen to it, but it is better not to allow this to happen.
Pregnant and lactating women, people with kidney failure and inflammatory skin diseases are also better off not interacting with this drug.
If the incident cannot be avoided, the person may experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, skin rashes and headaches.
Drug safety
Boric acid does not irritate the skin of the hands and does not leave chemical burns on them. This product is used to bait cockroaches, even if there are children or pets in the house.
The acid poses little danger and was previously used as a disinfectant, but has since been replaced by other means. Basic caution must be exercised when working with the chemical.
Children under 3 years of age are prohibited from coming into contact with boric acid. Contact with the product should be avoided by women expecting a child, nursing mothers, people predisposed to allergic skin diseases, and those with kidney disease.
If animals get to the bait, nothing bad will happen to them, but it is better to exclude such a situation and remove the product away from children and animals. The powder may cause an allergic reaction. If acid enters the body, the following symptoms may appear:
- headache;
- nausea;
- vomit
Acid powder is less dangerous than other chemicals for baiting pests, and therefore is often used for urgent treatment of premises. What are the properties of the substance?
Properties of boric acid, effect of the drug on insects
Boric acid is a crystalline powder, poorly soluble in water and odorless. The white grains are similar to scales. The product can melt and change its composition at a temperature of 170 degrees. The substance is found in the mineral saxsolin, found in the Middle East and Mediterranean.
In the pharmacy, the product is sold in alcoholic form, diluted with water, or in powder form. A solution of acid in 70% ethyl alcohol is called boric alcohol. It has a pungent odor.
Alcohol is not the best option for pest control. The specific smell scares insects, so they do not touch the bait. The powder is completely invisible to cockroaches. The method of dealing with them is based on this.
Pests carry it to their shelter on their paws or eat it with food.
Boric acid is a strong poison for cockroaches. Pests are unpretentious in food, and this factor can be used when baiting Prussians. Once in the insect’s digestive tract, the acid affects the pest’s nervous system through the blood, causing severe irritation of the nerve endings. If the dose exceeds the permissible level, paralysis occurs in the pests and they die from suffocation.
Cockroaches that come into contact with the powder can become poisoned. Particles of the product will stick to the paws of cockroaches after the pests run through the powder. Returning to the shelter, the insects will begin to clean their legs and swallow the powder. To poison 1 insect, 2-3 mg of powder is enough. A sachet sold in pharmacies, weighing 10 g, is enough to kill 1000 parasites.
As practice shows , the toxic substance is consumed in larger quantities. Part of the product goes unnoticed by the cockroaches and is wasted. For boric acid to be effective, the insects must ingest as much of the powder as possible. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare attractive baits for them.
Baits for cockroaches, recipes, methods of using products
The powder should be poured in insect habitats:
- cracks along the baseboards;
- area under furniture;
- places near the bathroom, under the sink.
In addition to the kitchen, cockroaches are attracted to the bathroom. Insects cannot exist without water, this place is dark, no one causes disturbance.
The scattered product sticks to the paws of pests and, entering the body of insects, leads to death.
Pour the powder in small piles to create the impression that granulated sugar or flour has been spilled, otherwise the insects will bypass the bait. The disadvantage of this product is that the acid is ineffective in killing insect eggs.
When fighting cockroaches, the following methods are used:
- use of powder without impurities;
- production of baits;
- use of solutions.
Recipe for boric acid with egg against cockroaches
There are various recipes for baiting insects using boric acid. It is not difficult to make a poisonous insecticide; we list the basic recipes. Take a raw egg and separate the yolk, combine with 50 g of acid. Mix the composition until a homogeneous mass is obtained. Form into balls and place in cockroach habitats.
Boil 1 potato and 1 egg. Mash the potatoes, add 40g of powder, egg yolk and sunflower oil.
You should take raw yolk, 2 tbsp. spoons of granulated sugar, 40 g of powder. Then pour in water or add flour to form a viscous mass.
For this recipe you need to take 200 g of acid, 60 g of starch and the same amount of powdered sugar, a packet of vanillin. Mix everything and dilute with water until a thick mass is obtained.
Mix 1 boiled potato with 4 packets of acid, add 1 boiled egg yolk and a little kefir.
Balls are prepared from the resulting mixtures and placed in pest habitats. The yolk of the egg eliminates the smell of acid and stimulates the appetite of insects. Humans do not smell, but cockroaches have a fairly developed sense of smell.
The number of components can be changed depending on the volume of the area being cleaned. The prepared composition according to 1 recipe is enough to exterminate cockroaches in 1 room. If you need to prepare a product to get rid of insects throughout the house, increase the amount of ingredients. The death of cockroaches occurs a few days after they eat the bait. Usually it is 2-3 days.
To kill as many cockroaches as possible, you will need more chemicals. In order for the insects to get hungry and decide to eat the balls, it is necessary to remove all food and crumbs from the kitchen and take out the trash. In addition to dry bait, liquid poison is prepared for pests.
Liquid solution of boric acid against cockroaches
In order to make a liquid poison for pests, several bags of powder are poured into a container of water. The more saturated the solution, the more effective the result.
The prepared mixture is poured into small saucers or jar lids and placed in the far corners of the kitchen under the furniture. Cockroaches will try the bait in the absence of water. To do this, carry out the following actions:
- thoroughly wipe the sink;
- close the taps well;
- At night, remove all wet wipes and sponges.
- pots and vases with flowers are moved to another room, because insects are accustomed to taking water from the soil.
Prevention of new infection
If you managed to remove pests from your apartment, it is not a fact that they will not return again. This is especially true for situations where mustachioed neighbors live in the next room. To prevent the re-infestation of cockroaches, the following recommendations should be followed:
- In a place where communications are concentrated, it is sometimes advisable to do prophylaxis using boron powder. Periodically lay out fresh bait from a mixture of acid and chicken yolk. Keep your home tidy and clean.
More information about traps and ultrasonic repellers
Baits are used against cockroaches. These are devices that contain a sticky pad or insecticide inside, and in addition, attractants that attract insects. This type of product is not dangerous for animals, since the poison is covered by the body. It provides only small entrances for insects. The number of poisoned pests will increase if you choose an insecticidal trap. To encourage cockroaches to crawl to the sticky area, any attractive product is left on it.
However, traps of different types are characterized by low efficiency. They are used for mild to moderate infection. Lures do their job well, but only as an aid. When there are a lot of insects, traps do not work.
Ultrasonic repellers are often advertised today. They only get rid of mosquitoes. However, cockroaches and other crawling insects do not generate ultrasound, so the repeller will not help get rid of them. There is no poison in the device, but this does not mean that it is harmless. Staying within the range of ultrasound for a long time affects your well-being. Radiation affects the nervous system, provokes sleep disturbances, and headaches, so it is better not to use the repeller in residential buildings.
Preparatory stage before processing the premises
Treating a room against cockroaches must necessarily be preceded by a preparatory stage.
- First of all, all rooms should be cleaned to deprive insects of food. It is necessary that the bait be the only source of food .
- After each meal, be sure to remove the remaining food so that there is no food left on the table. You can store food in containers or in the refrigerator. You should not leave crumbs on the table, otherwise they will attract parasites.
- The trash bin must be kept clean. Take it out and wash it every night.
- For cockroaches, water is more important than food, so it is important not to give them the opportunity to drink. Keep plumbing and water pipes in good condition. Wipe the sink, washbasin or bathtub until it is completely dry each time you use it.