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Borax is incredible stuff. I used it as an insecticide in Florida. I could puff it into places behind cabinets and appliances. It doesn't kill by chemical means
by cwingrav 5y ago
Borax is incredible stuff. I used it as an insecticide in Florida. I could puff it into places behind cabinets and appliances. It doesn't kill by chemical means, but by getting stuck in insect chitin, ripping it apart and then desiccating it. It's safe for pets too. Amazing.
- ninetenfour 5y agoBorax doesn’t do that. It actually affects the nervous system of insects, see here: https://homeguides.sfgate.com/insects-borax-chase-away-kill-83399.html https://homeguides.sfgate.com/insects-borax-chase-away-kill-... I think you are thinking of silicon dioxide which does get into the chitin of insects: http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html
- AptSeagull 5y agoDiatomaceous earth work by getting under the carapace and puncturing the insect - causing dehydration which kills the insect.
- ChrisMarshallNY 5y agoI remember reading that. I lived in downtown Baltimore, in a row house. I had roaches. Not the big, giant, kind, they get in the tropics. These were smallish, basic, tough-as-nails-will-still-be-around-after-the-apocalypse roaches. When I put out borax, they immediately took out little straws, and started snorting it.