Recently I found a friend who was using Chinese Miraculous Insecticide Chalk otherwise known as Pretty Baby Chalk, Ant Chalk, Roach Chalk and Chinese Chalk. Tres Pasitos is a Spanish name for this product.
The product is illegal and dangerous. The EPA has a warning on it too. We tried it in the past and found that it didn’t really work. I found this stuff being sold all over San Francisco’s Chinatown and it is for sale on eBay.
A check on amazon in 2022 found no insecticide chalk.
It does kill bugs because it contains toxic chemicals but are hazardous around kids. Did you know that plain old chalk also works!
If you want to use Chinese Insecticide Chalk, you previously could buy Black Flag Ant & Roach Killing Chalk instead, but now it is not being sold.
The dangers of Chinese Insecticide Chalk
The chemicals in the insecticide chalk change from batch to batch and have contained chemicals that produce serious health effects, including vomiting, stomach pains, convulsions, tremors, coma, and death due to respiratory failure. Serious allergic reactions are also possible. If you see a store selling this, report them to the local health department or agricultural Department.
EPA Warns against Illegal Household Pesticides
The Environmental Protection Agency or EPA even has a page warning aginst the use of Illegal Household Pesticide Products including:
- Illegal naphthalene moth repellent products
- Illegal pet products
- Illegal insecticide chalk
Their tips are the following:
- Look for an EPA registration number on the pesticide’s container. This number tells you that EPA has examined the safety testing.
- Look for a list of the active ingredients on the label. Any product registered with EPA must state the active ingredients on the label.
Be safe for you and your families sake and consider some of these green alternatives.
Green Pesticide Alternatives
We prefer to use insecticides made with natural ingredients and no poisonous chemicals. Orange Guard, which is made from d-Limonene (orange peel extract) keeps the ants away. Spray and leave it for a while to soak in.
You have probably heard those radio ads for Orange Oil. They use it to might termites. You can buy some on amazon to battle the insects.
Check out our green pest control article.
EcoPCO ACU contact insecticide is another eco-friendly insecticide alternative. It is made from plant essential oils and contains no poisonous chemicals.
Eliminating ants at the source
We have tried to trace ants back to their source. Follow the ant trails and patiently observe where they are coming from. When you have found their origination point, caulk holes, foam up areas next to pipes, etc. to prevent them from reaching you in the first place. Preventing bug access should be the #1 goal.
Do you have any other tips on Chinese Insecticide Chalk? How about some alternatives to it?
Related
Posted on November 26th, 2024
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to subscribe to our RSS feed.
