Cockroaches are very tenacious and unpleasant insects that often coexist with people in their living space. These pests are common on all continents, with the exception of Antarctica, and in most climate zones. More than 4,800 species of cockroaches are known; the following varieties can be found in Russian apartments:
- red cockroach (Prusak);
- black beetle;
- American cockroach.
These insects not only make residents disgusted, but also destroy food supplies, contaminating them. When in contact with waste, garbage and dirt accumulated in crevices, cockroaches pose a danger to humans, since they can cause the spread of infectious and inflammatory diseases by moving along the surfaces of furniture, plumbing fixtures, dishes and hygiene items. In addition, during their life, barbels secrete a special secretion with an odor that provokes allergic reactions. Not only the smell from cockroaches, but also the chitinous coating shed by insects during molts also leads to allergies.
Features of life
Cockroaches are predominantly nocturnal. Most often, a cluster of cockroaches can be seen in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet, where there are secluded places, sources of food and water. They make their nests in ventilation shafts, next to the trash can and sink, behind the refrigerator, under baseboards and in crevices.
Prussians, the most common inhabitants of our apartments, in the absence of human food remains, can feed on paper, fabrics, leather of shoes and book bindings, and soap. However, even if you isolate all food sources, this does not mean that cockroaches will leave your home, because they are very hardy and can starve for a whole month without harm to their health.
The favorite delicacies of these insects are baked goods, sugar and sweets, meat products and cereals come in third place, and vegetables and fruits of any freshness complete the list of preferences.
Cockroaches can reproduce in two ways - sexually and parthenogenetically (without mating), laying up to 30-40 eggs at a time. The lifespan of a cockroach depends on the species: for Prussians it ranges from 8 to 10 months.
One of the questions that concerns those who live next to these uninvited guests: do cockroaches bite? There is no need to be afraid of bites from cockroaches living in apartments - as a rule, they do not attack people and pets, unlike their tropical relatives. But there are still known cases of domestic cockroaches biting people. They have fairly powerful jaws and can bite through skin. At the site of the bite, small wounds, blisters and even serious erosions form.
How not to buy a fake instead of the original?
Today there is a great demand for traps to get rid of cockroaches, so the chances of purchasing counterfeit goods instead of the original ones increase. Most often, scammers counterfeit products from well-known brands, such as the manufacturer of insecticidal preparations Raptor.
It also happens that a fake at first glance is no different from a real trap, and all its flaws are discovered only after some time. To protect yourself from such troubles, purchase insect traps should be made only in those stores that you trust.
Do not buy the drug at those retail outlets where the cost of the trap varies greatly in one direction or another from its average market price in the region.
What to do to prevent pests from infesting your apartment?
It is easier to prevent a problem than to solve it later - this rule always works. To protect your home from invasion by uninvited guests, it is important to keep your home clean. Dirt and garbage are favorable conditions for the breeding of cockroaches, so it is necessary to carry out general cleaning as often as possible and systematically maintain cleanliness, promptly get rid of waste and expired products.
The dining table and work surfaces in the kitchen should be wiped with a cloth after cooking and eating. Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight, because leftover food, crumbs, and traces of grease attract insects. It is recommended to store all bulk products, spices and seasonings in closed containers
Light cosmetic repairs in the apartment are welcome: pay attention to peeling wallpaper, seal the cracks in the floor and walls. Faulty plumbing needs to be repaired as soon as possible, also because leaking water creates attractive conditions for pests to appear.
To prevent cockroaches from entering your apartment through the ventilation, install grilles with small holes, or even better, first cover the hole with a nylon stocking or gauze and install a grill over it.
Gel Raptor
Gel Raptor is as effective as an aerosol and has a number of advantages:
- Non-toxic to people and animals, odorless.
- The active substance does not enter the air or penetrate the respiratory tract.
- Maintaining activity for a long time.
- Easy to apply to the surface. The narrow spout of the tube allows you to carefully apply the gel in hard-to-reach places.
- The presence of attractants attracts insects.
- Does not leave marks on light-colored surfaces.
Minuses:
- Not economical consumption. The contents of 1 package are only sufficient for application to an area of about 10 m2.
- The gel is designed to eliminate insects within several weeks. Therefore, if you need to quickly get rid of cockroaches, it is better to use an aerosol form.
The gel should be applied in dotted lines of 2 cm in the habitats and routes of cockroaches. Leave 2-4 cm of free space between the lines. Depending on the infection, it may be necessary to re-apply the gel a month after treatment.
A tube of 75 ml costs an average of 200-230 rubles.
How to get rid of cockroaches in the house?
What to do if cockroaches do appear in your home? As soon as you suspect the presence of pests in the apartment or notice a quickly escaping cockroach when entering the kitchen at night, immediately take up the issue of exterminating the insects before their numbers reach disaster proportions.
Of course, you can resort to traditional methods, one of which is freezing - ventilating the room at a significant sub-zero temperature (-5°C). But there are more modern and effective remedies for cockroaches, for example, Raptor.
- The fastest way to attack insects is an aerosol. For example, RAPTOR® aerosol against crawling insects is very convenient to use. Thanks to its unique formula, the aerosol instantly destroys domestic insects and leaves behind a light mint aroma. The product is economical to use: one can is enough to treat a room of 50-60 sq.m.
- The RAPTOR® insecticidal gel has shown high efficiency in the fight against cockroaches. The product also helps kill house ants. The gel contains substances that act as bait, attracting cockroaches with their scent. It provides protection for up to 6 months. The gel has a convenient packaging in the form of a tube with a long spout.
- A less rapid, but no less effective remedy for cockroaches are RAPTOR® traps. Traps with a poisonous substance lure insects with smell and infect them through the digestive organs or by contact. An infected individual becomes a carrier and manages to transmit the poison to its fellows before it itself dies. For a room of 10 square meters. It is enough to use 2-3 traps.
- Use the powerful Double Strength trap to remove cockroaches. The new generation bait used in the trap contains the scent of trace pheromones that cockroaches secrete. The “Double Strength” formula has no analogues in the world and has a detrimental effect even on cockroaches that have adapted to insecticidal drugs.
- Don't want to waste time and effort on treating the room? The RAPTOR® product range includes a unique system for eliminating cockroaches - an aquafumigator. The active substance, developed by Japanese specialists, evaporates as a result of a thermal reaction and easily penetrates where insects hide (in cracks, under baseboards, in ventilation). The drug destroys cockroaches and their clutches. The system does not require personal presence during the operation process. Place the container in the center of the treated area on a flat surface and leave the room for 2-3 hours. The radius of action of one aquafumigator is 30 square meters. m. After 3 weeks, it is recommended to re-treat. Attention: if the apartment is equipped with fire safety sensors, turn them off before starting treatment.
Traps
Composition of the poisonous agent
The active ingredient is lambda-cyhalothrin. New product in the “Double Strength” series with fipronil and emmamectin benzonate.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Raptor trap is compact and safe. After use, you don't have to deal with marks on the surface. It has a prolonged action. After use indoors, there is no need to clean up, as the box is simply thrown away.
The cost is 250 rubles, which allows them to be used as preventive measures. The toxic effect of these substances overcomes resistance. The smell attracts insects, which absorb the poison. The active substance of the product is distributed throughout the entire population, which makes it possible to eliminate all insects. A lot of money is spent; up to three devices are needed for 10 m2. Such products destroy insects exclusively in the initial stages of infection.
Instructions for use
Traps should be placed in places inaccessible to children. After two months, the device requires replacement. Particular care must be taken to ensure that pets do not chew the box. This will help prevent their poisoning.
Additional substances
The Raptor gel against cockroaches and ants (75 ml) also contains:
- Fat base.
- Bitrex. It is used as a denaturing additive. It is considered the most bitter chemical product.
- Food attractants. These substances are used in the production of drugs to combat many pests. They have a small radius of influence.
- Water.
- Preservatives.
- Gelling agent. Its presence allows you to create a delicate consistency by combining various components, helping to create the viscosity of the drug. This preserves the necessary structure and retains the required percentage of moisture.
Flaws
The last minus of the Raptor aerosol, paradoxically, is directly related to its advantages. The active substance cypermethrin is an analogue of a natural insecticide, which is highly toxic to insects, but is low-hazard to humans and the environment. Cypermethrin is environmentally friendly, but it quickly breaks down into harmless substances when exposed to air and sunlight.
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