Contents
Cockroaches are very tenacious creatures unpretentious to living conditions. However, they are comfortable living next to a human home, but even better – inside. Uninvited guests love cockroach comfort – warm, humid places with the presence of food.
Cockroaches are not an indicator of uncleanliness in the house. They can be brought from another home, a trip, even by mail along with a package. But most often they “come” themselves from the basement, entrance, from neighbors or appear with new things in the house.
It is impossible to maintain perfect cleanliness every day, and cockroaches will quickly find crumbs and water on the floor. Physiology allows them to survive for several weeks without food, or eat paper, leather, wood or even cloth.
They can pretend to be dead. If you find a cockroach that does not show signs of life, do not run to throw it in the trash can. You should flush it down the toilet to get rid of the parasite for sure.
What are cockroaches
There are several thousand varieties of barbel in the world. In the apartments of our country you can find two types: the most common – red (Prussian) and black (kitchen).
Prusak has a size of 1,3 – 1,5 cm and can go without food for up to 40 days. The kitchen one is twice as large, up to 3 cm in length and is able to live without food for up to 70 days.
Everyone knows about their resistance to unsuitable living conditions. And the fact that they can survive a nuclear explosion is not a myth. Therefore, some kind of hunger is not an obstacle for them.
How dangerous are they
Cockroaches do not bite and are generally afraid of people. There is no visible harm, but the dirt they bring will not leave you in good health. They examine the garbage in search of food, the toilet in search of water, then they spread a bunch of different bacteria around the apartment on their paws, leaving them on children’s toys, on furniture and, worst of all, on the table and cutlery.
For some people, the activity of insects may not be affected in any way, while someone can be seriously poisoned. Bacteria are different, each organism reacts to them individually, so cockroaches should not be allowed to multiply and run where they please.
It is better to start baiting them in the first days, as soon as you notice them. Cockroaches live for about 6-8 months, during which time the female can lay 320 eggs. The more there are, the harder it is to get rid of the brood later.
How to find a cockroach nest in an apartment
Cockroaches themselves are fearful creatures, they try to be at a distance from human eyes, direct rays of light. Strong lighting directly signals danger to them, so they try to stay in the shade and live in dark, damp, cluttered places.
To find out if there are cockroaches in the house, go to the kitchen or bathroom in the middle of the night. In the presence of insects, at least one, but still catches the eye. And where there is one, there is a whole colony. You can also find the products of their vital activity – feces, they look like dark brown small spots. They can be seen in different drawers, at the joints of doors, under the sink. When a colony of cockroaches grows, a specific unpleasant smell appears in the apartment.
Since cockroaches need darkness, warmth, water and food, the bathroom, toilet and, of course, the kitchen are best suited for their hiding place. In the kitchen, they most often live under the sink, refrigerator, inside kitchen furniture and some electrical appliances.
Their flattened body shape allows cracks to settle in baseboards, floors, behind hanging cabinets, in ventilation, near pipes, under a bathtub and even under wallpaper. If the house is old, then there will be several times more cracks and other defects suitable for parasites.
Since the first time after the “housewarming” cockroaches are very careful, you need to carefully examine every corner (without missing the bedroom, passerby) for the presence of themselves or traces of their vital activity.
To kill cockroaches in hard-to-reach areas, you can use a steam generator.
Types of poison
If you had to deal with such unpleasant pests as cockroaches, then your war may be long. It is important to take into account the fact that they multiply very quickly and, in search of a better life, spread not only throughout the apartment, but throughout the entire residential complex!
Before poisoning cockroaches, you need to talk with your neighbors about their presence in other apartments. If you poison only in your apartment, then later cockroaches of your neighbors will crawl to you. Therefore, you need to start persecuting parasites at the same time for everyone.
To combat small pests, there are many different means, both professional and inexpensive folk. They may be in the form:
- gel;
- pastes;
- spray;
- powder;
- liquid agent;
- tablets;
- microencapsulated products;
- fine.
Each one is good in its own way. We will analyze all their advantages and disadvantages below, but it is important not to forget that cockroaches multiply rapidly and adapt to harmful substances.
household products
From household means, there are many inexpensive, but at the same time effective. It is important to repair taps, remove food and dry all surfaces overnight before surface treatment, as water is the main source of life for any living beings.
Consider the popular cockroach remedies and some of their varieties.
Pastes
Pasta is one of the best options out of all cockroach repellents. It is not addictive in parasites and is 100% effective. The result can be seen in the first days, and the paste will do all the work in 2 weeks. It must be applied pointwise near the habitat of cockroaches. Most of all such products contain chlorpyrifos – this is an active substance that belongs to the 4th class of toxicity. A good option is Globol pasta.
Gels
Cockroach gel is the most effective in terms of time, therefore it is very popular. It can take on an entire colony in 7-14 days, which is a very short amount of time given the fact that it can sometimes take months. It is produced in special syringes, and more often in tubes. Its soft, more liquid consistency than that of a paste and a thin tube nozzle make it possible to inflict poison even in the most inaccessible cracks. The following gels have proven their effectiveness:
- “Raptor” – kills the nervous system of the pest. When used, the cockroach remains paralyzed and quickly dies.
- “Dohlos” – acts quickly and does not allow a new generation to appear. Belong to 1 or 2 class of toxicity.
- “Killer” – he will not destroy the whole colony, but one tube is enough to process a room up to 25 square meters. m.
- “Sturm” and “Fas” – contain 2 active ingredients (two different insecticides), which increase the strength of the gel on insects.
Sprays
It is advisable to treat the apartment with a spray in protective clothing and a mask to prevent the occurrence of allergic reactions of the body. Children and family should leave the room at this time. The advantage of sprays is that they act quickly and after 24 hours you can remove dead cockroaches, carry out wet cleaning and airing. Works well with small and medium-sized colonies of parasites. The best roach sprays are:
- Raptor.
- “Belong”.
- “The Raid”.
- “Combat”.
- «Guess».
Powders
Powder products have both advantages and disadvantages. This is not the newest type of poison for cockroaches, but they are often overlooked, but in vain. They are very often used when cockroaches have just settled. Additional treatment is desirable, as parasites quickly get used to the drug. This is a completely safe cockroach remedy for pets and children. Powder is always much easier to treat hard-to-reach places. The best powders are:
- “Tornado”.
- “Clean house”.
- “Clean World”.
Liquid funds
Treatment of parasites with such drugs is considered the most effective, since the liquid enters almost any cracks and nooks and crannies. Since cockroaches most often hide in crevices, it will be enough just to pour over their habitats. Before choosing a liquid poison, it is important to familiarize yourself with its mechanism of action in order to understand whether it is suitable for your case.
- “Cucaracha” – is considered a professional tool and it is very important to study the instructions before processing. Second class of toxicity preparation (destroys pests just instantly), implies processing exclusively in protective clothing.
- “Cifox” – a cure for cockroaches of instant action. Parasites either die or leave the apartment. One big drawback among all the benefits is the duration of action, due to which you can not stay in the apartment after application for the next 48 hours.
Pills
Tablets are not only an effective poison against cockroaches, but also a bait for them. Often the manufacturers themselves call them lenses. It should be noted that they are quite effective, easy to use. There are pills that are safe for both children and pets. The most popular are the following tablets:
- “Delicia” – from a German manufacturer. It kills not only adults, but also young animals, as well as eggs.
Box lure «Delicia» - “Dupont Advion” – can be dangerous for children and animals. These are medium toxicity traps. The insect crawls into them, and then dies.
- “Adamant Tab” – is considered a professional remedy for cockroaches. It has an average degree of toxicity – it can be used independently only if the instructions are fully followed.
Microcapsules
Another type of very effective means is the strongest chemistry from cockroaches. The beauty is that the liquid, after drying, will not leave annoying insects alone. The most lethal means are:
Crayons
This type of poison was used several generations ago. In the fight against a large colony of parasites, it is practically useless, and in comparison with more modern methods of struggle, crayons are significantly inferior and losing ground. Most often choose crayons from the following manufacturers:
- “Masha”.
- “Clean house”.
Folk remedies against cockroaches
In the case when cockroaches are replaced in a small amount, you can also resort to folk effective recipes in the fight against them. There are a large number of them, but the best home remedies are the following:
- Boric acid is a very effective substance, it acts quickly from the first attempts. The tool can be made with your own hands according to the following recipe: Boil hard-boiled eggs. Grind the yolk, add boric acid. Stir. Roll the mixture into balls and spread around the apartment. Cockroaches will feel itchy and will soon leave the apartment.
- Vinegar. Many parasites do not like him. Ammonia and vinegar are often used as a spray. You need to dissolve a little liquid in water and wipe the surfaces every day.
Traps for cockroaches
Traps are often used for prevention. Small houses are placed in dark and warm corners of the house. Cockroaches, having eaten plenty of poison, return to their brethren and also infect them.
Some traps have an adhesive backing inside from which the parasites can no longer get out. This method helps to get rid of a colony that is just emerging.
Top brands:
- “The Raid”.
- Raptor.
- “Foresight”.
- “Combat”.
Ultrasonic repellers
In some cases, such devices can be the most effective tool in the fight against cockroaches, for example, in grocery stores and apartments. Ultrasound has a negative effect on them. The use of ultrasonic devices has its pros and cons:
The characteristics state that humans and large animals do not feel any effect on the body. However, low-quality devices can adversely affect the human body, causing unpleasant symptoms such as headaches and/or insomnia.
Professional tools
Highly effective products include concentrated liquids, such as Zifox and Xulat-25. They are considered professional tools and therefore the use should be carried out strictly according to the instructions. They are designed for use in large areas.
It is advantageous to turn to specialists, as they can always qualitatively assess the situation and choose the drug that is right for you.
There are situations when, for various reasons, disinfectors cannot be called. In this case, you should at least consult with them about the desired drug and subsequent actions, and process the apartment yourself.
In very difficult cases, when insects literally fall from the ceiling, advice from knowledgeable specialists is needed. Professionally engaged workers know how to act correctly in such situations. After all, sometimes it may turn out that not only one family needs the processing of an apartment, but all the neighbors on the floor or in the entrance.
Сonclusion
There are many ways to deal with the Prussians and each is good in its own way. But when you need to take into account several factors (place, number of insects, children, animals), then when choosing a drug, it is better to consult with specialists. Let cockroaches quickly get used to some poisons, but science does not stand still and over time new methods and means will appear. In conclusion, watch a video about the effect of some funds on cockroaches.