Boric Acid

Boric Acid — Cockroach Baits, Wood Preservation & Safety

Inorganic Borate (Stomach Poison + Desiccant) · CAS 10043-35-3

Boric acid is one of the oldest and safest pest control chemicals in use. It's the active ingredient in Terro ant bait, roach tablets, and Boracare wood treatment — and has virtually no mammalian toxicity at application rates.

Mode of Action Dual mode — acts as a stomach poison when ingested by insects, disrupting ATP synthesis; also acts as a mild desiccant on contact with insect cuticle

📋 Key Facts

Class

Inorganic Borate

Signal Word

Caution

Mammalian Toxicity

Very low — similar to table salt in acute toxicity

Residual

Very long — years in protected voids

OMRI Listed

Yes

Wood Treatment

Boracare — penetrates and protects wood from termites/beetles

Key Products

Terro, Niban, Boracare, Zap-A-Roach, Dekko Silverfish Paks

🎯 Primary Uses

Boric acid is used for: ant control (Terro liquid bait), cockroach control (powder in voids, tablets), silverfish control (Dekko paks), wood preservation against termites and wood-boring beetles (Boracare), and stored product pest management. Extremely effective as a dust applied in thin layers in cockroach harborage areas.

🛡️ Safety Summary

Boric acid has very low acute mammalian toxicity — roughly similar to table salt. Small amounts (as in Terro ant bait) are not a significant pet risk. Large amounts can cause gastrointestinal irritation. Dust application should use appropriate respiratory protection. Generally considered one of the safest pest control options for homes with pets and children.

🔬 Resistance Status

No resistance to boric acid documented despite decades of use — the dual mode of action (stomach poison + desiccant) and low selection pressure prevent resistance development. This makes boric acid permanently effective even in populations resistant to pyrethroids and neonicotinoids.

🏷️ Common Products

Terro Liquid Ant BaitNiban Granular BaitBoracareZap-A-RoachDekko Silverfish PaksHarris Boric Acid Roach Powder

❓ FAQ

Is boric acid safe for pets?

At the concentrations used in products like Terro ant bait, boric acid presents very low risk to pets. Large amounts can cause gastrointestinal irritation, but the small quantities in bait stations or dust applications are generally considered safe.

Does boric acid kill termites?

Boric acid in the form of disodium octaborate (Boracare, Tim-bor) is an effective termite treatment when applied to bare wood — it penetrates the wood and kills termites and wood-boring beetles that feed on treated wood. It doesn't provide soil barrier protection against subterranean termites.