Boric acid

Definition

A weak inorganic acid (B(OH)₃) used as a stomach poison insecticide and slow-acting toxicant against crawling insects. It functions by disrupting gut epithelia and interfering with nutrient absorption upon ingestion; desiccant properties may contribute to efficacy in some formulations. Commonly deployed as dusts, baits, or liquid solutions in structural and domestic pest management.

Etymology

Example

Boric acid bait stations are frequently employed for German cockroach (Blattella germanica) suppression, where the delayed toxicity allows foragers to transfer the active ingredient to harborages before mortality.

Synonyms

• orthoboric acid
• hydrogen orthoborate

Related Terms

• Insecticide
• stomach poison
• Bait
• cockroach control
• Integrated Pest Management
• desiccant
• formic acid

Usage Notes

Effective primarily against grooming or scavenging species that ingest the compound during preening or feeding; not a contact poison and generally ineffective against non-grooming insects. Resistance development is rare due to its nonspecific mode of action, though bait aversion can occur. Distinguished from borax (sodium tetraborate), a related compound with similar applications but different solubility and formulation properties.