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Post by wind on Jul 21, 2012 17:04:03 GMT -5
So, we've already boric acid'ed the snot out of the roach areas inside, after cleaning up, etc.
The fleas on our poor dog get flea combed almost daily. But they're not breeding in the house. They're breeding outside. How do I kill them outside?
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Post by ClutterBlind on Jul 21, 2012 17:09:18 GMT -5
Be careful of your dog breathing or licking the boric acid. I always squeezed it into any crevices I could find. This way it wasn't exposed.
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Post by wind on Jul 21, 2012 18:17:15 GMT -5
Everything I've read says boric acid is about as toxic as salt to mammals? Is that incorrect?
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Post by joyinvirginia on Jul 21, 2012 20:18:25 GMT -5
I used to get the roach motels and pot them in out of the way places. Worked for me. Fleas I would use the flea bath on dogs, but last few years I use Revolution that keeps of the fleas and discourages the ticks from latching on and works against heartworms. One year when the ticks were really bad I treated the yard with malathion I think. I try to avoid that because I don't want stuff on flowers that could affect the bees and butterflies. I have a lot of plants to attract bees. Make sure you eliminate as much food supply for roaches as you can. They like to eat the glue on envelopes, paper boxes, things like that, in addition to people and animal food. Get rid of as much excess paper as you can.
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Post by ClutterBlind on Jul 21, 2012 20:26:18 GMT -5
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Post by wynken on Jul 22, 2012 1:03:29 GMT -5
I wouldn't use borax left around anywhere there are littlies or animals. I got comfortis for my dog - its 1 pill per month -only works for fleas though. Kills them in 30min. It has certainly fixed the flea problem for dog. The spot ons did not work - even at 2wk intervals in lieu of monthy using it at the tick prevention rate. Deadly ticks can still be a problem though while using comfortis though. - if you have them where you are. Fidos flea wash works instantly for 3 days - and the solution can be sprayed outdoors or on bedding.. My dog hated it though. Would not use a bed that had been sprayed with it.
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Post by seashell on Jul 22, 2012 7:52:55 GMT -5
I use FrontlinePlus on my dogs once a month and have never had a problem with fleas, despite the fact that there are dozens of dogs in our apartment complex. I don't know how to kill them outside.
I live in an old apartment complex, and we get the large waterbug roaches. For roaches inside, I use the Combat or Raid baits, and hide them where my dogs can't get to them. Because we have the waterbugs, I use the large kind. They eat the bait and then take it home to their nests, where it kills the other roaches. I still get a few roaches inside, especially when it is really dry outside; they come in looking for water. When it gets bad, I use Bayer spray outside in the crevices and around the windows and doors. I make sure to use it at night, when my dogs won't be going outside until morning.
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Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Jul 22, 2012 9:02:36 GMT -5
"diatomaceous earth"
Diatomaceous earth: a naturally-occurring, soft, siliceous sedimentary rock. The rock is made from the fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton -- -- diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae.
It is easily crumbled into fine white to off-white powder.
It is non-toxic to mammals.
However, wear a respirator mask and protective clothing while you are spreading it -- because breathing clouds of the dust might be irritating. And wait until the dust settles before letting your animals into the area, so that they don't have to breath large clouds of the dust.
Make sure you buy "food grade" diatomaceous earth. The "food grade" diatomaceous earth is pure. Caution: Don't use the kind for swimming pool filters. Caution: There are some other varieties of diatomaceous earth that are labeled just "Diatomaceous Earth" but they have icky stuff added to it.
How it works: With the powder -- on a microscopic level -- the diatomaceous earth particles are very sharp. The particles somehow puncture the exoskeletons of insects. It's miraculous!
The particles are just the right size for harming insects, but too small to harm mammals.
For indoor use:
For hard-to-vacuum areas: Make a paper-thin layer of diatomaceous earth wherever the vacuum doesn't reach easily. Don't throw it around - more like lay it about and then spread it around slowly with a gloved hand. For floors (especially carpeted floors): Vacuuming causes vibration and will stimulate fleas to jump. If you toss a little diatomaceous earth on the floor before vacuuming, then the fleas jump and end up in a pile of diatomaceous earth in the vacuum bag. If you are going to vacuum less often than once every three days, you should probably spread diatomaceous earth all over the floor between vacuuming. Spread evenly rather than just sprinkling.
For outdoor use:
You can sprinkle it in a thin layer in your yard. You could use the type of contraption used for spreading a thin layer of insecticide or fertilizer.
Note on outdoor usage: One website says that for it to work on killing bugs, you have to keep it dry -- and that even morning dew can make diatomaceous earth ineffective. However, one of my friends had it applied to her yard and it worked well. But it was a fairly dry climate in the summers where she lived, and that was the flea season.
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Post by ClutterBlind on Jul 22, 2012 13:40:15 GMT -5
I live in an old apartment complex, and we get the large waterbug roaches. For roaches inside, I use the Combat or Raid baits, and hide them where my dogs can't get to them. Because we have the waterbugs, I use the large kind. They eat the bait and then take it home to their nests, where it kills the other roaches. Every once in a while I get a huge waterbug which found it's way into my apartment. There is one roach spray that has a pinpoint laser beam nozzle that sprays a straight, steady stream of roach spray to hit a target 10 ft. away.  It works beautifully to hit the waterbug. . . Well, when I've stopped screaming and can aim without my hand shaking!
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Post by phoebepj on Jul 27, 2012 1:48:49 GMT -5
get a pair of cats... yum bugs!!! 
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