THE USE OF BORIC ACID AS AN INSECTICIDE

Many people in the Las Vegas Valley use boric acid an insecticide to rid their homes of cockroaches, bed bugs, fire ants, fleas and silverfish.

Boric acid was first registered in the US as an insecticide in 1948. The product is generally considered to be safe to use in household kitchens to control cockroaches and ants. It acts as a stomach poison affecting the insects' metabolism, and the dry powder is abrasive to the insects' exoskeletons.

However boric acid is toxic, it is a pesticide, it is an insecticide, and it can cause serious illness to pets and children if they ingest it. There is a misconception most people believe- boric acid is considered to be non-toxic but will kill insects, or it has very low toxicity to humans. It is used primarily for the control of cockroaches, but more and more people are using it to control bed bugs because it is inexpensive. In most cases it is being grossly over applied and misapplied.

A boric acid bait formulations usually contain 5% or less of boric acid as the active ingredient. This is because higher amounts are repellent to insects. Dust formulations. Dusts usually contain 98-99% boric acid, with the remaining percentage being an additive to reduce clumping of the powder so it will easily flow and spread. Properly applied, the dust is barely visible.

Make sure you consult a pest control professional prior to making applications yourself or utilizing material that you purchased and intend to apply for home use.   A lot of materials can be dangerous if not applied correctly.   This is one good reason to have a professional perform your services.  A pest professional has the knowledge and knowhow to apply materials safely and in the areas that will be best to solve your pest problems.

GLOBAL PEST SERVICES in Las Vegas is a licensed pest control company that is qualified to handle all your pest elimination needs. Call our office at 702-657-0091 or go to our web site- to speak with us for all your pest control needs. Get a quote now!

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