Hello. I found this site whilst searching for a borax based recipe for roach killer. Which I found here. The other ingredients listed are flour and cocoa. The posts relating to the recipe go back to 1983. I’ve also seen recipes that contain sugar, or are limited to just sugar and borax. So, I’m just wondering what the latest, greatest thinking is on the best recipe. Someone saw a roach come in on a shipment in our plant (Southern Ontario, Canada) and I want to nip the problem in the bud. There is a resident cat, though I do not think the plant a suitable place for a pussy cat… But I cannot scatter any powder containing borax around as suggested, because of the cat. Will it work if I place it out of the way, in cupboards and in containers the cat can’t access? I am thinking of take out containers, with holes punched in the lid, large enough for the insect to enter. Any suggestions appreciated!
Sounds like that should work, if you are looking for an inexpensive solution. Boric acid is a pretty effective roach killer. I would think the reason for mixing in other ingredients like sugar or flour is to attract the roach to the product. With an attractant like that, the roaches should be drawn to the product even if you put it in out of the way places.
However, boric acid will only kill the roaches who take it. There are baits available (at least to professionals, I’m not sure about over the counter) that are taken as food by the roach and then passed on to other roaches at their aggregation points (what most folks call “nests,” which isn’t quite an accurate term with roaches). The roach who takes the bait will often die in the “nest,” and the other roaches will eat the carcass or the droppings, thus falling to secondary poisoning. If it’s still in the early stages, you might want to think about bringing in a professional to evaluate the situation. Many companies will do this for free (though, of course, they will use the opportunity to sell you a program if they can). If the infestation is beyond a very early stage, then you certainly ought to consult with a pro.
Thanks so much for your reply. Only one roach was actually seen, but there is no guarantee he or she was traveling alone! My biggest problem is my husband who suggests we wait to see if we have a problem. I fear that by the time we have a confirmed problem that we will have hundreds or even thousands of roaches. He seems to be counting on us having one lone roach, incapable of reproducing, who will die of old age, end of problem. Call me a cynic, but I am not counting on things working out that way. I will go with this recipe for now, and any evidence of roaches will have us calling in the professionals. Thanks again.
There’s no such thing as “only one roach.” Call a professional.
Yeah, exactly. The saying in the trade is that there are 100 roaches hiding for every one you see. Like I said, many pest control companies will offer you a free inspection. It can’t hurt to call one in just to see what they say.