Why do cockroaches appear in the apartment, what to do if they appear?

Man has been fighting cockroaches almost from the very beginning of his existence. As soon as people learned to build houses and cook food, uninvited guests immediately appeared. If the modern market is literally teeming with a variety of insecticides and other chemicals against pests, then what happened before? How did people deal with hated insects?

Many apartment residents who are faced with a corresponding problem are looking for the most effective folk remedy for cockroaches, which would help them get rid of pests forever at home.

Are traditional recipes effective?

Considering that in earlier times there was no Internet, many people tried to figure out on their own how to get rid of domestic cockroaches. That is why there are a huge number of options for preparing a variety of poisons, traps and other devices for fighting cockroaches at home. Some of them are absolutely useless, the rest can seem like an ideal weapon against the Prussians, or an average deterrent.

The main features of such recipes remain:

• Availability. Unlike modern insecticides, most folk remedies are created literally from scrap materials and often require virtually no financial costs for their preparation.
• Relative performance. We need to be fair and clarify that even the most effective folk remedy for cockroaches will not be as powerful as the same specialized spray.
• Safety for humans. Most products are made from ingredients that are harmless to humans but are potent poisons to cockroaches.

Below is an approximate list of the most effective and efficient home recipes with which you can finally win the war with your hated roommates.

Types of domestic cockroaches

Among the so-called synanthropic species that gravitate towards human habitation, three prevail - black, red and American. It is interesting that in Russia the redhead is called the Prusak, while in Germany and Austria they are called Russian or French and are constantly improving methods of exterminating cockroaches:

• The black cockroach is called oriental in Latin. Recently, the population of these insects has declined significantly due to their displacement by red insects and high sensitivity to modern insecticides. These are large insects with a shiny brown-black body ranging from 20 to 80 mm in length. Females differ from males by having shorter elytra. Lives in the southern regions, preferring sewers, old barns, greenhouses, and coal mines. It can live in the wild, but even in this case it tries to stay close to human habitation.

• Ginger. It is smaller (about 1.5-2 cm) and has a light brown body color. This is the most numerous species on our planet. Willingly settles in apartment buildings, slums, public places, trains, and other places where organic debris accumulates. A characteristic feature of the species is the protective capsule in which females lay eggs.

• American. It is known for its greatest vitality and aggressiveness, and is also capable of releasing liquid that causes a severe allergic reaction in humans and animals.

Boric acid against the Prussians

Boric acid is a white powder, which at one time was considered one of the best disinfectants. It was even used for internal reception. At the moment, there are quite a few other more effective analogues in medicine. But if we talk about such a process as the fight against cockroaches, then boric acid does not lose its position.

It is a nerve poison and causes the death of insects. In small doses, this drug causes powerful intoxication of the body of an uninvited guest. In large cases - death from muscle spasm and blocking of all vital functions.

The main disadvantage (or advantage, it all depends on which side you look at) remains the fact that in order to achieve the desired result (lethal outcome for the pest), the cockroach needs to eat boric acid. By itself, it has no taste or smell, so it remains uninteresting to voracious Prussians. Nevertheless, inventive people have come up with several methods and recipes that significantly increase the chance of a product containing boric acid getting into the gastrointestinal tract of a cockroach.

Here are some of them:

1. You need to mix 1 boiled chicken yolk and 50-60 grams of acid. Bring everything to a homogeneous consistency. After this, you need to make small balls from the resulting mass and place them in places where cockroaches could potentially appear. Although boric acid remains safe for humans and animals, it is still worth using such poisonous baits in secluded places to prevent them from entering the body of children or pets. The Prussians will most likely want to feast on such a “gift”, which will be the end for them.
2. You need to mix sugar, flour and boric acid in equal proportions. Add a little water and knead into a dough. From the resulting mass you need to create similar baits for cockroaches and place them throughout the house. The principle of operation is the same as in the previous recipe.
3. Another option for using boric acid is its usual scattering along baseboards, near the toilet, trash can or in other potential “meeting places” for Prussians. It is believed that cockroaches, even just running through the white powder without ingesting it, will stain their paws. Later, in the process of purifying the corresponding contamination, they will ingest a lethal dose of poison, which remains the main goal of man. There is logic in this judgment, however, this method still lags behind the baits described above in terms of effectiveness.

Obviously, boric acid is a very effective and, most importantly, affordable means for cleaning your home from pests. You can purchase it at any pharmacy or hardware store. It is sold in bags of 10 g.

Prussians: a sign of unsanitary conditions

No matter what anyone says, Prussians often appear in places where order and cleanliness are not maintained. If the question arises: “What to do if cockroaches appear in the apartment?”, then you should start by looking for the reason for their spread.

Most often, factors contributing to the increase in pest numbers are:

• Free access to food. Even just a table with crumbs of bread on it, uncollected trash, or even a sandwich left on a plate can attract Prussians. Cockroaches are nocturnal insects. Therefore, it is extremely important to hide all food in the refrigerator during this period, and thoroughly clean surfaces. Garbage must be taken out every day. This way, you can leave pests without food, which will force them to leave the house. However, most often it is necessary to additionally use an appropriate insect repellent.
• Abundance of water. Cockroaches can drink from the same places as people or even from the soil in a flower pot. In order to isolate them from the necessary moisture, it is worth wiping all sinks dry, preventing leakage from the tap, and watering the flowers only in the morning to ensure that the plant fully absorbs water.

These simple steps will help prevent insects from multiplying too quickly. Of course, it is unlikely that it will be possible to destroy them using only such methods, but it will be possible to gain some time.

Borax is an effective folk remedy for cockroaches

Preparing effective folk remedies for cockroaches quite often requires some ingenuity from a person. It’s not enough to sprinkle poison on the floor; the Prussian also needs to want to eat it himself.

Borax is another good substance that can be used for pest control. It is the sodium salt of boric acid, so it shows the same results.

Only the bait recipes for hunting cockroaches differ:

• 250 g of borax should be mixed with 50 g of regular sugar, starch and another 20 g of vanilla. The latter is needed to impart a special aroma that will attract pests. Next, prepare the usual bait balls.
• Mashed 1 potato with a ground chicken egg is mixed with 2 tablespoons of borax. Then everything follows the same pattern.

This folk remedy for cockroaches is the most effective, according to many people who have successfully overcome a pest invasion.

Impact of low temperatures on parasites

Freezing at home is a very effective folk remedy for cockroaches. The fact is that they completely die at a temperature of -8°C. This applies to both adults and their larvae and young. An obvious disadvantage remains a certain risk of disrupting the normal heating system in the apartment. To protect the batteries, it is advisable to wrap them in thermal insulation material and only then begin active freezing.

Many people advise opening all windows and doors for a few hours for a day in winter. Sub-zero temperatures require a certain time to penetrate into all the cracks of the house. Only after this can you begin to restore normal climatic conditions in the apartment.

The temperature at which cockroaches die is discussed in a separate article!

It should be noted that in such a radical way it is really possible to quickly remove cockroaches, however, the following disadvantages of such a fight remain obvious:

• Possibility of carrying out only in winter.
• Having to endure the cold yourself or leaving the house wide open.
• It is advisable to coordinate such an act of war against pests with neighbors if a person lives in a high-rise building.

However, many residents of Russia note that it was with the help of freezing that they managed to overcome the invasion of cockroaches.

Reasons for appearance

Of all the types of cockroaches, red cockroaches and black cockroaches live in apartments and houses. The American species is extremely rare. Cockroaches can get into an apartment in a variety of ways. The most common penetrations are:

• From the neighbors. When there are hordes of insects in a nearby apartment, they may well move into the home through ventilation systems, walls, balconies and loggias. Parasites happily settle in new places if there is sufficient food and water for them. People are wondering where cockroaches came from in their neighbors’ houses. They could just as easily have crawled over. The process will be endless if nothing is done.
• Purchases. People don’t understand how cockroaches appear in an apartment like this. In fact, it’s simple. Everyone goes to the market to buy groceries and it is likely that the red-haired “beasts” crawled into a bag or bag. They can also get turned on by new things. Cockroaches settle in computers (system units), microwave ovens, furniture, and clothing. This is a temporary shelter for them, since there is no food there. But there is no doubt as to why cockroaches appear in food. Grocery warehouses are a favorite place for them.
• Guests. Elementary cockroaches can be brought from guests. A person will not notice how it got into his clothes, shoes, bag, gift wrapping. In the same way, people invited to the apartment can reward the place with visits by harmful and voracious insects.
• Parcels. Many people use delivery services when purchasing household items, clothing, shoes, groceries and other goods from online stores. The question of what causes cockroaches in packages may also cause surprise. Ubiquitous insects get into the packaging and “travel” in it to their destination. Moreover, they easily endure long distances and can easily start in the house thanks to the delivered packaging. You can bring a large black cockroach into your apartment with your parcel.
• Things: Cockroaches are often brought into the house from a business trip or vacation. They easily penetrate suitcases, household appliances, and clothing. Together with them, they end up in a living space, and if it is a female, the population grows.

Pyrethrum as a method of controlling cockroaches

Simple and affordable Pyrethrum remains an insecticidal powder that is obtained by grinding the inflorescences of common chamomile. It is absolutely safe for humans, but for cockroaches it is a deadly poison.

It is used in a similar way to boric acid - they prepare delicious killer bait for Prussians. You can purchase the product at a pharmacy or specialty store.

Ammonia as a deterrent odor

Ammonia is not an insecticide. It will not kill cockroaches, however, it can scare them away and force them to leave the apartment. The fact is that the olfactory senses of insects are much more developed than the human senses of smell. For Prussians, ammonia serves as a powerful deterrent, which they literally cannot stand. To achieve a pronounced result, even a small amount of the appropriate liquid is enough.

That is why it is recommended to carry out wet cleaning more often and wash floors with the addition of ammonia to the water. In this way, it will be possible to force cockroaches to leave the apartment in entire colonies. However, you need to be prepared for the “gratitude” of the neighbors to whom these pests will move. The use of odors is analogous to specialized deterrents.

Danger of cockroaches

By visiting dirty places and carrying a wide variety of pathogens on their paws, these insects are carriers of pathogens. There is a special term - blattopterosis. They represent all the harm caused to a person. Another unpleasant feature is their ability to regularly shed old chitinous coverings. The list of problems associated with these insects is long.

It was they who made the destruction of cockroaches one of the main tasks of public utilities in large cities:

1. Dysentery.
2. Colibacillosis.
3. Gastroenteritis of various etiologies.
4. Helminthiases (transfer of eggs of roundworms, whipworms, tapeworms, pinworms).
5. Allergy to chitin.
6. Hay fever.
7. Salmonellosis.
8. Meningitis.
9. Mycobacteriosis.
10. Pneumonia.
11. Asthma.

By gnawing electrical wiring and getting inside various devices, insects create a fire hazard. Their excrement left on food is poisonous. Therefore, the question of how to remove cockroaches usually worries most city residents.

Homemade traps

Another method of combating hated insects is the traditional cockroach trap. It is inferior in effectiveness to ready-made factory analogues, however, if necessary, it can serve as a good remedy for pests.

There are several options for creating it, but the simplest and most accessible remain:

1. You need to take the most ordinary half-liter jar and drop a little honey or beer on its bottom. Under the neck, apply sunflower or olive oil with a ribbon of 2-3 cm along the entire radius. Place it in a place where the Prussians should appear. The next morning you will find a large number of insects trapped in the trap, which can simply be destroyed by flushing them down the toilet.
2. Place a little tape on a piece of cardboard, sticky side up, and drop some honey in the center. Cockroaches, running to the bait, will remain on the tape. Of course, the factory version of the trap is more effective, however, this simple method will get rid of pests.

Despite their simplicity and accessibility, such homemade traps are slightly less effective than other means, so they should be used occasionally.

The destruction of cockroaches using folk remedies remains one of the fairly popular methods of combating annoying pests. A person decides on his own which specific method to choose.

If the methods described above are ineffective, you can treat baseboards, trash cans and other surfaces with kerosene or turpentine. This aroma can repel cockroaches for a long time, but the residents of the house themselves will have to be patient a little. One way or another, you can remove uninvited guests using fairly simple methods.

Most often, people still turn to recipes with boric acid because of their accessibility and simplicity:

Features of pests

Insects easily adapt to living conditions and are very tenacious. Their life is simple, they have no leaders. But in the colony there are 2-3 males, scouts. They are able to travel long distances in search of food, water, they know where there is housing and where danger lurks.

Book bindings, plants, paste, even feces are eaten. Without food, a cockroach lives up to two months.

Interesting!

A cockroach in an apartment can bite a person if it is very hungry. Their body has a gene that reacts to poison. In small doses, even its smell can put insects into a trance. A person, deciding that cockroaches are dead, throws them into the trash, where they “come to life.” The owners are amazed at where they can come from if they are poisoned. Cockroaches are able to live for a certain period of time without a head. A special clot forms in its place, and they breathe through the pores on the body.

If the owners of the apartment do not observe basic hygiene rules and are calm about such a neighborhood, broods of cockroaches number about 60 individuals. If after baiting insects only 5% of the total number of the colony remains alive, their appearance again is inevitable and in larger numbers, because cockroaches multiply rapidly.