Cockroaches

Cockroaches: The definitive guide and how to eliminate them

Cockroaches are, by far, one of the most common and detested insects in the world. Despite their small size, they are very smart and can live and eat in our homes without us even noticing. The problem is that, once they reproduce, their presence becomes more and more evident, we see them everywhere and we share our space with them.

The worst of the case is that these little bugs can transmit different diseases through their droppings or the simple contact of their legs with the water we drink and the food we eat, so they are more dangerous than many people think. Therefore, this time we have decided to bring you some information on this, so you can understand how this is about the cockroaches and what you can do to get them out of your life and your home once and for all.

What are cockroaches?

It is about some small insects that belong to the order of the blatodeos and that are more than 3000 years old. In general, these bugs are brown, although there are other species of black or yellowish, and even more vivid colors like those of tropical cockroaches. They have a pair of long antennae, 6 elongated legs and full spines, and a pair of wings. The insects with the longest wings tend to be the males and those with short wings tend to be the females.

These animals like to live in dark places, such as train stations and sewers, although this does not prevent them from entering our homes in search of shelter and food. Cockroaches feed on almost anything, can eat from rotting or in good condition, to materials such as paper or cardboard. They are very agile bichillos and also reproduce in heaps, infesting homes in a matter of days.

Why do cockroaches appear?

The cockroaches are almost everywhere and always go in search of food, so it is very common to see more than one on the floor of the kitchen or on the cupboard. So, if you usually leave bread crumbs, drinks or any kind of food in sight of these little girls, how do you expect them not to appear to bother you?

Also, these insects tend to walk among the garbage, because there can be a great feast with how much crap they find to taste, so if you tend to leave accumulated garbage or live near areas with large concentrations of waste, it is very likely that these Little monsters come to visit you from time to time and even stay to live.

However, it is not only in unhygienic places that cockroaches are usually found, since even in the cleanest homes some of them have also been seen; and, unfortunately, these animals can get into houses through tiny holes and cracks in the walls, travel in bags, backpacks or suitcases, and move through the pipes from one floor to another. They are all experts in infiltrating where nobody has called them.

Anyway, although it is very likely to have roaches walking around, it is not something that we should get used to, so we will talk later about the tricks and solutions we can use to get rid of these little nightmares.

Types or species of cockroaches

There are many kinds of cockroaches with their own characteristics and characteristics, but the most common are the German cockroach, the American cockroach, the brown band cockroach and the oriental cockroach.

German cockroach

It is the most common species, about ½ inch long, is light brown and has two dark lines behind the head. Generally, they live for a period of 2 months and tend to reproduce much more than other cockroaches.

American cockroach

This species is the largest we can find inside homes, in fact, in its adult age it can reach up to 1.5 inches long. This cockroach has a reddish brown color, with yellowish stripes around the thorax and behind the head, and both the females and the males have a pair of wings that allow them to fly at short distances. They can live for up to 2 years and it is common to find them in cupboards and other places where food is stored in the houses.

Oriental cockroach

This species is characterized by being bright black. The female can reach 1.20 inches long and the male can only grow up to 1 inch. Neither can fly and they usually live between 1 and 6 months. Regarding their diet, cockroaches of this type feed mainly on organic materials in the process of decomposition.

Brown banded cockroach

It is one of the smallest species there is, since it only reaches ½ inch in length. The females differ from the males in the color of their wings, since those of the females are reddish brown and those of the males are dark brown with lighter shades at the tips. Although both have wings, only the male can fly.

A particularity of the species is that it usually jumps when it feels attacked or threatened and can live between 3 and 11 months.

Sting or bite of cockroaches

Although cockroach bites are not something you hear about every day, it does not mean they do not happen. In case you did not know, these little animals have a pair of jaws similar to blades, which serve to crush food, dig in the dirt, carry things and defend themselves. In fact, these unpleasant insects are capable of biting up to 50 times stronger than their body weight. Fortunately, these bugs do not always use their biting apparatus to attack, but rather to chew rigid materials such as wood.

However, there have been some cases in which cockroaches attack people, leaving red welts a little larger than those of mosquito bites, which, if they are torn off, usually produce a tremendous inflammation and other complications such as skin rash.

Finally, as we said before, these bites are not very common, but if they happen, it is best to go to a doctor to tell us the most favorable treatment as the case may be.

Are cockroaches dangerous?

Although their small size makes them seem harmless, cockroaches are carriers of different diseases that can transmit to us through their excrement and urine, as well as when they come into contact with water and the food we eat, since they deposit a large amount of bacterias in they.

In this way, cockroaches can cause delicate dysentery, diarrhea and gastroenteritis. In addition, bacteria that carry in your digestive tract can cause thyroid fever, gangrene, cholera and tetanus. Also, these insects are usually hosts of parasites that tend to produce allergies, viruses and fungi, so that, while not dangerous to the naked eye, cockroaches are an animal that we should fear.

How to eliminate cockroaches

There is a wide variety of products on the market that can be used to eliminate cockroaches, and here we will talk a little about the most common methods and the advantages that each one of them has to offer.

Baits and traps

Baits in gel format are often used to eliminate pests that live in hard to reach places. They consist of a kind of gel, made with pleasant substances for these insects, which is applied with the help of a syringe. When the bugs come across the bait, they eat it and this causes them death.

The advantage of this method against cockroaches is that they do not die instantly, but return to the nest and that is where they agonize, but not before infecting the rest of their colleagues. In addition, many of these baits are not highly toxic, so we can be a little calmer when using them, and are also available in granulated, powder or paste format, so we can choose the one that suits us best.

However, the results they offer are not immediate, but may take at least 1 week. Either way, this is a pretty effective alternative to eliminate the annoying bichillos, so it’s worth waiting a few days.

Regarding the traps, these can be placed in the warmer places of the house, such as behind the refrigerator, under the stove or in the cupboards, because that is where cockroaches are usually most frequently. In case you do not know, these traps consist of small boxes with an attractant substance for insects, and may contain either poison or a sticky surface where the bugs get trapped.

Now, although they are very effective at killing a small number of bugs, they are practically useless to treat large infestations, since their range of action is not as wide as might be expected. However, they can give good results if they are combined with another method of pest control.

Sprays or aerosols

One of the most popular chemicals for the control of cockroaches are aerosols or sprays, which although they provide results instantly, are not really effective as long-term treatment; and is that these products only work to kill the insect if the content is sprayed directly on it, so it is not the best option when it comes to an infestation.

In general, aerosols are sprayed inside homes, releasing a small cloud of gas that kills bugs instantly. These products usually come already prepared and are very easy to find in commercial establishments. The problem with them is that they have been used for so long that cockroaches have become almost immune to their toxicity, so that, if it is a case in point, they can be useful, but if not, it is best to resort to other methods of pest control.

Fumigation with experts in pest control

This is one of the methods that most resort to when cockroaches become a major problem.

Well, if it is no longer one or two cockroaches hanging around, but a whole plague of bugs, it is best to contact an expert in pest control to exterminate them. Perhaps it is the most expensive method of control of all, but it will give effective and permanent results, since these professionals work with products of excellent quality and elaborated specifically for the type of plague in question.

However, depending on the seriousness of the matter and the toxicity of the product that will be implemented in the fumigation, it will be necessary that you and your family be out of the place while the procedure is being carried out. In some cases, specialists request that the family stay away even for a couple of days, to avoid allergic reactions or breathing problems due to the chemical compounds that are used.

Some of the products that can be used for the disinsection are the Organophosphates, the Carbamates and the Piretoids. You should know that they are all toxic in nature and can be harmful to people, especially children and the elderly.

Home remedies against cockroaches

In case that the chemical products are not your thing, we have left you some home remedies and very easy to do that for sure they will help you to solve the asuntillo of the cockroaches.

Bicarbonate with sugar

This is a very effective homemade trap against cockroaches and the best part is that you can prepare it with ingredients that you surely have in your kitchen.

To do this, you should only mix equal parts of baking soda and sugar, and place the mixture in the places where these little animals are usually, such as under the fridge, in the cupboard and near the stove. Attracted by the sugar, the bugs will eat the mixture and the acids of the same will react in their stomach, causing their death.

Wormwood Infusion

The wormwood plant, also known as bitter artemisia or holy grass, is a powerful remedy of nature that can help us fight pests.

To benefit from its repellent properties, you should only prepare an infusion with the leaves of the plant and then sprinkle it in the corners, with the help of a spray bottle. It is important to be careful when using it, especially if you have small children or pets at home, because if consumed accidentally, it can be toxic and have serious consequences.

More tricks to kill cockroaches

Well, if the home remedies have not worked or you have not been able to prepare them for lack of any ingredient, these tricks can be your salvation against cockroaches.

Coffee to put an end to cockroaches

A simple and great trap to kill the cockroaches is to fill a bucket with water and coffee powder, and place it in the place most frequented by these little animals, which is usually the kitchen. The smell of the coffee will bring them and when they try to get into the bucket to get to the cafe, they will fall into the water and die drowned.

Cucumber to scare away pests

Another of the simplest tricks to drive away cockroaches is to chop cucumber slices and place them in the areas where nests are thought to be. Since the smell of cucumber is unbearable for these bugs, they will be forced to leave.

Well, now that you know all about these nasty bugs, we hope you can deal with the problem and find a solution sooner rather than later.