Cockroaches are one of the most repugnant pests you can encounter. The mere thought of a cockroach can cause the skin to crawl. One cannot be faulted for despising bugs viciously. Even the fact that some cockroaches can fly is frightening!
However, cockroaches are also carriers of disease and thrive in the darkest and filthiest places of your home. Worse, insects like roaches reproduce rapidly and in great numbers. If you leave even one cockroach left, the infestation will quickly spread out of hand. Here is a concise guide about cockroaches and how to efficiently eliminate them.
WHAT COMMON TYPES OF ROACHES ARE THERE?
Before you chase down that creepy crawlies, let’s examine the most commonly found roaches.
The German Cockroach
One of the most prevalent and rapidly reproducing cockroaches. They are around 0.5 inches long, light brown in color, and have two dark stripes in the middle of their bodies. Infesting residential spaces such as apartment complexes and residences, thrive in humid temperatures between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Brown-black Cockroach (Not common in California)
The smokey brown cockroach measures 1.5 inches in length, is solid dark brown in color and has a black and hard outer shell. Additionally, their wings are longer than their bodies, and they are common fliers. Smoky brown cockroaches favor moist and damp environments for concealment. They are nocturnal beings that are drawn to light.
The American Roach
The American cockroach is the largest of all cockroaches, reaching up to 2 inches in length. They are often brown or red in appearance, with yellowish hues on their legs and wings. In contrast to the German cockroach, which prefers living places, these cockroaches are more frequently observed outside. Additionally, American cockroaches favor places with temperatures above 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Oriental Cockroaches
Oriental cockroaches, the stinkiest species, are commonly found in homes with a great deal of flora. They reach a maximum length of 1 centimeter and have dark, glossy black bodies. They have wings, but thankfully they cannot fly. They are more prevalent in colder and wetter regions.
Banded Cockroaches, brown (Not common in California)
Unlike the German cockroach, the brown-banded cockroach favors indoor environments. Female brown-banded cockroaches are reddish-brown, whereas males are golden. They have slender bodies and can reach a maximum length of 0.5 inches. They hide in warmer and drier regions and can be highly hazardous, as their egg cases and shed skin can induce asthma and allergies.
DIY WAYS TO ERADICATE ROACHES
Professional pest treatment is the most convenient and straightforward technique to eliminate a significant number of cockroaches. There are a number of reasons, though, why you may choose to go the natural path and adopt natural DIY methods to eliminate them. Professional pest control may involve the use of chemical sprays that might leave an unpleasant odor in the home.
Here are some basic home remedies to get rid of roaches in your home if you want to try your hand at eliminating the cockroach infestation yourself.
The Bay Leaf
If you prepare meals at home, you likely have bay leaves in your pantry. Crush a few bay leaves into a powder and sprinkle it in locations where cockroaches are most prevalent. The strong stench of bay leaves functions as a cockroach repellant and drives them away. You should be aware that bay leaves do not kill roaches, but rather attract them.
Baking Soda And Sugar
Baking soda is one of the most effective home remedies for roach control. A basin of baking soda, water, and sugar is all that is required. Pour this homemade solution into typical hiding places. Slowly but surely, the roach population will decline.
Lemon Juice
The lemon’s acidic qualities and pungent aroma repel cockroaches. To eradicate roaches, you might spray a mixture of lemon juice and water over surfaces and crevices in your home. You might also mop surfaces with a cloth soaked in lemon juice to intensify the lemon scent.
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES TO KEEP ROACHES AWAY
Here are some preventative measures that will keep your living environment cockroach-free.
Keep Areas Tidy
Roaches emerge from hiding in search of food particles, and dining tables and kitchen countertops are frequently their hunting grounds. Ensure that no food is left on kitchen countertops, and clean these areas carefully to remove any crumbs that could attract bugs.
Store Food Appropriately
As mosquitoes detect blood, so do cockroaches smell food. Be sure to store leftovers in airtight containers, and always keep food-containing utensils covered. If you leave anything out, cockroaches will appear.
Utilize Trash Cans With Lids
Cockroaches adore humid surroundings, and garbage cans are their prime targets. Use a trash can that can be covered or sealed if you are disposing of moist garbage. If your trash cans are leak-proof, roaches will be efficiently repelled.
Effectively ventilate living spaces
Even the most humid and moist areas of your home become dry and clean with continual airflow. This will prevent roaches from entering your home. If you find cockroaches in your bathroom, keep the doors open and run an exhaust fan to reduce the amount of moisture in the area.
Examine Your Food And Cooking Utensils
Sometimes, you bring roaches home inadvertently with your supermarket bags. Before placing food packets and shopping items in their proper location, dust them to ensure that no bugs are riding along. Verify that there are no roaches hiding in washed or infrequently used cooking equipment.
TO SUMMARIZE
In the event of a nuclear apocalypse, cockroaches are thought to outlive humans. It is therefore not surprising that these annoying pests can be so tough to eradicate. However, the do-it-yourself and preventative measures we’ve outlined here are recognized to be successful and cost-efficient at eliminating cockroaches. Try them out and watch the cockroaches flee!
