cockroach (Photo credit: Squallwc)
It is often suggested that cockroaches will “inherit the earth” if humans end up involved in a nuclear war. They are known to be able to survive in very tough conditions, and breed quickly. They can survive being underwater for 45 minutes and can survive on surprising sources of nutrition, including the glue from a postage stamp. When you get cockroaches inside your home it can be a difficult problem to sort out, so keeping the place clean and checking the house regularly is the best way to keep them out. This article explores some of the ways you can deal with unwanted cockroach populations.
Different Species
There are over four thousand different species of roaches on the planet, with around 30 species commonly found in homes and commercial properties. They live for around a year, but have been known to live for longer. Females can lay up to 400 eggs in one year. Some will lay eggs in hiding places, some carry their eggs on the surface of their body while others carry their eggs internally until they are ready to hatch. Cockroaches carry an allergen which has been linked to the development of asthma in humans.
Infestation
If you’re worried about a cockroach infestation, then get cleaning! All areas where the tiniest pieces of food can accumulate should be cleaned thoroughly. This could include cutlery, the sink, food stuffs, furniture and any other areas in the home where food can end up. It’s dinner for your roaches, so keeping these areas clean can force them to look elsewhere for food. It’s important that food waste is adequately protected from the hungry pests, and that this waste is removed regularly. The same applies to back gardens and yards – if you invite cockroaches into your garden it won’t be long before they move into your house.
To stop cockroaches getting inside your house, check the exterior of the property for cracks in the foundations, walls, floors and ceilings. Any cracks are potential cockroach-entry points, so get them sealed up ASAP. Quick-seal products are available on the market which can fill a crack in seconds. It’s also worth checking around plumbing fixtures and electrical outlets for cracks and holes that could be used as entrances by roaches.
Control and Solutions
Cockroach-killing powders are available, usually with boric acid as the main ingredient. This powder can be left behind electrical appliances, in cracks or other cockroach entry points. When the cockroaches make contact with the powder, which could take a few days, the powder sticks to their body and poisons them. Ensure that the area is well out of the way of children to avoid ingestion.
Another way to poison the pests is with spiked food. Products like these usually come in the form of gels or pastes. Cockroaches are attracted to the substances as they contain digestible materials as well as the poison that will kill them. It works well because you don’t have to find the cockroaches hiding place in order to rid your home of them, they will find the bait because they think its food.
There are a number of DIY solutions to a cockroach problem, but if they’re not working it’s time to call in the professionals. A good pest control company will deal with the infestation properly and despatch the pests efficiently. Remember that the longer you let cockroaches infest your property the worse the problem will become.
Alan Derry writes on a number of subjects including pest control for keeping chickens.
Thanksgiving will quickly be here and there is so much to be done. There are a few quick things that you can do, prior to the big event, that will make sure your Thanksgiving is pest free. Nobody wants to be dealing with pests as they’re preparing their turkey dinner, of scouring the Black Friday shopping ads.
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