Domestic cockroaches, who they are and how to deal with them

1. General characteristics of domestic cockroaches
2. Reproduction
3. Types of domestic cockroaches, harmful and exotic (bred), their characteristics Red cockroaches
4. Black beetle
5. American cockroach
6. Furniture cockroach
7. Vietnamese (Turkestan) cockroaches
8. Egyptian cockroaches
9. Madagascar cockroach
10. Rhino cockroach
11. Chess cockroach
12. banana cockroach
13. Forest cockroach
14. Little car
15. Dead Head
16. Marbled (ash) cockroach
17. Sarawak cockroach
18. Megalobat cockroach
19. Lapland cockroach
20. Asiatic
21. Blaberus cockroaches

Everyone has heard about cockroaches. But some are lucky enough to admire the brilliant Madagascar giants in the aquarium, while others unsuccessfully poison local, red or black pests in their kitchen. This nimble insect is found on all continents except the edge of permafrost. They love rotting plants, warmth and humidity, so the most arrogant representatives moved closer to garbage bins, and from there to human houses.

What types of these parasites are the most common, why are they dangerous, and how to fight them?

General characteristics of domestic cockroaches

All representatives of cockroaches have an elongated, flattened, oval-shaped body. Sizes vary from 1 to 10 cm (and more). There are tergites (segments) on the body - up to 10 in the male, up to 7 in the female. The wings are transparent, with membranes, hidden under dense elytra. Many species fly. The legs are adapted for fast running, with spikes. The ovipositor is hidden in females.

The flat head is heart-shaped, with a protective plate from the back. Long antennae with bristles. The jaws are powerful, with sharp chitinous teeth. The eyes are large and atrophied in wingless representatives.

Almost all species of this unpleasant insect love comfortable conditions in the form of warm and humid places, prefer night life, and during the day they hide under stones, leaves, bark and in similar hiding places in human habitation. At night they climb and fly into bright light.

They are considered extremely hardy. They are not afraid of hunger or radiation, and almost immediately develop resistance to most poisons. Can withstand radiation levels 15 times higher than humans (safe levels of radiation will depend on developmental stage).

They can go without food for up to 4 weeks, but are practically omnivorous. They love sweets and fatty foods, but with their mega jaws they grind everything from leather, books, wood to feces and any waste. They enjoy eating plants, fruits and vegetables. Males eat up to 30 g per day, while females can eat up to 50 g.

Where do large cockroaches come from in an apartment: why are they dangerous, do they need to be destroyed

Reading time: 5 minutes(s) Many insects cause trouble for humans by their proximity. But there are such creatures as large cockroaches. Most people can hardly tolerate such insects. You definitely need to fight them. And for this you need to know the characteristics of these cockroaches, what they eat, how and where they live.

What does a big cockroach look like?

Description and photo

The large black cockroach has an oblong body covered with a chitinous shell of black or dark brown color. They grow up to 3 cm in length. They differ from ordinary domestic cockroaches in size and dark color. Everything else about a large cockroach is the same as an ordinary Prussian: the structure of the body, six legs, a segmented abdomen, the presence of wings and mustache.

The male has larger wings than the female. But the female is larger in size and thicker. Insects are very sensitive; they sense a person’s presence from afar. They have well-developed senses of smell and touch, as well as vision.

What do big black cockroaches eat?

The food of large cockroaches, as well as their ordinary, smaller counterparts, is food waste left by humans. Any food suits them. The insect's jaws and mouthparts are designed in such a way that it can even chew wood. In its digestive system live special bacteria that can process any food.

So, when there is not enough regular food in the kitchen for a black cockroach, it can chew anything: paper (books), leather (shoes), wallpaper, wallpaper paste, even wood.

A lack of food forces cockroaches to engage in cannibalism: they eat both living and dead fellows, larvae, and other insects.

Where do large black cockroaches come from in an apartment and what to do with them?

Large black cockroaches are nocturnal. During the day they hide in shelters and at night they come out in search of food. Despite their large size, do not think that these are clumsy creatures. Cockroaches can crawl into any crack.

The appearance of such large individuals in an apartment can be explained by several reasons.

• They come from the basement. It's dark and humid, and this atmosphere is very favorable for the reproduction and life of large black cockroaches.
• They crawl out of the garbage chute. If there is a garbage chute in the entrance, insects can travel through it. Rotten food and garbage are their favorite food.
• They appear at home along with purchases from the store, for example, vegetables.
• Drain pipes in a toilet or bathroom can also be an entry point for cockroaches. Especially if you have a dripping faucet at home, they are attracted to water.
• Black cockroaches can come to you along with parcels or with things purchased from someone, “from hand”.

If the apartment has unsanitary living conditions, this greatly attracts large cockroaches, and there is no point in fighting them in such circumstances. It is necessary to maintain cleanliness in the home, and then you need to devote all your efforts to getting rid of uninvited guests.

What is the danger of large cockroaches for people?

Large cockroaches bring very significant harm to humans:

• Since cockroaches run everywhere, they carry a lot of bacteria on their paws, and with them various infections. These bacteria remain on your towels, dishes, toothbrushes, linens and food.
• A person can become infected with many unpleasant diseases: helminths, salmonellosis, intestinal infections, gastroenteritis, etc.
• Even if food is in inaccessible places, cockroaches can eat anything: they will successfully eat books, wallpaper, shoes, and various wooden and cardboard objects.
• Cockroaches often build their nests inside electrical outlets or household appliances. This can cause a short circuit and various breakdowns.
• Very rarely, cases arise when large cockroaches can climb onto the face of a sleeping person and gnaw off his eyelids, lips or eyelashes. The consequences of such bites will take a long time to heal.
• After molting cockroach larvae, chitinous shells remain. Since they are located in hard-to-reach places and lie there for a long time, when they decay, they form dust. This can cause people to have allergies or even an asthma attack.

What does the largest cockroach in the world look like and what is it called?

If we talk about large cockroaches, then we need to remember the largest cockroach in the world. This is the Madagascar hissing cockroach.

It reaches 5-9 cm in length, and some individuals even reach 10 cm! Exotic lovers breed them at home: some as pets, and some as food for pets (snakes, lizards, hedgehogs).

Methods for exterminating large cockroaches

Chemical methods of control

There are many drugs that are produced by industry to combat cockroaches. If one product doesn't help, try another. Perhaps the insects simply developed an addiction to some type of insecticide.

You can use drugs in any form:

• aerosols,
• gels,
• powders, dusts.

Aerosols are used to achieve a quick effect. They are easily sprayed, insects die a few minutes after contact with the drug.

The difficulty is to find their habitats. To treat an apartment, spray aerosols wherever cockroaches are expected to nest, close the windows and leave the apartment for 2-3 hours.

The form of production of gel-like insecticides is a syringe. This preparation does not stain furniture, is easy to dose, and convenient to apply to the surface, especially in places such as cracks and baseboards. The disadvantage of gels is that they do not destroy cockroach eggs, only adults or larvae.

The product is applied along baseboards, behind furniture, around the perimeter of the toilet and bathroom. It inevitably sticks to the cockroach's paws, and when it begins to clean them, it enters its stomach, which will cause poisoning and death of the insect.

Powders and dusts are also used quite often. These are effective drugs that are recommended for use by SES and pest control services. They are poured around baseboards, in places where cockroaches are expected to appear. The danger of powders is that if they get into water or food, people can be poisoned by them.

Therefore, you need to ensure that the powder is not poured near food.

Folk methods of struggle

To expel parasites, strong-smelling substances are used, for example:

• ammonia,
• acetic acid,
• kerosene,
• essential oils of lavender, eucalyptus, lemon balm.

The use of boric acid in dry form is also effective. Balls are made from boric acid powder and other products and placed around the perimeter of the apartment.

Recipe for boric acid balls:

• boric acid is mixed with sugar 1:1;
• add raw egg and flour;
• Make a dough from the mixture, adding a little water if necessary;
• Form balls and place them on the floor.

How to repel insects

Insects can not only be destroyed, but also simply scared away. To do this, you can use substances with strong odors described above. And also for this purpose modern devices are used - ultrasonic repellers. The device is small in size and plugs into an outlet. The ultrasonic waves it emits are like a distress signal to cockroaches.

Interesting facts about large cockroaches

• Large cockroaches can live without food for a very long time - about a month. After all, if there is no regular food, they can eat anything - even leather, wood and paper. After all, they not only have jaws and a developed oral apparatus, but also teeth in the stomach, which grind everything that gets there.
• Red cockroaches reach sexual maturity in 4 months, and large black ones only in 4 years. And they live for a total of 5 years. It turns out that out of 5 years they are in the larval age for four years. This explains their small number. Usually, before they have time to reproduce, people will already destroy them.
• To get rid of insects, you need to limit their access to water. This is especially important during disinfestation. When a poisonous substance enters the cockroach's stomach, it rushes to water to quench its thirst. Water will neutralize the effect of the poison and the cockroach will survive.

Based on all that has been said, we see that the means of fighting large black cockroaches are no different from the means of fighting ordinary red cockroaches. Black cockroaches are significantly larger than them, but their structure is the same. The most important thing is to maintain order and cleanliness in the apartment so that these parasites do not appear.

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Reproduction

The ability to increase the population of this family is amazing. There are 2 ways - sexual or parthenogenetic, but in any case at least one mating must occur. The eggs are located in a special capsule (ootheca). Females carry this protein “suitcase” at the end of their body (most species), others are viviparous. Cockroaches have complex behavior as parents.

Go through 3 stages of development:

1. Egg.
2. Larva or nymph.
3. Imago or adult individual.

They develop from larvae to adults through molting (up to 8 times). The maturation process for Prussians (red cockroaches) takes several months, while for black cockroaches it takes 4 years.

Example of a viviparous species:

Nymphs of longhorned beetles develop for a couple of months, and black representatives for several years (4 years). During this time, molting occurs (shedding of the old chitinous shell), and the “newborn” individual becomes larger each time. In total, up to 9 molts occur.

Each species goes through certain stages in its development. So, during molting, the cockroach sheds its brown chitinous outfit, remaining in translucent white “underwear”. Therefore, in a couple of days the running white pest will become similar to its relatives. Sometimes whiteness is explained by the use of chlorine-containing preparations, which tend to oxidize and bleach surfaces, including chitin.

Insecticidal sprays and aerosols

Also a large group of insecticides. It has the form of a liquid placed in a can and is sprayed pointwise under pressure. Don't know what to do if you come across a nest of cockroaches and want to destroy them all en masse? That's right, use the aerosol before your wife sees the cockroaches before you, and it would be nice to have such a product on hand. For a serious fight against red colonizers, sprays are not suitable. In addition, they also have a serious drawback: high toxicity for people and animals. However, even a respirator does not guarantee complete protection from toxic fumes. Therefore, it is better to choose a more versatile and safe product. If for some reason you need a spray or aerosol, here are the most popular brands:

• Dichlorvos;
• Raptor;
• Combat;
• Baron;
• Raid;
• Clean house.

When using aerosols, remember safety precautions: use rubber gloves and a respirator, and thoroughly ventilate the room after treatment.

Insecticidal traps

Cockroach poison in the form of traps is perhaps the most versatile and safest remedy. It is designed as follows: poison with a food attractant that lures cockroaches is placed in a plastic container, which is attached to the surface using double-sided tape.

Read on the topic: How to get rid of a red cockroach in an apartment Effective means, instructions for use

Even if just one individual tries the deadly treat, the rest will die, as the cockroach becomes infectious. The resulting epidemic will wipe out the entire population in a couple of days, all you have to do is collect and throw away the dead insects. The undeniable advantages include the following:

• Efficiency.

Usually a couple of days is enough to completely rid a home of red-haired conquerors. This is the most important advantage, since it will not be possible to remove nasty insects using other methods as quickly as using traps.

• Safety for people and animals.

The product does not emit toxic fumes, and the design of the plastic trap makes it impossible for pets or children to extract and eat the poison.

• Long lasting effect.

The traps remain active for two to three months. This period is usually enough for your neighbors to also have time to poison their cockroaches, so you don’t have to worry about new mustachioed visitors. For those who do not want to put the health of family members at risk and resort to chemical insecticides, there is another way to combat insects. True, this method is not suitable for sensitive people - you will understand why later.

So, the essence of the method is as follows. You need to take a jar, coat the inside of the walls with Vaseline or oil, put bait on the bottom, and wrap the outside of the jar with paper so that it is convenient for cockroaches to climb up. Attracted by the smell of the bait, the insects will be drawn into the jar, but they will no longer be able to get out - the slippery walls coated with Vaseline will not allow them to do this.

Of course, the method is safe and effective, but it’s too disgusting. Few people would want to see, much less touch, a jar infested with nasty insects. You can't do without allies in the war against cockroaches

As mentioned above, it rarely happens that cockroaches inhabit only one apartment in an apartment building. They almost always migrate and settle throughout the entire entrance. For this reason, it is pointless to fight them alone - sooner or later they will come again. The best solution would be to join forces with neighbors and carry out insecticidal measures across the entire entrance at once. In addition, it makes sense to leave traps or other means in common areas - near garbage chutes, on stairs, and so on.

Types of domestic cockroaches, harmful and exotic (bred), their characteristics

More than 4,500 species are now known, of which only 55 species are found in the CIS. And apartments are inhabited by only 3 species: red (Prussian), black and American.

Red cockroaches

Prusaks, or red cockroaches, can fly, but not for long. Adults come in different colors and are up to 1.6 cm long. They live in colonies. Life expectancy is about 6 months from the moment of hatching. They practically never meet without a person.

Males are oblong, wings peek out from under the elytra. Can fly short distances. Females are more rounded, without clearly defined wings. At one time, up to 40 eggs are laid in a capsule, which is worn for 2-4 weeks until the nymphs emerge from it. Nymphs are darker than adults and have no wings. After 2 months and 6 molts, the nymph turns into an adult.

After molting, the cockroach is much lighter, translucent, but this passes quickly, after 1-2 days they darken. Adults live up to 4 months. Over the course of her entire life, the female makes 4-9 clutches in the ootheca, that is, up to 400 eggs from one individual in just six months.

Their homeland is southern Asia, so they cannot tolerate cold at all, so when cooled to -5°C they die, and they feel so good in human habitation. The Prusak is omnivorous; in case of hunger strike, it can even chew soap or plaster. Does not tolerate thirst well.

Black beetle

They are much less common than redheads. They, unlike the Prussians, can live both among people and in the wild, not far from human habitation. They prefer warm, damp places (sewers, mines). The size of an adult cockroach reaches 8 cm. Representatives of this species run fast, but cannot fly.

American cockroach

Large (up to 5 cm), with a red-brown shell. Capable of running up to 75 cm/sec, while changing directions of movement up to 25 times. It flies, but rarely. It is impossible to catch with your hands. They have a powerful mouthparts (they chew through pieces of wood and plastic) and eat everything, even hair and shoes.

Very thermophilic - they die in minimal frost. They live in huge colonies (tens of thousands of individuals).

During mating games, the male runs around the female and flaps his wings. This is due to the pheromones secreted by the lady. After fertilization, the pregnant female first carries a capsule with eggs (up to 2 days), after which she buries the ootheca into the substrate. BUT! The female can lay eggs without fertilization by the male.

Furniture cockroach

Officially recorded only 100 years ago. Similar to Prussians, but smaller (up to 1.2 cm). The body shape and shade may vary, but the main feature is 2 stripes along the body. The color of these pests ranges from bright brown with a red tint to almost black. They run and jump very fast.

They tolerate a lack of water more easily than other species; they love starchy food (any paper, paste). The optimal temperature is about 30°C and high humidity.

Vietnamese (Turkestan) cockroaches

They live in houses, in landfills, and in the wild. Yellow, with a dark brown tint. An important feature of this species is jumping and flying. They consume plant remains and debris from human activities.

Egyptian cockroaches

These pests live in Asia, in the Caucasus and Crimean mountains. The brown color and rounded body shape make this species look like a turtle. Males are winged, females are not. Large (up to 4.5 cm), they live on farms, in houses, and animal burrows. They eat all types of organic waste, including excrement. They can starve for more than 3 months, but the lack of water is critical for them.

At one time, the female lays up to 18 eggs; in total, she can lay up to 5 ovipositions during her life. It takes 2 years from birth to adulthood, during which time it sheds several times. The adult stage lasts another 2 years.

The harm from this type of cockroach is enormous, since after eating the insects, the animals become infected with paratyphoid.

Madagascar cockroach

Giant individuals (up to 10 cm) are known for their hissing. This is how they try to scare the enemy. Unpretentious, omnivorous. These are viviparous insects. They prefer humidity and warmth, like representatives of other species of the cockroach family. They are bred as pets or as food for snakes and lizards.

Rhino cockroach

A large beetle up to 8 cm and weighing about 35 g (only 2 times lighter than a sparrow). Chocolate color. A good digger, excellent at digging tunnels. It is massive (40 g). Consumes parts of plants, but will not refuse particles of dead animals.

Rhinoceroses are clean and do not smell. They do not fly and cannot crawl on glass, so they are excellent for keeping in aquariums.

Chess cockroach

Representatives of this species stand out among their relatives with their beautiful checkerboard colors. Found in India. They grow up to 3 cm. They love warmth and moisture (above 70%), prefer night walks.

banana cockroach

It has an unusual green color. Can fly. Prefers to live on banana plantations, consuming parts of plants and fruits.

Forest cockroach

An inconspicuous inhabitant of wooded areas (up to 11 mm), eats everything it finds (all kinds of greenery, carrion). During the day it hides under the grass or in the roots of bushes and trees. Translucent body of brown-golden color. There is a black spot on the head, the wings extend behind the body. It is not very dangerous for humans, as it cannot even bite through the skin of a finger.

Little car

They got their name thanks to two spots on their head that look like car headlights. They reach 5 cm and prefer not to be seen by people. They grow slowly, love mating games and competition for the female. They don’t fly or crawl on glass, so they often join the ranks of pets.

Dead Head

This large insect (up to 5.5 cm) received its name due to its frightening colors. It eats small insects, and if there is a lack of food, it will not disdain its relatives.

Marbled (ash) cockroach

It comes from Africa, but is found in most countries, as it is very undemanding to conditions and food, and reproduces well. It is also called naufet. The insect reaches 3 cm.

It feeds on raw vegetables, fruits, various grains, flour products, and does not disdain paper and thin plastic. They can eat each other when there is a lack of food. Often grown to feed reptiles and large spiders.

Sarawak cockroach

The difference between this species and others is the ability of the larvae to swim well. They prefer to live close to sources of moisture; in case of danger, they can dive to the bottom and hide there. Otherwise, their habits are like those of other relatives.

Megalobat cockroach

This longhorned beetle is hard to miss - Megaloblatta longipennis is considered the largest representative (9.7 cm by 4.5 cm in width). And its close relative (Megaloblatta blaberoides) has the largest wingspan (18.5 cm).

Lapland cockroach

Brown-brown, with a black dot, reminiscent of dry leaves. Found in Europe and America. Reaches a length of 1.4 cm. Fast, not demanding.

Asiatic

Found in areas with a tropical climate. The closest relative of the Prussian. Prefers to live outside, hiding under a layer of leaves. The population increases in the warm season and decreases in the fall.

Blaberus cockroaches

Large and colorful Blaberus giganteus hides well among foliage and grass. Found in various parts of America. They grow up to 9 cm in length.

Where did the mustachioed conquerors come from?

If your red colonizers have firmly established themselves in your home, do not want to leave it, or return after you have hunted them out, then there is some way they are getting into your home. Cockroaches can get to you in any of the following ways.

Came from neighbors in an apartment building

If you do not live in a private house, it is most likely that cockroaches came to you from your neighbors. The flat body allows these creatures to crawl through any cracks, and it will not be difficult for them to get through a ventilation shaft, cracks in the walls and ceiling, or a garbage chute.

Mass migration of insects occurs after neighbors have declared war on them, and the Prussians need to find a new home. If you have enough food and drink in your home, cockroaches will happily share your living space.

Did you bring them from the store or guests?

Of course, retail premises are required to monitor the presence of insects in the trading floors, but it is impossible to completely protect themselves from such an accident. You can easily, without even knowing it, bring home a pregnant female in a bag from the nearest grocery store, which in a couple of days will make you happy with numerous offspring. You can, while visiting, leave a bag containing half-eaten cookies, and voila - you will take home a bag with your pet. You can, when leaving the hotel where you stayed during your business trip, take a couple of overseas cockroaches with you to your homeland.

And this is not to mention the fact that it is easier to get hold of cockroaches by purchasing equipment - they feel great in microwave ovens, refrigerators or stereo systems. In short, you don’t have to have slob neighbors to acquire insects—it’s quite possible to randomly bring them to your place yourself.

Cockroach in a postal package

Have you ever ordered anything online? We often receive an order in the form of a parcel that needs to be picked up at the post office. It's not like the sellers deliberately put a mustachioed gift in your order - cockroaches often get into the box, and then they are packaged and sent to the customer. We may not even notice how the new neighbor slips out and makes his way under the baseboard, and now the pregnant female has made you happy with a whole population of parasites.

By the way, it is the development of such international trade through postal parcels that is a favorable factor for the spread of cockroaches throughout the globe. Why cockroaches like your kitchen There are a number of factors that make your kitchen an ideal place for cockroaches to live comfortably. These include:

• air temperature;
• humidity;
• the presence of dark nooks;
• an abundance of crumbs on the floor and food debris in the trash can;
• drops of water in the sink.

Sometimes, without knowing it, we make life easier for insects with our own hands, creating ideal conditions for them. Free access to food greatly facilitates the search for food, so it is necessary to promptly take out the trash, remove crumbs from the table, vacuum and wash the floors.

At night, you should wipe the sink dry and tighten the taps tightly to prevent water leakage. The fact is that cockroaches need not only food, but also water. The remaining drops on the sink are not a watering hole? The source of the liquid can be indoor flowers, leaking plumbing, puddles after a shower or condensation on the tiles - all this must be wiped with a dry cloth without waiting for it to dry on its own, and it is better to water the flowers in the morning or afternoon.

We read on the topic: Prusak or red cockroach, what is the difference

Another important indicator that contributes to the colonization of cockroaches is the temperature and humidity in the room. The fact is that human housing is an ideal place for insects to live. Our apartments are always warm, humid in some places, and there are also many nooks and crannies in which the mustachioed brethren make their nests. The space behind the baseboard or radiator, under the refrigerator, behind the kitchen cabinets, mezzanines and shelves - all this is suitable for a cockroach house. In addition, if food runs out in one kitchen, insects can easily move to the next one - for example, through a ventilation shaft or through cracks in the walls. Pests can move freely along such paths, settling throughout the entire entrance.

Needless to say, such unhindered spread of Prussians threatens a real epidemic? How to get rid of uninvited guests if cockroaches do arrive

Obviously, cockroaches need to be dealt with as soon as you notice them. Don’t let the only small cockroach confuse you - there are probably others, both big and small, you just don’t see them yet. However, you won’t be able to get away with little blood: simply washing the apartment of crumbs and wiping the sinks dry will not be enough.

Don't panic: below I will tell you in detail how the achievements of the modern chemical industry will help us get rid of insects.

Danger of cockroaches

In addition to their frightening appearance, these insects are dangerous because, while moving and absorbing waste and excrement, they carry worm eggs on their bodies, and are carriers of many infectious diseases.

Moving from garbage to food products, cockroaches carry most intestinal infections, especially dysentery, gastroenteritis and diarrhea. Constant shedding provokes allergies to chitin and dust. There are known cases when longhorned beetles climbed into the ears of sleeping people, and also gnawed the skin on the eyelids and ears.

Interesting facts about cockroaches

Giants from Madagascar make excellent pets. Bright, large (up to 10 cm), they crack and hiss in a funny way. They are unpretentious and eat everything, even dry bread or fish food. They are also used for running. Often eaten in Asia and South America.

Black pests from this family were used as a folk remedy for kidney diseases, to stop an asthma attack, and to get rid of helminths. Fried cockroaches were given for diarrhea, and tea made from dried longhorned beetles was given for dropsy.

In the old days, it was believed that cockroaches lived only where there was plenty, so they were taken with them to a new home.

Headless barbels die from dehydration, not from their body being decapitated.

Traces of cockroaches were found in layers older than 320 million years.

The best treat

These insects are often bred to feed fish, reptiles, and spiders. They multiply quickly, eat everything, don’t get sick, and completely survive. Cockroaches are loved by certain types of scorpions, cats, hedgehogs, hamsters, large lizards, frogs, chickens and even ants (they disassemble dead individuals into pieces).

But the most promising direction is cockroaches as a source of protein. In terms of the content of this nutritional component, they are 3 times higher than chicken. In China, they love fried crunchies sprinkled with sugar.

Measures to combat cockroaches

Man has been fighting cockroaches for a hundred years and losing most of his battles. Incredible vitality, speed of reproduction, the ability to eat everything in a row or even go hungry, and almost instantaneous addiction to most poisons make the mustachioed guest a strong adversary. But it is possible to get it out.

To get rid of cockroaches of any kind, you should follow 5 basic rules:

1. Maintain cleanliness.
2. Deprive insects of food and water.
3. Use insecticides to which pests are not yet accustomed.
4. Seal the room.
5. Use auxiliary techniques (freezing).

But even after getting rid of the longhorned beetles, you cannot stop fighting, since the winged invaders very quickly return or run away from their neighbors.

Prevention

It’s not for nothing that cockroaches are the first sign of neglect and unsanitary conditions. The more rubbish, crumbs, garbage, the more likely it is that they will choose the room. No insecticides will help, creating only a temporary effect. Unwanted neighbors can hide in cracks, feed on leftover food in the trash can or on the table, and raise larvae in secluded, damp places.

To exclude all ways of entry and reproduction of longhorned beetles, you should constantly remove leftover food, do not leave garbage overnight, and do not accumulate. Be sure to clean any places where cockroaches can hide: cracks, peeled wallpaper, baseboards, cracks in the floor and windows, various secluded places in the closet, bathroom, on an insulated balcony.

The first and main condition for removing pests is cleanliness, no food particles, and places where you can hide. Some cosmetic repairs wouldn't hurt.

Anything that mustachioed parasites can use as food should be removed. And this is garbage, crumbs, any products, even those that have expired or smell bad.

But if cockroaches can live for a very long time without food (up to a month), without water it is much more difficult for them. Therefore, any sources of moisture should be removed from the area being treated. Drops of condensation, remaining water in the sink or bathtub, an open toilet, an aquarium, moisture in flowerpots with plants - all this allows the cockroach to drink.

It is especially important to deprive the barbel of moisture during etching. Thirst forces insects to eat more gel-like baits, the poison is absorbed faster and the effect of destruction will be rapid and massive.

Insecticides to the rescue

There are hundreds of medications for cockroaches, but they are all based on several dozen active ingredients. And these ancient insects (the remains of their ancestors were found in layers more than 300 million years ago!) get used to any poison after several uses.

When choosing a product, you should evaluate several criteria:

1. Effective against cockroaches.
2. Safety for humans.
3. Ease of use.

A long-known substance that is still effective against cockroaches, and is practically harmless to warm-blooded animals and humans. This is boric acid and its derivatives, which mustachioed parasites happily absorb if it is hidden in strong-smelling baits (egg yolk, boiled liver, vanilla dough).

It is enough to use this remedy, and after the population decreases, maintain additional factors so that the insects do not multiply again and do not come from neighbors.

Cockroach repellents are produced in the following forms:

• powders/dusts;
• gels;
• aerosols.

Viscous forms of insecticides are applied to sticky tapes, adhesive baits, and traps. Dry ones are used in granules, crayons, powder, tablets or diluted for application as a suspension. Liquid - in the form of aerosols or solutions for lubricating surfaces.

To treat premises against cockroaches, agents of intestinal, respiratory, contact and systemic action are used. Many modern drugs contain various types of substances, which increases their effectiveness.

Based on the active substance, products are divided into the following groups:

• Avermectins – can only be used in concentrations below 0.02%. Very dangerous for fish and other aquatic inhabitants;
• derivatives of boric acid - not very dangerous for humans, harmful to plants;
• fipronil is a moderately toxic substance, especially for the nervous system, effective, does not penetrate human skin;
• hydramethionone – with low toxicity. Dangerous for residents of ponds and aquariums;
• indoxacarb is very dangerous for aquatic inhabitants. The cumulative effect and acute toxicity at high concentrations are dangerous for humans;
• growth regulators - causes irritation of mucous membranes, generally low toxicity;
• pyrethroids are dangerous for bees and aquatic pets. Dangerous for humans due to allergenicity and harmful effects on the respiratory system, toxic to the nervous system;
• neonicotinoids are moderately toxic and penetrate the skin. Dangerous for the nervous system, can cause a sterilizing effect. Toxic to bees and aquatic animals;
• FOS - dangerous for all living organisms, especially for children;
• Methyl cabamates are highly toxic even in small quantities. They have a sterilizing effect.

Some substances are effective against adult insects, but have no effect against larvae. They need to treat the room at least 2-3 times, first against the adult individuals that are available, then against those that have hatched from laid eggs.

There are substances that act only against imagoes. There are drugs that sterilize pests. The effect of their influence is noticeable no earlier than a month later. Therefore, it is so important to strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Tightness is a step to victory

When the local cockroaches disappear, but the neighbors remain, there is a high probability that their mustachioed residents will move into a clean room. Therefore, complete tightness should be achieved:

• seal the cracks at doors and windows;
• during the warm season, close the vents and windows with sealed mesh;
• close the ventilation holes with a dense mesh or grille;
• seal cracks in the floor, behind skirting boards, and at pipe entry points;
• close the toilet with a tight lid and plug the drain holes of sinks and bathtubs.

These measures will protect the apartment from defectors. Only a set of measures allows you to vacate the premises guaranteed and for a long time.

Folk remedies and auxiliary

One of the most effective ways to eliminate a colony of cockroaches is freezing - cooling the room to a temperature below -5°C. But this is difficult to do with a residential apartment, since filled heating pipes will burst if everything is cooled down so much.

Electric traps are also used as an aid. At the smell of the bait, barbels come running and are instantly killed by a slight electric discharge. They are effective only against adult insects and do not provide 100% destruction of the population.

Less common are ultrasonic repellers, which are best used in clean areas as an additional remedy against “dirty” neighbors.

Professional etching

In some cases, you cannot do without professional help:

• population size is too large;
• owners cannot get rid of it on their own;
• you need to poison the cockroaches quickly and all at once;
• the area is too large or due to other reasons.

Many companies offer their services to combat insects. You can find out the price of such etching in advance and evaluate all the pros and cons.

Folk remedies for black and brown bugs, cockroaches and ants

• Boric acid is a paralytic poison for this type of insect. This method is effective if repeated every week for a month. Purchase boric acid powder from a pharmacy. The cost is pretty cheap, so stock up on several packs at once. Coat all crevices and suspected habitats of creatures. Carefully rub the contents into the openings of floors, window sills, and doors. After this treatment, insects will begin to die. Those who did not manage to get into the poisoned territory will be infected by their relatives with toxic substances carried on their paws. After such a massive attack, they will die out on their own or flee to another comfortable home;
• All habitats of these fauna representatives are coated with table vinegar The liquid is applied to a cloth or tampon and rubbed into the surface. If necessary, the procedure is repeated;

Folk insect repellents are safe for humans

• Laundry soap is grated and diluted in warm water. One bar (72%) should be enough for a 12 liter bucket. The floors are wiped with a concentrated soap solution and the surface accessible to insects is treated;
• Baking soda is also a nuisance for parasites. Scatter it along insect paths. After a few days, update the portions;
• Ammonia (10%) will help get rid of pests if you rub it over the surface where insects live.