[cwingrav]

Borax is incredible stuff. I used it as an insecticide in Florida. I could puff it into places behind cabinets and appliances. It doesn't kill by chemical means, but by getting stuck in insect chitin, ripping it apart and then desiccating it. It's safe for pets too. Amazing.

[ninetenfour]

Borax doesn’t do that. It actually affects the nervous system of insects, see here: https://homeguides.sfgate.com/insects-borax-chase-away-kill-...

I think you are thinking of silicon dioxide which does get into the chitin of insects: http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html

[ChrisMarshallNY]

I remember reading that.

I lived in downtown Baltimore, in a row house.

I had roaches. Not the big, giant, kind, they get in the tropics. These were smallish, basic, tough-as-nails-will-still-be-around-after-the-apocalypse roaches.

When I put out borax, they immediately took out little straws, and started snorting it.

[AptSeagull]

Diatomaceous earth work by getting under the carapace and puncturing the insect - causing dehydration which kills the insect.