Boric acid for ants and cockroaches (FOUR basic recipes and ready-made preparations)

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Boric acid (orthoboric acid) is a weak acid with the chemical formula H3BO3.

flat layer structure in orthoboric acid

A colorless, odorless, crystalline substance in the form of flakes, it has a layered triclinic lattice in which acid molecules are connected by hydrogen bonds into flat layers, the layers are connected to each other by intermolecular bonds (d = 0.318 nm).

Metaboric acid (HBO2) also appears as colorless crystals. It exists in three modifications - the most stable γ-HBO2 with a cubic lattice, β-HBO2 with a monoclinic lattice, and α-HBO2 with an orthorhombic lattice.

When heated, orthoboric acid loses water and first transforms into metaboric acid, then into tetraboric acid H2B4O7. With further heating it dehydrates to boric anhydride.

Aqueous solutions of boric acid are a mixture of polyboric acids with the general formula H3m-2nBmO3m-n.

Content

• Application of boric acid
• Physico-chemical properties of boric acid
• The mechanism of action of boric acid as an insecticide
• The use of boric acid against cockroaches and ants
• a) Use of ready-made insecticides based on boric acid
• b) Independent production of preparations based on boric acid
• BORIC ACID against ants and cockroaches (four basic recipes)
• Security and restrictions
• As a conclusion

Boric acid in preparations for ants and cockroaches has unique insecticidal properties. These inorganic insecticides are recognized not only as one of the most effective means, but also as environmentally friendly and do not harm the environment. In this material we will look at examples of ready-made drugs, as well as basic recipes for making them yourself.

Signs of boron deficiency

Boron is an important microelement necessary for normal plant development. It has a positive effect on metabolism, promotes the production of chlorophyll, and helps roots “breathe.” The effects of boron starvation are easy to notice in dry weather. To identify boron deficiency, inspect the plant, paying special attention to young parts.

The plant urgently needs treatment with boric acid if the following “alarm signals” are detected:

• chlorotic spots on young foliage, leaf veins turn yellow;
• leaves become smaller, curl and fall off;
• apical buds inhibit growth, lateral buds, on the contrary, enhance;
• the plant blooms weakly, the fruits set poorly;
• fruit deformation (ugly shape);
• in pome crops, suberization of fruits is observed;
• death of bark on shoots or entire tops.

Plant growth slows down, and if measures are not taken in time, you may lose the harvest. But you shouldn’t overuse fertilizer: with an excess of boron, although plant fruits ripen faster, they are stored worse, and the leaves run the risk of getting burned.

Application of boric acid

Boric acid (lat. acidum Boricum) was originally used in medicine since the 1860s as an antiseptic that does not irritate wounds and is tasteless, odorless and colorless. In modern medicine, the antimicrobial effectiveness of boric acid is considered low.

Subsequently, the scope of application of boric acid expanded significantly. Today, boric acid is used as an insecticide, plant fertilizer, antiseptic, disinfectant, fire retardant, and is also registered as a food additive E284. Boric acid is used in the production of ceramics, fiber optics, fiberglass, glass; as part of electrolytes; in nuclear reactors as neutron absorbers; in jewelry - as the basis of fluxes for soldering gold-containing alloys and many others. etc.

The topic of the site “PROTECTION AGAINST PESTS” is devoted to drugs and pest control products, accordingly we will consider only its insecticidal properties.

Borax

Na2B4O7•10H2O - the sodium salt of tetraboric acid - forms large, colorless, transparent crystals that easily erode from the surface in dry air. It is obtained by reacting boric acid with sodium hydroxide:

4H3BO3 + 2NaOH = Na2B4O7 + 7H2O

Aqueous solutions of borax exhibit a highly alkaline reaction due to hydrolysis.

When heated, borax loses its water of crystallization and then melts, forming a transparent glassy mass. Molten borax dissolves the oxides of various metals to form double salts of metaboric acid, many of which have characteristic colors. For example:

Na2B4O7 + CuO = Cu(BO2)2 • 2NaBO2

This property of borax is used in analytical chemistry for the discovery of certain metals. The determination is carried out by fusing borax in the eye of a platinum wire with the substances under study, and characteristically colored balls are obtained - borax “pearls”.

Borax is widely used in the production of fusible glaze for earthenware and porcelain products and especially for iron utensils (enamel); In addition, it is used to prepare special types of glass.

The use of borax in soldering metals is based on the dissolution of metal oxides. Since only clean metal surfaces can be soldered, to remove oxides, the soldering area is sprinkled with borax, solder is placed on it and heated. Borax dissolves oxides, and the solder adheres well to the metal surface.

Boron plays an important role in plant life. The presence of small amounts of boron compounds in the soil is necessary for the normal growth of many agricultural crops, such as cotton, tobacco, sugar beets, etc. Therefore, boron fertilizers are increasingly used in agriculture.

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Physico-chemical properties of boric acid

Use of boric acid for crop production and insect pest control
The chemical formula of boric acid is H3BO3 (or B(OH)3).

Boric acid is colorless crystals. Dissolves in many organic solvents, water. Solubility in water is low (at 20°C only 4.8%). Boric acid is a weak acid, displaced from salts even by carbonic acid and hydrogen sulfide.

In nature it is the mineral sassolin; boric acid is also found in thermal waters.

Properties

Boric acid exhibits very weak acidic properties. It is relatively slightly soluble in water. Its acidic properties are due not to the abstraction of the H+ proton, but to the addition of a hydroxyl anion:

B(OH)3 + H2O → H[B(OH)4]
K
a = 5.8⋅10−10 mol/l;
p K
a = 9.24.

It is easily displaced from solutions of its salts by most other acids. Its salts, called borates, are usually produced from various polyboric acids, most often tetraboric acid H2B4O7, which is a much stronger acid than orthoboric acid.

B(OH)3 shows very weak signs of amphotericity, forming low-stable boron hydrogen sulfate B(HSO4)3.

When orthoboric acid is neutralized with alkalis in aqueous solutions, orthoborates containing the (BO3)3− ion are not formed, since orthoborates are hydrolyzed almost completely due to the too low formation constant [B(OH)4]−. Tetraborates, metaborates or salts of other polyboric acids are formed in solution:

2NaOH + 4H3BO3 ⟶ Na2B4O7 + 7H2O With an excess of alkali they can be converted into metaborates: 2NaOH + Na2B4O7 ⟶ 4NaBO2 + H2O

Meta- and tetraborates are hydrolyzed, but to a lesser extent (reactions opposite to those given).

In acidified aqueous solutions of borates, the following equilibria are established:

3H[B(OH)4] ⇄ H+ + [B3O3(OH)4]− + 5H2O [B3O3(OH)4]− + OH− ⇄ [B3O3(OH)5]2−

When heated, boric acid dissolves metal oxides, forming salts.

With alcohols in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid it forms esters:

H3BO3 + 3CH3OH ⟶ 3H2O + B(OCH3)3

The formation of boron methyl ether B(OCH3)3 is a qualitative reaction to H3BO3 and boric acid salts; when ignited, boron methyl ether burns with a beautiful bright green flame.

The mechanism of action of boric acid as an insecticide

So, boric acid is an inorganic insecticide. It is used as a contact insecticide and, at the same time, has an intestinal effect. The contact-intestinal effect manifests itself gradually as it accumulates in the insect’s body. In particular, the death of ants and cockroaches when using boric acid and borax occurs 8-12 days after the start of their use. Boron preparations, entering the digestive tract, destroy the walls of the foregut, fill the stomach, and disrupt the water balance of the insect. Dry boron preparations act as contact-intestinal poisons, while wet boron preparations act mainly as intestinal poisons.

An important feature is the lack of resistance, which allows them to be widely used in those facilities where there are populations of ants and cockroaches resistant to other insecticides.

In addition to the direct contact-intestinal effect, preparations containing bolic acid have been found to have a sterilizing effect. Boric acid causes deep damage to the reproductive organs in female red cockroaches with long-term use, while borax causes complete suppression of spermatogenesis in males. The lethal and sterilizing effects of boron preparations complement each other, and their use leads to a long-term decline in population numbers.

Boric acid (inorganic insecticide) for ants and cockroaches

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The use of boric acid against cockroaches and ants

a) Use of ready-made insecticides based on boric acid

Powder preparations based on boric acid are poured in a thin layer in the kitchen along baseboards, heating, water and sewer pipes, around cabinets, bathtubs, sinks and the refrigerator. Boric gel is applied in a dotted line along the insect movement areas or placed on substrates. After 3-4 days, the powder or gel on the substrates is renewed, and this is done periodically for at least one month.

Examples of insecticidal preparations containing boric acid

Among the popular preparations based on boric acid are the following:

• “Buff, dust” (powder);
• "Bifethrin" (powder);
• "Anteater-ECO" (powder, gel, bait traps);
• “ Dohlox , series “Gin” (boron gel, poisonous crumbs, boron trap, boron balls, boron bomb).

All of the above drugs are mixed; fipronil is usually used as the second component.

b) Independent production of preparations based on boric acid

Boric acid can simply be scattered over the places where insects stay and move, or you can create mixtures that are attractive to ants and cockroaches, which will speed up the process of population control.

Self-production of baits for ants and cockroaches based on boric acid

BORIC ACID against ants and cockroaches (four basic recipes)

Security and restrictions

Boric acid and preparations based on boric acid belong to hazard class 3 (moderately hazardous substances) for humans and warm-blooded organisms. Boric acid is freely available in pharmacies, as well as in garden and hardware stores.

Boric acid can only be dangerous if taken orally without control. Dangerous concentrations in the human body can occur with regular use. However, it should be borne in mind that the lethal dose for poisoning by mouth for an adult is 15-20 g, for children - 4-5 g.

When using and making preparations based on boric acid, you should observe personal safety measures, do not use food containers, store the preparations away from medications, place baits only in places inaccessible to children and pets, etc.