Insecticides

• Natural insecticides that are effective against German cockroaches include boric acid and diatomaceous earth, both of which are naturally occurring compounds. Mixing boric acid with flour or sugar in equal proportions creates a natural cockroach bait that kills them. Diatomaceous earth can be scattered into cracks and crevices around your home to kill German cockroaches when they try to enter it.
  
  

Functions

• Boric acid poisons roaches by affecting their digestive system. German cockroaches either eat it as part of the bait or crawl through it and later ingest it while grooming themselves. Diatomaceous earth kills German cockroaches by dehydrating them, drawing enough moisture from their bodies to kill them.
  
  

Considerations

• Both boric acid and diatomaceous earth can make people and pets ill if they ingest them, so do no place them anywhere curious children or pets could get into them. Both insecticides will cause respiratory irritation if inhaled, so wear a protective mask when working with them.