Subject: Re: Boric acid and ants
From: wtmorgan@pilot.msu.edu (Bill Morgan)
Organization: Michigan State University
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 1997 19:48:18 -0400
Message-ID: <MOD$970916.10781@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$970912.21692@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$970916.24589@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$970916.26012@rec.gardens.ecosystems> <MOD$970916.7982@rec.gardens.ecosystems>


In article <MOD$970916.7982@rec.gardens.ecosystems>, naomid@shell1.tiac.net
(Naomi Diesendruck) wrote:

> Bill Morgan wrote:
> >
> >In article <$%1248rec.gardens.ecosystems>, debanrick1@aol.com wrote:
> >
> >> Where do you buy Boric Acid?
> >>
> >
> >At phine farmacies everywhere. Any drugstore will do, as will the medical
> >section of most large groceries.
>
> True, but that would be the medical grade (higher quality control)
> and more expensive than the kind sold for insect control. I've bought
> boric acid (advertised as roach control) from mail-order houses pretty
> cheaply...."Home Trends" is the only one which comes to mind, but it
> can be found in many catalogs for home & garden products.

You are right about that, and thanks for pointing it out. If you're not in
a hurry, you can find it that way. If you are in a hurry, go to the
drugstore, and get med grade. Sometimes you can find insecticidal grade at
hardware stores and nurseries. Not always, but it is worth a try. I use med
grade only because it is something I already have around the house, and why
buy something extra? I don't use that much...

I should also add that while the pharmaceutical grade is fine for mixing as
an ant bait (it dissolves in the sugar/water solution), it is not so good
as a roach control, as it is not powdered. The insecticidal grades are
usually a fine powder. The powder is placed in roach areas, and when they
walk through it, they get it on their legs and antenna. When they clean
themselves, they ingest it. (BA is a stomach poison). The big crystals are
not so easily picked up as the powder, and are thus less effective than the
powdered in this kind of situation.

Regards,
Bill

--
Bill Morgan
wtmorgan@pilot.msu.edu
Center for Room Temperature Confusion