Controlling cockroaches and other bugs
QUESTION:
Thanks so much for your newsletters! I\'m so glad you\'re sending them! Do you have a remedy to fumigating for cock roaches? I\'ve lived in the same place for 11 years and only in the last year have I had cockroaches which got into the building. I will get sick if the manager fumigates my apartment, but she says she must if I can\'t get rid of them fast. Thanks!!
POSTED BY P.N. :: INDIANA USA :: 12/14/2004
DEBRA'S ANSWER:
I suggest boric acid. Here in Florida we have a similar creature called a palmetto bug. Boric acid worked great.
Also, read this article on controlling cockroaches from the University of Minnesota Extension service. It tells a lot about the characteristics of cockroaches, how to prevent infestations, and nontoxic controls such as sanitation tips and where to apply insecticides for best effect. They also discuss insecticides both toxic and nontoxic including a recommendation of boric acid.
And this article from Beyond Pesticides about the safety of boric acid.
Debra :-)
You mentioned Boric Acid as something to ward off Palmetto Bugs. I hate the creatures but feel sorry for them and don't r e a l l y want to kill them...will Boric Acid kill them or will they sniff it and move on? psssst...I've been capturing them with a plastic bowl, slipping a flat board underneath that and taking them outdoors to free them. (It's getting a bit much to do that especially at 3 in the morning ~ugh~)
COMMENT FROM DEBRA: Boric acid will kill palmetto bugs. I've found that the numbers of palmetto bugs in the kitchen greatly decreases if we don't leave dirty dishes out overnight.
POSTED BY LAURA :: REFLECTIONS :: WWW.FREEWEBS.COM/LAURAEST/ :: FLORIDA USA :: 10/04/2006 12:56 AM
