The presence of house or oriental cockroaches (blatta orientalis) in our environment is a source of fear and disgust, and the appearance of these unwanted tenants makes us want to get rid of them from our apartment as quickly as possible. However, it is not always that easy to get rid of cockroaches, especially when they have already settled in and multiplied. Cockroaches also like to come back, so how can you get rid of them effectively and what can you do to prevent them from coming back?
What does a cockroach look like?
How can you recognise cockroaches and not confuse them with other insects? Cockroaches are often also called ‘waterbugs’ because they are quite similar and come from the same taxonomic order, but this is a misnomer because they are two separate species of insects.
Cockroaches are bigger than pillbugs and have a more robust build. Adult cockroaches can reach a length of 18-29 mm, have long antennae and relatively long legs with spines that help them climb. These insects are not able to fly, but they do have wings. In females, these wings are reduced to small scales, while males have two pairs of wings that reach up to three-quarters of the length of the abdomen. The shiny armour ranges in colour from reddish (rarely) to black, with adults usually being brownish-black. They have a darker colour than the common cockroach.
Characteristics of cockroaches
The cockroach is a synanthropic species, which means that it lives close to the human environment and feels comfortable in it. They live in different parts of the world. In the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, from the Caspian Sea to the Black Sea (Crimea), they naturally live in leaf litter and plant debris. In other parts of the world, they are found in basements, cellars, garages, warehouses, landfills and human dwellings. They are omnivores, feeding on food leftovers and even capable of feeding on book glue, thus destroying the family collection of books.
These insects like warmth, cockroach eggs do not develop at low temperatures, below 0 degrees Celsius they die, and females do not produce eggs below 15 degrees.
The female lays eggs in a cocoon (ooteka) 6 to 8 times in her life at intervals of 1-2 weeks. Initially, she carries the cocoon with her for a few days before laying it down in a secluded, sheltered place. The ooteka is black-brown in colour and measures 10-12 mm. There are 12 to 18 eggs in the cocoon. At home temperature (approx. 21-22 degrees), cockroach larvae hatch after approx. 80 days, moult 7 to 10 times, males mature after approx. 515 days and females after 542 days. This time is reduced as the temperature increases. Adult females live for about 190 days and males for about 180 days.
Dangers of having cockroaches in the house
Cockroaches can carry up to 80 different microorganisms on their bodies, which means they can contaminate surfaces in the kitchen and food with viruses such as rotaviruses, noroviruses or influenza viruses. They can also carry the bacteria that cause plague, tuberculosis and even cholera. They also carry protozoa, such as the causative agent of toxoplasmosis (toxoplasma gondii), and fungal and mould spores. Infection with toxoplasmosis is particularly dangerous during pregnancy, as it carries the risk of miscarriage or severe foetal defects, depending on the stage of pregnancy at the time of infection. In addition to the diseases they can cause, these insects can also exacerbate asthma through inhaled allergens and other allergic diseases, including food and contact dermatitis.
Fighting cockroaches – home remedies for cockroaches
If the cockroach population is small, as evidenced by their appearance only at night, you can try using home remedies to fight them. Below are a few of them.
- Crushed bay leaves – scatter them where you don’t want cockroaches to get in,
- a mixture of sugar and baking powder,
- boric acid mixed with sugar – available in pharmacies, it has an insecticidal effect, but it is also dangerous for humans and pets,
- sulphur ointment – spread it on leftover fruit or bread, pests will poison themselves with sulphur by eating it,
- insecticides, liquids and gels available in shops – apply in all cracks and crevices (e.g. near the dishwasher, floor skirting boards, where the wall and kitchen counter meet, and around the rubbish bin),
- insect traps – place them where you have seen cockroaches,
- Pour beer into a small bowl, its smell will lure the insects, and the alcohol-intoxicated insects will not be able to get out of the trap.
Disinfestation, i.e. fighting cockroaches with professional methods
If home remedies have failed and you have not been able to get rid of the cockroaches or their population is too large to fight with home remedies, it is worth getting professional pest control. A pest control company offers a range of possible treatments that will quickly and effectively get rid of the cockroaches.
The gel method is often used in apartments. It involves the application of an insecticide in the form of a gel that is eaten by cockroaches. This gel contains organic substances and pheromones that attract cockroaches. This method is safe and highly effective, with an effectiveness rate of over 99%. There is no need to protect everyday household items, ventilate or leave the apartment.
Another effective method is ULV fogging. This involves dispersing a poisonous substance using a fogging device, which breaks the preparation down into small particles so that hard-to-reach places are also covered with the poison. These preparations leave microgranules in the environment that attach to the insect. A cockroach covered in poison will transfer the poison to other cockroaches, which will then die. In this case, food or objects stored on counters should be covered. However, this method is more commonly used in uninhabited spaces, such as garages, warehouses and basements.
How to protect your home from cockroaches
If the cockroach problem affects residents of an apartment building, it would be a good idea to ask the nearest neighbours if they also have problems with these insects in their apartments. If it is difficult to determine, then all cracks around the windows should be sealed. It is also a good idea to install insect screens on the windows and ventilation openings. You should: keep worktops clean – thoroughly clean them of crumbs, do not leave food out overnight, clean food residue from sinks and throw away rubbish frequently. At first, it may not be easy to identify the presence of these insects in the house because they are active at night. However, the house cockroach likes damp places, so check them first.