A simple Q, can pure alkali kill cockroach ? i mean cockroach accidentally eats it and dies.

if i am wrong, PL correct me. thanks.

Maybe, it depends on which alkali you mean. Sodium hydroxide (lye) would kill, magnesium hydroxide (in milk of magnesia) probably would not; although, almost anything in large enough quantity can kill, including water.

Edited August 31, 201312 yr by EdEarl

pure alkali, white powder.

pure alkali, white powder.

which one?

pure alkali, white powder.

Sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide are all white and can be powder.

Na2CO3

i guess it is also soda.

It is listed as 50% lethal to a 1kg rat that consumes 4.09 g of sodium bicarbonate. It is used as leavening in short breads, and people sometimes take it as medicine for an acid stomach. It is not very poisonous.

 

A good way to control cockroaches and ants is to mix a bait of 4:1 peanut butter and boric acid powder. A dilute solution of boric acid is sometimes used as an eyewash. It is not very poisonous to people, but does a good job on insects. If your insects get tired of peanut butter, try a different vegetable (e.g., mashed beans with a little vegetable oil and the boric acid).

Edited September 2, 201312 yr by EdEarl

thanks EdEarl. Can i do it without bait ? or must I ?

i was told that cockroach is afraid of alkali, isn't it ? conversely, boric acid is acid solid. thanks again.

I think the bait works better than spreading the powder. Ants are immune to the powder, but roaches are supposed to be killed by it.